Fresh Spring Rolls with Avocado, Miso and Baby Spinach Dip

, from Issue #69. November, 2016
Photography by Aaron McLean.
Fresh Spring Rolls with Avocado, Miso and Baby Spinach Dip

Packed with goodness and brimming with flavour, this avocado dip is delicious served with the fresh spring rolls but can also accompany crudites or crispbreads.

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

Fresh Spring Rolls 
12 x 22cm square Asian rice paper wrappers
½ telegraph cucumber
1 red capsicum
1 large carrot, peeled
24 large mint leaves
1 cup very fresh bean sprouts
5 thick spears asparagus, blanched and halved lengthways


Avocado, Miso and Baby Spinach Dip
150 grams baby spinach
1 large ripe avocado
2 teaspoons white miso paste
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon sesame oil
⅓ cup packed basil leaves
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ cup yoghurt
sea salt and ground pepper
To serve
toasted sesame seeds, plain yoghurt and crostini 

METHOD

Fresh Spring Rolls

Cut the cucumber, capsicum and carrots into julienne. 

To assemble: Fill a wide shallow bowl with warm tap water. Soak a rice paper very briefly until it’s just starting to soften. Lay flat on a clean tea towel on the bench in front of you. Don’t let the wrapper get too soft or it will disintegrate. 

Place 2 mint leaves then a line of cucumber, capsicum, carrot, bean sprouts and two pieces of asparagus across the bottom of the wrapper. Fold the bottom of the rice paper over the filling and roll up tightly into a long cylinder. Do not fold in the sides. Cut in half and place on a plastic wrap-lined tray, making sure they are not touching. Repeat with the remaining wrappers
and filling. 

If you are not serving the rolls immediately, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.


Avocado, Miso and Baby Spinach Dip

Put the spinach in a large heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water, turning to wilt. Drain and refresh in cold water. Place in a clean tea towel and roll up to squeeze out all the water. 

Place in a food processor with all the remaining ingredients, season and process until thick and smooth. 

To serve: Spread the dip on a shallow platter and swirl through a few spoons of yoghurt and top with sesame seeds. Arrange the spring rolls around the plate along with crostini and add extra cucumber and micro watercress leaves if desired.