These always seemed like some exotic jigsaw puzzle to me when we got them at the restaurant. So neatly wrapped, tight enough the filling hardly ever fell out, but with the most simple of ingredients. I had a craving for spring rolls the other day. Instead of spending $5 for two rolls, I bought all the ingredients to make 2 dozen for about $10. I started with a package of spring roll wrappers and just picked up the ingredients listed on the back.

1 package spring rolls wrappers
1 package rice stir-fry noodles

lettuce or cabbage, cut into long thin strips

carrot, cut into long thin strips

fresh coriander leaves (otherwise known as cilantro)

1 can bean sprouts (or you could use fresh)

1 package salad shrimp (you could use larger ones, these were just less expensive, or you could leave them out or use some other kind of meat or even tofu)

Put very water in a shallow pan. Immerse one wrapper at a time until they are softened. Pull the wrapper out, lay flat on a dishtowel (the non-fuzzy kind works best). Blot extra water off the top with another towel. Place ingredients in small amounts in the middle of the wrap. I placed first a strip of noodles, then some lettuce, then carrots, then bean sprouts, then coriander and then shrimp. Fold the bottom edge of the wrapper over the filling until it just touches the wrapper on the other side. Fold the ends toward the middle. Snug your filling in and roll the wrapper until it sticks to itself and forms a roll. And you're done.

We ate ours with a store-bought peanut sauce, but if you look online you will find some other recipes. I think I will try to make some from scratch next time we make these. I'm also going to make some thai chili sauce for dipping. Next time I'm also going to add cucumber cut into thin strips.