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I am a novice in the kitchen but this recipe made me feel like a chef. My hubby loved it. It’s easy, beautiful, and amazingly flavorful. Thanks!
Tracy
Super excited to introduce you to a new little lady today.
She is my favorite bowl to date – this coming from a serial bowl-recipe addict – and she is loaded with good things like rice noodles, sweet garlic lime sauce, peanuts, rainbow veggies, and mint / basil / cilantro, and she’s here to say HI FRIENDS I LOVE YOUUUU
She is the SPRING ROLL BOWL, making her appearance just in time for SPRING as in the time of year when weather is supposed to get warm and sunny and happy-fresh.
*looks outside, sees snow falling, returns face to spring roll bowl*
How To Make Our Spring Roll Bowls (56 SEC):
I always have to say it, because it’s that important for a recipe that features fish sauce: DO NOT SNIFF THE BOTTLE.
Fish sauce might make you hesitant but it tastes like magic when combined with the right friends: lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, and the other usual suspects. Today is our day to be the fish-sauce-charmers who bring out the best and only the best of the fish sauce.
The mint and cilantro and basil together – it’s literal food heaven to combine the cool freshness of that herb trio with the saltiness and tang of the sauce.
We are in that sad season of Minnesota life where buying basil means paying $4 for that little plastic package with basically three single basil leaves in it – but we are fast approaching the time when fresh herbs (basil included!) are becoming more readily available in more than three-leaf packages, at which point I will obviously reduce myself to living solely on the lushness of these flavor-packed spring roll bowls – you know, in order to live seasonally. I can take one for the team on this.
I just have a really good feeling about how much you’re going to like this.
If you liked the Vietnamese Chicken Salad…
If you like to build meals based around whatever’s in your fridge…
If you like to look forward to your lunches…
If you like spring rolls with that addictingly delicious sweet dipping sauce…
My friend. This has your name ALL-OV-ER-IT.
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Spring Roll Bowls with Sweet Garlic Lime Sauce
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 1x
Description
Spring Roll Bowls – basil, mint, rice noodles, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and whatever other protein and veggies you have on hand! Easy to make meatless!
Ingredients
For the Sweet Garlic Lime Sauce:
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup agave or brown sugar
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 1/3 cup lime juice
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
For the Bowls:
- 7–8 ounces rice noodles
- 1/4 cup each of basil, mint, and cilantro (plz use all three – they’re so good together!)
- 1 serrano pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
- 2 avocados
- 2 carrots
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 cucumber
- 1 lb. of shrimp, tofu, or chicken (optional)
Instructions
- SAUCE PREP: Pulse the sauce ingredients together in a blender or food processor.
- NOODLE PREP: Cook your rice noodles by soaking them in cold water for about 30 minutes. When they’re softened, transfer to a pot of boiling water for just a minute or two before quickly draining again. *This is my preferred method because it prevents them from getting overly sticky.*
- VEG PREP: Mince the herbs, slice the serrano pepper, and peel or julienne cut the vegetables.
- PROTEIN PREP: Cook your shrimp, tofu, or chicken if you’re adding that in.
- BOWL PREP: Toss the noodles (hot or cold! your choice, friend) with the sweet garlic lime sauce and all the other ingredients.
Notes
If going sugar free is important to you, please note that fish sauce contains trace amounts of sugar. Also substitute distilled white vinegar in place of rice vinegar for completely sugar free.
7 OUNCES OF RICE NOODLES WAS JUST ABOUT PERFECT FOR THIS AMOUNT OF SAUCE! 😀 (that’s half a box)
Fish sauce smells bad. Don’t sniff it, and/or don’t be deterred when you inevitably sniff it on accident. It is SO delicious with all those other flavors and there is really no good substitute unless you make your own vegan-type-fish-sauce.
Nutrition facts are for 4 servings including sauce and 7 ounces rice noodles. I didn’t add any other ingredients because it will depend on what you make it with.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Keywords: spring roll bowl, rice noodle bowl, vegetarian noodle bowl
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our simple slurpable noodles page. Check it out!
Could there possibly be a misprint on the amount of fish sauce? 1/4C seems like a ton. I used half and I’m scared lol that I will be super swollen tomorrow.
Hi! Can oyster sauce be substituted for fish sauce?
Thanks 😊
Yes!
This recipe is one of our family’s favourites! I often pass this recipe link to others. Bean sprouts are a fantastic addition to the bowls. For vegetarian, we omit the fish sauce and add soy sauce. Thank you!!
I am not sure if I reviewed this recipe, but I cannot get it off of my mind. This is so delicious, I must make it again and again!
Could I use ground pork in this instead of chicken?
Definitely!
Absolutely delicious, feel-good food. I didn’t dress the entire bowl so I can enjoy leftovers today. This will be a regular feature in my meal planning.
Thank you!
I fully expected my kids to throw a fit about this one but even my 8yo loved it!
My boyfriend and I have made this twice for dinner and we love it so much! It makes enough that we could have seconds and still have enough for the next couple of days. I do want to ask though if there’s a good substitute for vegetable oil? I’m running low and I know it’s not good for you, so I don’t necessarily want to buy more if I can help it. Any substitute recommendations?
This is amazing! We’ve already made it twice and my boyfriend can’t stop raving about it. He wants me to make this all the time. And it makes plenty, we were able to have seconds and still have more the next day.
I do have one question, is there a good substitute for vegetable oil? We are low on it now and I don’t really want to buy more since it’s not very good for you. What other oil can be used in place of it?
Ok so I’ll admit I was a little skeptical about this one but wanted a healthier, fresher recipe and this one fit the bill. And…it was delicious!! I chose the wrong noodles and it was still packed with amazing flavors. We topped ours with AF tofu but I think a lemongrass pork meatball would also pair really nicely and stay on brand with the spring roll vibe. Great surprising recipe!!
This recipe is amazing!!! My entire household loves it and we eat it once a week. So easy, healthy, flavorful, unique, balanced, and absolutely delicious. It makes an excellent lunch, and and the perfect summer dinner. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Loved this dish. It is the perfect dinner for one of the hot summer nights when you aren’t in the mood for cooking. This Spring Roll Bowl reminds my of when I lived in Asia. Excellent recipe. This is becoming one of our regular dinners.
How can I send recipe to my email?
I found this recipe as a teenager almost 10 years ago. I still make and love it today. Thank you!
Wow! That’s amazing! Love that.
This was SO yummy! The textures and flavors were absolutely amazing. I made it for dinner and ate the leftovers for lunch the next day, I could easily eat this every day!
I LOVE this recipe! Quick, easy and delicious. I double the recipe as it’s great leftovers!
I have made this three times in the last 2 months all with rave reviews. The sauce is delish and makes the meal. I serve with sautéed prawns for added protein and skip the mint as I am not a fan. This tastes equally good over rice as it does noodles.
Another fabulous POY recipe!
Just made this for the first time and it is amazing! I followed the directions explicitly and would not change a thing. Every ingredient had a critical role.
I used shrimp, which was sautéed with a little lemon pepper seasoning. We enjoyed it at room temperature. Will now be part of our rotation.
Thanks Lindsay!!!
I loved this recipe! But can you suggest how to replace the (wonderful) 1/4 cup brown sugar? The carb count is too high for one family member. Grateful for your inventive recipes.❤️
Hi, Nancy! We haven’t tested this out using something other than brown sugar, so unfortunately we’re not sure of a good sub.
I almost never review recipes, but this one was amazing. My 7 year old announced that this was “one of the best dinners I’ve ever had.” The sauce is absolutely amazing and unique – every recipe I’ve ever made using fish sauce was always very OMG ONLY USE A FEW DASHES BECAUSE ITS SO STRONG YOU’LL RUIN EVERYTHING IF YOU USE TOO MUCH! so I was wary to use 1/4 cup in the sauce….but it’s phenomenal. Thanks for this gem 🙂
Hi Lindsay,
Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable?
Thanks!
That should work!
Spring rolls are my favorite! Which noodles do I use? The sticky brown rice noodles (which I loved, btw) used in a previous recipe? Because I’ve tried other rice noodles and did not love the consistency. Am I looking for thinness in a noodles or texture?
Brown rice noodles can work! That’s perfect!
One of my favourite recipes! I’ve been making this for my kids since they were babies! But since they couldn’t eat too many raw veggies then I always made this recipe with roasted veggies! Soooo good!
Although I didn’t have all the elements for this dish, it turned out delicious. I had the makings for the sauce, YUM, and subbed Spaghetti noodles because it is what I had on hand. I added thinly sliced cabbage for some added crunch and veg and some crushed red pepper for the spice factor. Everyone enjoyed this recipe.
This bowl was absolutely delicious. I didn’t use all of the dressing, so have a bit leftover for another bowl or salad. I think if I would have used it all it would have been a bit too drenched for our taste. I used 5 squares of rice noodles, shredded carrots, chopped yellow peppers, avocado, chopped cashews and sesame seeds, and left over roasted chicken. This is an extremely versatile recipe, so many options. But the dressing is definitely a pinch of yum!
Glad to hear it, Meri! Thanks so much for the review!