Summer is a time for celebrations and appetizers, so commit to learning how to cook some easy summer appetizers this season.
We asked lifestyle blogger, Cara-Lisa Sham for some of her easy – and healthy – appetizers that you can make at home which are perfect for your get-togethers.
Caralishious Crystal Salad Rolls
(Serves 1-2)
“This delicious and extremely healthy combination is a great replacement for traditional deep-fried spring rolls. The delicate hint of fresh herbs coupled with the delightful crunch of fresh veggies makes this the perfect light meal for a warm summer’s day on the beach,” says Sham.
Ingredients
For the Crystal Salad Rolls:
Half an avocado sliced into long thin pieces
Half a cucumber – sliced into julienne strips
5 baby carrots – sliced into julienne strips
2 cups baby spinach – finely chopped
½ cup fresh basil – finely chopped
2 chicken breasts – cut into slices and marinaded in fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil (optional)
3-5 rice paper sheets – these are available from most supermarket and all Chinese supermarkets.
For the soy-ginger dipping sauce:
¼ cup soy sauce
1½ tbsp. of water
1 tsp. crushed ginger
2 tsp. xylitol / honey
1 tsp. green curry paste
Method
Prepare salad rolls
Prepare all herbs and vegetables, cutting into fine julienne strips, approximately 5cm in length.
Place marinated chicken strips in an ovenproof dish and grill for approximately 15 minutes until cooked through. Remove and allow to cool.
Fill a large bowl with water (room temperature). Place the 3-5 rice paper sheets in the bowl and soak until paper softens.
Only remove the sheet you are working with and leave the rest of the sheets in the water.
Remove 1 rice paper sheet from the water and lay flat on clean chopping board.
Layer basil at the bottom, followed by cucumber, carrots, avocado, spinach and chicken (optional) in the centre of the sheet.
Leave sufficient space to fold rice paper. Do not over-fill, otherwise it will break.
Fold the top and bottom of sheet towards one another to cover filling. Then wrap tightly from left to right to form a roll. Cut in half. Repeat for all rolls.
Prepare soy sauce: Combine all the ingredients for the dipping sauce in food processor and blend for 2 minutes until combined.
Serve salad rolls cool with a side of dipping sauce or pour the sauce into a container to take with you when you are on the go.