Banh Mi Winter Rolls
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These flavor-packed winter rolls offer a delightful twist on traditional summer rolls, delivering a burst of freshness and crunch tailored for fall and winter. Made with tender lemongrass meatballs, crisp carrots, vibrant red cabbage, chewy vermicelli noodles, savory umami-rich mushrooms, and fresh cilantro, and served alongside a spicy vinegar dipping sauce.
These winter rolls are my colder-weather take on banh mi — inspired by classic Vietnamese summer rolls, but made cozy with winter vegetables and bite-sized lemongrass-infused meatballs. They have all the freshness and contrast I love, just with heartier ingredients that feel right when it’s chilly outside.
Instead of pickled vegetables, I lean into raw, crunchy winter veggies and pair them with a tangy, vinegar-based dipping sauce that delivers the same bright, punchy balance. They’re refreshing, satisfying, and a little unexpected — perfect for when you want something light but still full of flavor during the colder months.
Ingredients needed
This winter rolls recipe uses a handful of ingredients. This is what you’ll need:
- Vietnamese lemongrass meatballs: Keep them petite so they perfectly fit into the rolls.
- Rice vermicelli: Adds a nice texture with chewiness.
- Vegetables: Carrot, red cabbage, and shimeji mushrooms bring flavor and crunch. You can substitute for shiitake mushrooms if they’re available to you.
- Cilantro: For a little freshness to complement the savory elements.
- Rice paper wrappers: To roll it all together.
- Dipping sauce: Combine rice wine vinegar, sriracha, sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, lime juice.
Tips for handling rice paper wrappers
There’s a fine balance between over-soaked, soggy rice paper that slips and slides everywhere – and under-soaked, sticky rice paper that glues itself to everything. Finding that happy medium usually takes a few tries! Here are some tips:
- Soaking time: Be mindful not to oversoak the rice paper – it continues to absorb water even after you take it out.
- Damp surface: Keep your surface lightly damp to prevent the rice paper from sticking.
- Placement: Place the ingredients in the center of the rice paper, leaving space at the edges to make it easier when you roll.
- Tight roll: Make sure your wrap them tightly to make a more compact and well-structured roll.
- Seam side down: When placing them on the parchment paper, place them seam side down to prevent unraveling.
How to serve winter rolls
These winter rolls are best plated seam-side down (to prevent unraveling) and served alongside a bowl of vinegary dipping sauce. If you’re serving these as an appetizer (maybe a game-day Super Bowl appy?), we recommend cutting them in half so they’re more snack-sized. They are a bit messy to eat, so make sure you have some napkins close by! They’re surprisingly filling, so they can work as a main course, too.
Recipe FAQs
Can I customize the fillings?
Sure, you can use any seasonal ingredients you wish to include, such as roasted squash or red bell peppers, sliced brussels sprouts, a piece of tofu, or a sprinkle of sesame seeds. You can use other herbs too, such as mint or Thai basil.
Can I serve these with another dipping sauce?
Sure! We enjoy this dipping sauce as it replicates the pickled vegetables you’d usually find in banh mi. If you want to try another dipping sauce, we recommend this satay sauce.
Banh Mi Winter Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Vietnamese Lemongrass Meatballs (48 meatballs)
- 5 ounces rice vermicelli
- 5 ounces shimeji mushrooms (or substitute a handful of shiitake mushrooms)
- 3 carrots (julienned on a mandolin)
- 2 cups red cabbage (thinly sliced on a mandolin)
- 12 stems cilantro
- 12 small rice paper wrappers
Dipping Sauce
- ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon EACH: sriracha and sugar
- ½ teaspoon EACH: fish sauce, soy sauce, grated ginger
- 1 small garlic clove (very finely minced)
- Juice from ½ lime
Instructions
- Make the recipe for the Vietnamese Lemongrass Meatballs. Roll into 48 mini meatballs and pan fry over medium-high heat in a little oil until they are dark brown and have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, about 10 minutes.
- Soak the rice vermicelli in boiling water until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.5 ounces rice vermicelli
- Saute the mushrooms in a little oil until cooked, about 3-4 minutes.5 ounces shimeji mushrooms
- Whisk all the dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl.¼ cup rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon EACH: sriracha and sugar, ½ teaspoon EACH: fish sauce, soy sauce, grated ginger, 1 small garlic clove, Juice from ½ lime
Assemble the winter rolls:
- Fill a large, shallow bowl with hot tap water. Dip one rice paper wrapper in the water and let it soften for about 30 seconds. Lay the wrapper on a flat surface and top with some rice vermicelli, carrots, cabbage, a stem of cilantro, four meatballs, and a few mushrooms.3 carrots, 2 cups red cabbage, 12 small rice paper wrappers, 12 stems cilantro
- Pull one end of the wrapper over the fillings. Fold the sides in then roll up like a burrito. Set aside on parchment paper (they will stick to most other surfaces!) and repeat with the remaining wrappers.
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
Are meatballs coming out cold?
I serve these rolls at room temperature. 🙂
Thanks so much, Fernando! They really as tasty. 🙂