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    Home » Recipes » Gluten Free Appetizers

    Vietnamese Salad Rolls

    Published: Jul 15, 2022 · Modified: Aug 14, 2024 by Cinde LittleThis post may contain affiliate links1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Vietnamese Salad Rolls are healthy and refreshing, full of crunchy vegetables, rice noodles and fresh herbs. Like many Thai and Vietnamese dishes, they're naturally gluten free, a gift to the gluten free community. The traditional sauce, called nuoc cham, is the secret everyone wants to know.

    A black platter with Vietnamese Salad Rolls with a variety of fillings. this gluten free recipe

    If you like to give guests a job as soon as they walk in the door making salad rolls is a fun activity for entertaining. Bring out the container of ingredients and let the fun begin!

    Jump to:
    • Authentic Vietnamese Salad Rolls
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions: 3 Tips To Get Organized
    • Instructions: How To Make Salad Rolls
    • How Long Do I Soften Rice Paper To Make Salad Rolls
    • How Long in Advance Can I Make Salad Rolls
    • Video Instructions
    • What is the Best Dipping Sauce for Salad Rolls
    • Nuoc Cham vs Nuoc Mam
    • What To Make with Leftover Nuoc Cham Dipping Sauce
    • How To Serve Vietnamese Salad Rolls
    • Vietnamese Salad Rolls
    • Frequently Asked Questions

    Authentic Vietnamese Salad Rolls

    I think of this recipe (made with shrimp, noodles and herbs), as the most authentic Vietnamese Salad Roll recipe. It’s really just the first way I ate them more than thirty years ago.

    As a food blogger and person who devours more recipes than food, I’ve learned that calling anything authentic is like comparing one family recipe to another. Every authentic recipe has slight variations from family to family, region to region and country to country.

    Triangular wrappers are traditionally used at the table to wrap grilled foods.

    Ingredients

    Rice paper wrappers are made from rice flour, water and salt. They’re dry and brittle and come in different shapes and sizes. I used a 9-inch round wrapper for these, use 6-inch rounds are too small for me.

    A container with all the fixings for salad rolls: sliced peppers and cucumber, grated carrots, shrimp halves, cabbage and rice noodles. Beside are dishes with sesame seeds and chopped peanuts.
    • round rice paper wrappers
    • shrimp
    • fine vermicelli rice noodles
    • soft lettuce
    • carrot
    • Fresh herbs - cilantro, Thai basil and/or mint leaves (I like to combine any 2 of these)
    • peanuts
    • Additional Filling Ingredient Ideas: cucumber, peppers, jicama, avocado, mango, edible flowers, black or brown sesame seeds

    Nuoc Cham Dipping Sauce

    • fish sauce
    • lime juice
    • rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
    • sugar
    • crushed chiles
    • garlic
    • carrot

    See recipe card for exact amounts.

    Instructions: 3 Tips To Get Organized

    Here are three tips for advance prep that makes serving salad rolls look like a breeze. Don’t under estimate the value of these simple steps, they make entertaining look easy.

    1. Prep your fillings in advance. For my in person cooking classes and my own entertaining I prepare the ingredients like you see in this photo.
    2. Know what dishes you need for each job. I also know what bowl I use to soften the rice noodles and I have a specific serving dish that is low and easily holds a single rice paper wrapper. (A pie plate isn’t big enough or deep enough. It’s just annoying!)
    3. Make the Nuoc Cham dipping sauce in advance.

    Instructions: How To Make Salad Rolls

    It takes a little practise so plan to set aside the first few you make. Have them while you work or take them for lunch the next day.

    A platter with Vietnamese Salad Rolls garnished with a pansy.

    Rice paper wrappers should be stored flat in the flexible plastic container they came in or an airtight bag. I find the flimsy plastic container with sides helps prevent them from breaking.

    When making salad rolls leave the stack of wrappers in the package removing only one at a time. If left open to the air they will curl up and are more likely to break when you touch them.

    How Long Do I Soften Rice Paper To Make Salad Rolls

    Soften sheets one at a time in hot tap water soaking for less than 30 seconds. They will continue to soften as you add the fillings. They are more difficult to work with when they’re too soft so remove them more quickly if you have that problem.

    Some wrappers may be broken when you take them out of the package and others may break when you put them in the water. Depending where the tear is you can make your salad roll anyway or throw it out and start with a new wrapper.

    How Long in Advance Can I Make Salad Rolls

    Salad rolls can be made up to 8 hours in advance. Place them in a single layer on a tray and cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and store in the fridge. If they feel a bit stiff when you take them out dip your fingers in warm tap water and gently rub some water on the salad rolls.

    I never make them a day ahead but I always eat any leftovers the next day. Do that and decide for yourself how long you would want to make them in advance.

    Video Instructions

    YouTube player

    What is the Best Dipping Sauce for Salad Rolls

    Everyone asks this question and my answer is always nuoc cham. It’s a vinegar-based sauce that I think is the traditional dipping sauce to serve with salad rolls.

    I absolutely love peanut sauce but it’s not my first choice for salad rolls. Some restaurants even serve them with hoisin sauce but that’s not the right taste for me.

    Nuoc cham is simple to make and will keep in your fridge for months. I always make the full recipe of sauce even though it’s way more than you need for twelve salad rolls.

    Nuoc Cham vs Nuoc Mam

    Nuoc mam is the Vietnamese word for fish sauce. It’s the essential ingredient in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. It should be naturally gluten free (famous last words) and you can learn more about this ingredient in my post, Fish Sauce.

    Nuoc cham is the dipping sauce made with fish sauce (nuoc mam). Recipes vary but mine is made with fish sauce plus rice vinegar, lime juice, sugar, garlic and dried chiles. I think it's amazing!

    What To Make with Leftover Nuoc Cham Dipping Sauce

    The nuoc cham in each of these recipes is slightly different. When I have nuoc cham in the fridge leftover from my salad rolls I'll use it in any of these recipes.

    • This Cabbage Chicken Salad is a light lunch perfect for alfresco dining.
    • Pork in Tomato Sauce is a bit of an unusual dish. The sauce is a Vietnamese version of meat sauce and it's served on a bed of chopped crisp lettuce with warm rice on top. The nuoc cham finishes it off and this recipe is a must make!
    • I make a simple version of this Rice Noodle Bowl for an everyday dinner. If I'm entertaining then I'll include shrimp, beef and pork like I did in this recipe.

    How To Serve Vietnamese Salad Rolls

    Serve salad rolls whole or cut in half diagonally. To make a pretty platter I serve them both ways and garnish with lots of fresh herbs. In the summer when I can pick edible flowers from my garden I use them too.

    When I want to be inspired for a different presentation I go to Google Images. I type the name of the recipe I want in the search bar and voila, more ideas than I’ve got time to look at. That's how I found the pink salad rolls I made for this photo.

    Vietnamese Salad Rolls
    Individual serving for Salad Rolls
    A black platter with Vietnamese Salad Rolls with a variety of fillings.
    Colourful Salad Rolls with a variety of fillings.

    Let me know in the comments what you made or what you still want to try.

    A platter with Vietnamese Salad Rolls garnished with a pansy.

    Vietnamese Salad Rolls

    Everyone loves the freshness of Vietnamese Salad Rolls with Nuoc Cham dipping sauce bursting with the flavour of fresh herbs and vegetables.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Vietnamese
    Keyword: Veitnamese Salad Rolls
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Assembly: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 12 salad rolls
    Calories: 206kcal
    Author: Cinde Little

    Ingredients

    SALAD ROLLS

    • 12 rice paper wrappers
    • 18 cooked shrimp, halved horizontally (3 halves per salad roll)
    • 250 grams fine vermicelli rice noodles
    • ½ cup soft lettuce, finely shredded
    • ½ cup carrot, finely shredded
    • 1 bunch cilantro, Thai basil and/or mint leaves (I like to combine any 2 of these)
    • ¼ cup peanuts, chopped

    OPTIONAL FILLING INGREDIENTS

    • cucumber, peppers, jicama, avocado, mango, edible flowers, black or brown sesame seeds

    NUOC CHAM DIPPING SAUCE

    • ½ cup fish sauce
    • ¼ cup lime juice
    • ½ tablespoon rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ¾ cup warm water
    • ½ teaspoon crushed chiles
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 teaspoon small carrot, shredded
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    SOAK NOODLES

    • Place rice noodles in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over them and let sit for 5 minutes. Set a timer! Drain, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process then drain again.

    NUOC CHAM DIPPING SAUCE

    • Combine all ingredients in a large measuring cup or Mason jar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.

    SALAD ROLL FILLINGS

    • Prepare all filling ingredients and refrigerate in an airtight container. Can be done a day in advance.

    SOAK RICE PAPER WRAPPERS

    • Use a large, flat bowl that is slightly larger than the size of the rice paper wrappers. Fill the bowl with tap hot water. I can make 6 salad rolls before the water is not warm enough. Empty the bowl and refill with hot water.
    • Gently slip 1 rice paper wrapper into the bowl of warm water until submerged. Let it soak for 10-20 seconds to soften. Carefully remove from bowl and lay on work surface.

    ASSEMBLE SALAD ROLLS

    • Place 3 shrimp halves on the bottom third of the wrapper.
    • Top with a small amount of noodles, folded into a sausage shape.
    • Sprinkle a very small amount of carrot, lettuce, herbs and peanuts.
    • There is no correct order. Try different ways and as you roll them up see what you can make show on the best side of the finished salad roll.
    • Fold the bottom of the wrapper up over the filling. Next fold over each side of the wrapper. Now hold the filling and roll it up keeping it as tight as possible.*
    • Place salad rolls in a single layer on a plate covered with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Continue making salad rolls and covering them up as you go. If not serving immediately, keep the salad rolls tightly covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for 4-6 hours.
    • Serve them whole or cut on a diagonal with Nuoc Cham dipping sauce or peanut sauce.

    Notes

    *In my cooking classes I have people make the first 2 salad rolls and put them in a container for lunch the next day. By the 3rd salad roll you'll be able to make them a little tighter and by 10 you'll be a pro!
    TIPS - Whatever you place on the wrapper first is what will show through the finished salad roll. Vary the look by starting with herbs, shrimp, carrot or edible flowers. It still takes practice to roll the wraps without having the folded in ends covering the filling you wanted to show through. Keep practicing!
    PINK RICE PAPER WRAPPERS - Add some beet juice (from a jar of pickled beets) to the water to soak the wrappers. Start with just enough water in the bowl plus a generous splash of beet juice so the wrapper can quickly absorb some colour since it soaks for less than a minute. I tried this when the water was a bit cooler so the rice paper soaked for a little longer. Experiment!
    NOODLES - Once softened rice noodles can keep in the fridge for several hours or overnight. To make salad rolls you want fairly dry noodles. Lay them on a kitchen towel before using if they're quite wet.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vietnamese Salad Rolls
    Amount Per Serving (2 salad rolls)
    Calories 206 Calories from Fat 18
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 2g3%
    Saturated Fat 0.3g2%
    Trans Fat 0.001g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 21mg7%
    Sodium 999mg43%
    Potassium 195mg6%
    Carbohydrates 40g13%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Protein 6g12%
    Vitamin A 1236IU25%
    Vitamin C 4mg5%
    Calcium 41mg4%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Spring rolls vs salad rolls

    Spring rolls are deep-fried and don’t typically include noodles. The term salad rolls and summer rolls is used interchangeably for the kind of rolls I'm talking about here.

    Is there a vegan substitute for fish sauce

    Yes, there is. If you’ve got friends who are allergic to fish, or vegan, you’ve got to share this Vegan Fish Sauce Substitute recipe. I’ve used it in many Thai and Vietnamese recipes and even at some of my cooking classes. No one can tell the difference.

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    🎉 I made it into the Top 100 Gluten Free Blogs for 2025 and the Top 40 Gourmet Food Blogs. To learn all the ways I can help you click here, Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Steshni Corea

      June 16, 2025 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      Beautiful and fun summer recipe!!

      Reply

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