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Spicy Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

4.6

(10)

Image may contain Dish Food and Meal
Spicy Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping SauceLara Ferroni

We like to think of the summer roll as an elegant example of fast food: a salad packed into an edible container—in this case, paper-thin rice sheets—which results in something as beautiful to behold as it is practical to eat by hand. Better yet, the summer roll is a big win for the health-conscious because the roll is almost fat-free, and the sauce, while sporting a little peanut butter, is not highly caloric. One dipped bite yields an explosion of flavors and textures that's guaranteed to excite any palate.

Editor's Note: This recipe is part of Gourmet's Modern Menu for Fiery Fare. Menu also includes Spicy Sweet-and-Sour Grilled Chicken and Chile-Ginger-Mint Jellies.

Cooks' notes:

•Commercial hoisin sauces can vary quite a bit in flavor. We think Lee Kum Kee is a good brand.
•Sauce can be made 1 day ahead and kept chilled. Bring to room temperature before using.
•You will likely have leftovers of some of the filling ingredients and sauce, but when making these rolls, it's better to have a little extra rather than not enough. The sauce is excellent on just about anything: chicken, pork, steak, tofu, and vegetables. Gourmet Live staffers swooned over it.
•Rolls can be made 6 hours ahead, wrapped individually in plastic wrap, and then stored in a resealable plastic bag and chilled.

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