Best Rice Paper Recipes

Last Updated on January 18, 2023 by Sabrina Currie

Here are the BEST recipes that use rice paper! From dumplings to rolls, appetizers and mains that use rice wrappers, there is even a rice paper wrapped dessert. These are (mostly) healthy recipes that are quick and easy too.

I have a family favorite recipe that uses rice paper and often find myself with lots of rice paper wrappers leftover.

Rice wrappers (aka spring roll wrappers) are fun and generally easy to work with. They also lend themselves to healthy meals as they don't require any oil or fat. Rice paper doesn't need to be cooked (though it can be) making it great in the hot summer months or a safe cooking project for kids.

Popular in Vietnamese restaurants as well as Chinese, Thai and other South Asian restaurants, they're easier to make than you might think. Here are some great creative ways to use this versatile ingredient.

Top Tips For Using Rice Paper

1. If you are having trouble keeping the rice paper from tearing while you get the hang of it, soak 2 pieces of rice paper and then stack them to make a thicker wrapper. It is still delicious but less delicate and easier to work with.
2. To keep your rice paper from tearing and keep the fillings all together, tuck fillings in the middle of a soft lettuce leaf, roll, then place on the rice wrapper and roll or shape as per recipe.
3. Use cold water. If you use warm water, the rice paper will get soggy faster and also sticky making these hard to roll.
4. Soak just long enough to make them pliable. The wraps will continue to soften after rolling so only soak until they can be rolled. Soaking longer makes them break open easily and even get mushy. Once soaked, shake off any excess water before filling and rolling.
5. Place smooth side of wrap on work surface, bumpy side up to put the fillings on.
6. Place finished rice wrapped recipes on parchment until ready to eat or cook. Parchment helps them come off easier with less sticking.
7. If you are cooking or frying your rice rolls, use slightly less filling ingredients to ensure that they seal fully. Any openings will let the fillings start to leak out as they cook.
8. For the crispiest spring rolls, make sure the oil is fully preheated before frying. Check by dropping a small piece of dry rice paper into the oil. If it puffs up within 5 seconds, the oil is hot enough.
9. Puffed rice paper makes a fun and simple garnish or snack if you are deep frying something else and its a great way to use up broken rice paper sheets. Simply add large shards of broken rice paper to the hot oil set to medium-high heat, let fry until puffed and remove to a paper towel lined plate with a slotted spoon. Sprinkle with a bit of salt if desired or serve alongside other dishes and dips.

Rice Paper Rolls

Fill your rolls with your favorite flavors. Here are versions with shrimp, pork, lentils, tofu and/or veggies (including avocado).

Some are wrapped in simple, cold water water soaked rice paper wraps and others get a double wrap and are fried crispy in vegetable oil (or crisp them up in an airfryer). Adding a second layer of rice paper keeps fried rolls from falling apart and gives a crisp outside with a chewy, soft inside.

Each comes with it's own dipping sauce. Choose from classic peanut butter-hoisin sauce, rice vinegar based nuoc cham, plain sweet chili or a light, sesame soy version. Or make them all! Yum.

Shrimp Salad Rolls With Peanut Dipping Sauce (GF, DF)

A simple and easy salad roll with shrimp, rice noodles, and veggies will stand out with a mouth-wateringly delicious, mildly spicy peanut dipping sauce that comes together quickly. This recipe uses pre-cooked and marinated shrimp for a super fast and easy recipe. Use gf soy sauce to make this fully gluten-free.

Check out this recipe

Vegetarian Summer Rolls With 3 Dipping Sauces (V)

These vegan rice paper rolls are the perfect way to use rice paper and get your filling of fresh veggies. They're filled with an assortment of rainbow-colored vegetables, creamy avocado, and protein-rich tofu all rolled up in rice paper! (These use a vegan "fish" sauce, found in specialty Asian and health food grocery stores.)

Check out this recipe

Goi Cuon Vietnamese Spring Rolls With Sesame Ginger Dipping Sauce (V, GF)

Gỏi cuốn - these summer rolls are easy, authentic, and require absolutely no cooking. Fully vegan and gluten-free, these fresh Vietnamese spring rolls have a delicious, light sesame oil, ginger, and soy dipping sauce.

Check out this recipe

Vegan Spring Rolls With Crispy Tofu (V)

Fresh, healthy, and easy to make, these spring rolls with crispy tofu will be your new favorite appetizer. Ultra simple and with no meat or seafood, these are a great picnic spring roll.

Check out this recipe

Crispy Rice Paper Spring Rolls With Pork And Veggies

You've had rice paper rolls, but have you ever tried crispy rice paper rolls? Savory pork, mushroom and green onion filling in rice paper gets shallow fried for a chewy inside and crisp outside. Take classic Vietnamese rolls to a whole new level.

Check out this recipe

Pan Fried Lentil Spring Rolls With Tahini Dipping Sauce

Hearty and comforting curried pan-fried red lentil spring rolls with a creamy lemon-ginger tahini dipping sauce. Delicious, healthy, filling, & easy to make!

Check out this recipe

Dumplings & Samosas

Rice wraps are an easy wrapper for dumplings and samosas and are naturally gluten free. Crispy rice paper dumplings are tasty savory treats that have a slightly chewy and soft interior. A little extra work but well worth it!

Crispy Vegetable Filled Rice Paper Dumplings

These rice paper veggie dumplings are crispy delicious and loaded with sweet veggies. Simple to make and form, you can make them on the stovetop or in the air fryer.

Check out this recipe

Gluten-Free Samosas In Rice Paper (Vegan)

A rice paper samosa is every bit as delicious as a pastry-wrapped one. The potatoes, peas and onion inside are flavoured with garam masala and curry powder. The result is a tasty snack offering classic Indian flavours.

Check out this recipe

Unusual Rice Paper Recipes

Use a sheet of rice paper to wrap a vegan "turkey", serve as a crispy pizza base or make up some addictive rice "bacon. Really! Check out these unique and delicious recipes.

Vietnamese Rice Paper Pizza

Vietnamese rice paper pizza gets grilled to perfection! This is a fun and easy pizza recipe and you can add any toppings you like! Crunchy and delicious!

Check out this recipe

Rice Paper Bacon (Vegan Bacon)

This rice paper bacon is so easy and fun to make! It requires simple pantry ingredients you can keep on hand for whenever that smoky-salty-sweet craving strikes. It's vegan + cholesterol-free, can easily be made gluten-free, and tastes shockingly like the bacon we grew up eating. It even sizzles while it cooks! Serve it with tofu scramble for an epic vegan brunch or on a vegetarian BLT!

Check out this recipe

Rice Paper Wrapped Vegan "Turkey" Roast

A hearty, healthy, and delicious seitan-based, vegan Thanksgiving "turkey" roast with a crispy rice paper skin! Perfect for the holidays or anytime you want a delicious homemade family meal!

Check out this recipe

Dessert

Using rice wraps makes a quick and easy fruit spring rolls. Fill your rice paper sheets with pie filling (apple, banana, peach or pecan), roll and roll again with a second wrap. Fry or air fry and serve topped with vanilla ice cream for a deluxe (and gluten free) dessert!

Baked Apple Pie Rice Paper Rolls (Gluten-Free)

5 ingredient gluten-free and vegan baked apple pie rice paper rolls are an easy and delicious dessert. These fill your home with the smell of freshly baked apple pie and you probably already have all 5 simple ingredients!

Check out this recipe

Related Recipes

I hope this collection of recipes has helped you find the perfect one for your meal.

If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.

Also check out my FREE PRINTABLE meal planner to make menu planning and grocery shopping a breeze and my shopping guide. And if you like this recipe, I would love it if you give it a star rating in the recipe card.

Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina

Cheers,

Sabrina