Tofu Spring Rolls

Name: Tofu Spring Rolls
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 14-ounce package extra firm tofu; 1/2 cup soy sauce; 1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons honey; 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 carrots; 1 medium cucumber; 1 small wedge of green cabbage; small bunch of basil; 4-5 sprigs of mint; about 16 rice paper spring roll wrappers; 1/3 cup peanut butter; 1 teaspoon sriracha (optional)

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A recipe for fresh tofu spring rolls that packs crunchy vegetables with strips of flavored tofu and a side of easy peanut dipping sauce.

spring rolls with herbs and peanut sauce

Spring rolls, often called Vietnamese spring rolls, typically consist of raw vegetables, a protein, some noodles, and herbs, all rolled up in a thin rice paper wrapper.

This recipe's protein is tofu, although shrimp and pork are also common. We'll quickly cook the tofu under the broiler; however, the roll itself is served raw. Because of that, the fresh vegetables provide a wonderful crunch, while the peanut dipping sauce elevates and ties it all together. It's a good way to enjoy fresh, in-season vegetables.

😍 Why you'll love these spring rolls

They're completely customizable. You can use your favorite vegetables and herbs and vary each roll with your choice of fillings.
They're fun to make. If you're serving them at a get-together, why not let everyone make their own just how they like? After the ingredients are all prepped, they take just a few minutes to assemble and roll up.
They're healthy and fresh tasting. You can't beat the crunch of fresh vegetables paired with the flavors of the herbs. They're perfect for summer when both ingredients are at their peak.

If you're looking for more delicious vegetarian recipes, check out these:

Jump to:

😍 Why you'll love these spring rolls
🥕 Ingredients
🫛 Substitutions & Variations
🔪 Instructions
✨Top Tips
🥡 Storage
🙋🏼‍♀️ FAQ
🍹 Pairing
📖 Recipe
🥗 Related
💬 Comments

🥕 Ingredients

Here's everything you need to make these spring rolls with tofu.

Key Ingredients

Tofu - This recipe calls for one package of extra firm tofu. Softer tofu will not hold up.
Spring roll wrappers - You want to use rice paper spring roll wrappers that you can rehydrate with water. Package quantities may vary, but you want at least 16 wrappers.
Vegetables - I use carrots, cucumbers, and cabbage in the recipe as it's written, though you can use any crunchy fresh vegetable.
Fresh herbs - Such as basil and mint.
Soy sauce - A key component of the peanut sauce. If desired, use low sodium soy sauce or tamari if you want to make this recipe gluten-free.
Peanut butter - Any peanut putter you like is fine here.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

🫛 Substitutions & Variations

Vegetables - Several other raw vegetables, such as snow peas, radishes, bell peppers, and bean sprouts, would go well in these rolls. Because the tofu has a soft texture, you may want your vegetables to provide some crunch to balance things out. Use whatever combination of vegetables you prefer.
Herbs - Basil, mint, cilantro, parsley, and even dill could be used.
Lower sodium—The peanut dipping sauce is salty. If you'd like it less so, use a lower-sodium soy sauce. However, keep in mind that the rolls themselves are a bit bland on their own, and the sauce intentionally packs some punch.
Add rice noodles - Rice noodles are a common addition to spring rolls. Try adding a small amount of cooked noodles to your rolls. Just be careful not to overstuff them.

🔪 Instructions

How to make the spring rolls.

slices of tofu being covered with a towel

Step 1: Slice the block of tofu in half and then each half into ¼-inch slices. Place on a tray, cover with a towel, and place something heavy, like a pan, on top of the towel. Let sit for 15 minutes to press out some of the liquid.

Step 2: In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, ginger, garlic, olive oil, honey, and rice vinegar.

Step 3: Coat both sides of the tofu with a couple of tablespoons of the sauce. Pop the pan under the broiler, adjust your oven rack as needed, and cook for 5 minutes on each side until lightly browned.

Step 4: Slice your carrots, cucumber, and cabbage into matchstick-sized pieces. Separate the herbs into individual leaves and remove the stems. Slice the tofu into strips.

Step 5: Set all of the ingredients out to assemble the rolls. Add some water to a shallow dish, then briefly dip one of the wrappers for 10-15 seconds to soften.

Step 6: Lay the wet wrapper on the counter. Place a few herb leaves in the middle, followed by a few pieces of vegetables and then tofu.

Step 7: Fold the sides of the wrapper inward on top of the filling.

Step 8: Roll the wrapper up gently but firmly, squeezing to tighten the wrapper around the filling and have it stay closed.

Step 9: Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling ingredients, varying the ingredients in each roll as you like. Place the rolls in the fridge until ready to serve.

Step 10: Add the remaining sauce to a small pot with the peanut butter and sriracha. Heat over low to soften the peanut butter until it is easy to whisk until smooth. Serve the spring rolls with the peanut sauce.

✨Top Tips

Don't overfill the wrappers! They hold less than you think. Go easy at first until you get a sense of how much filling will fit.
Just dip the rice paper wrappers in water briefly to hydrate. There's no need to let them sit in the water. They'll fall apart if you do.
Remember that what you put on the bottom of the wrappers when you fill them will be the top after you roll them.
Don't stress. Have fun, be creative, and don't worry if you're first few are a mess. Just eat the mess and keep going!
Serve within a couple of hours of serving for the freshest taste and most crunch.

🥡 Storage

These spring rolls are best enjoyed the day they're prepared. When stored in the fridge for too long, they turn soft and mushy, which is not what you want. You want that fresh vegetable crunch.

That said, you can prepare the sauce in advance, prep the ingredients for the rolls, store them in the fridge, and assemble everything just before you're ready to serve.

🙋🏼‍♀️ FAQ

What is a tofu spring roll?

A spring roll is an Asian snack or appetizer in which thin, translucent wrappers made of rice paper are filled with various fresh ingredients, often vegetables. A tofu spring roll contains vegetables and tofu.

Are spring rolls healthy?

Fresh spring rolls, when filled with fresh vegetables and not fried, are a healthy appetizer option.

Which is healthier, spring roll or egg roll?

Spring rolls are the healthier choice because, unlike egg rolls, they're not fried.

Are spring rolls gluten-free?

If you use a rice-based gluten-free wrapper (such as these from Blue Dragon) and tamari in place of the soy sauce in this recipe, then yes, these rolls will be gluten free.