Fresh Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon)

Goi cuon are the fresh, light cousins of the fried spring roll — soft rice paper wrapped around prawns, pork, vermicelli noodles and a generous tangle of herbs. No deep-frying, no heaviness, just clean, bright flavours.

Every bite delivers that classic Vietnamese balance: sweet prawn, savoury pork, soft noodles and the fresh punch of mint, all dragged through a rich hoisin-peanut dipping sauce.

Rolling takes a little practice, but by your third roll you'll have the hang of it. They're brilliant as a starter, a light dinner, or a make-together meal where everyone rolls their own at the table.

Servings
4
Prep Time
35
mins
Cook Time
25
mins
Ingredients
13
Total Time
60
mins

Ingredients

  • 12 x 22cm round rice paper wrappers
  • 300g pork belly or pork neck, in one piece
  • 18 cooked prawns, peeled and halved lengthways
  • 100g dried rice vermicelli noodles
  • 1 baby cos lettuce, leaves torn
  • 1 cup mint leaves
  • 1 cup coriander sprigs
  • 12 garlic chives, trimmed (optional)
  • 1 Lebanese cucumber, cut into thin batons
  • 80ml hoisin sauce
  • 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp warm water
  • 1 tbsp crushed roasted peanuts

Instructions

  1. Simmer the pork in a saucepan of lightly salted water for 25 minutes until cooked through. Cool, then slice thinly.
  2. Meanwhile, soak the vermicelli in boiling water for 3-4 minutes until tender, then drain and rinse under cold water.
  3. Make the dipping sauce by stirring the hoisin, peanut butter and warm water together until smooth, then top with the crushed peanuts.
  4. Set up a rolling station: a large bowl of warm water, the wrappers, and all the fillings laid out in front of you.
  5. Dip one wrapper in the warm water for 2-3 seconds until just pliable and lay it on a damp chopping board. It will keep softening as you work.
  6. Place 3 prawn halves cut-side up across the middle, then top with lettuce, a small bundle of noodles, pork slices, cucumber and herbs, leaving 3cm clear at each side.
  7. Fold the sides in, then roll up firmly from the bottom, tucking as you go, so the prawns show through the top of the roll. Repeat with the rest.
  8. Serve straight away with the hoisin-peanut sauce, keeping any waiting rolls covered with a damp tea towel.

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