Easy Appetizer

The Countdown to Christmas continues!

I don't know about you, but when I need to bring an appetizer to a Christmas get-together, I usually panic. I brought a dip to Dan's work party on the weekend, and it wasn't the most popular choice, that's for sure. With pineapple and pomegranate salsa and stuffed shrimp on the buffet table, who can compete? :) It's hard to tell what people will go for - spicy, sweet, hot, cold, salty, or savoury. Sky's the limit when it comes to appetizer choices. This recipe isn't really a recipe at all - it's more of a guide to an app. 


Here's how to get started:

Summer Rolls with Peanut Hoisin Dipping Sauce

Rice paper

Rice vermicelli noodles

Matchstick carrots

Bean sprouts

Green onions

Bell peppers

Chicken

Cilantro, basil, or mint (or a combo of all three!)

To start, cut up all ingredients into long, thin pieces - similar to the size of the matchstick carrots. Heat oil in a pan, add chicken. Season with black pepper and Chinese 5-spice powder. Cook until browned on both sides. Remove from heat.

Boil a pot of water. Add noodles and boil for one minute. Remove noodles from pot and remove the pot from the heat. Use the hot water to submerge the rice paper for five seconds. Place on a plate or cutting board and add your ingredients (layer by layer, in a 3" x 1.5" section near one end). Make one roll, then fold in both ends and continue rolling. Place seam side down on a serving platter.

Peanut Hoisin Dipping Sauce

3 tbsp peanut butter

1.5 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp hoisin sauce

2 tbsp hot water

1 clove garlic, minced

dried ginger

red pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients and heat until smooth. Serve with spring rolls.

The spring rolls can be made with virtually any veggies that you have in your fridge. We were brainstorming other ways to use the rice paper, too - fill the rolls with Nutella and strawberries, or sliced bananas and honey. 

Let me know if you try this recipe - we ate these rolls as an afternoon snack. They make a great appetizer, but you could make a meal out of them, too!

Happy Monday!