Eats & Treats Bahrain by Tania Rebello - Spring in a roll

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

As we glide into the spring season, let us discover some interesting facts about spring rolls. Crispy, golden cylinders filled with crunchy vegetables and a dipping sauce.

This is how we have often known and enjoyed this famous appetizer which is essentially a Chinese version. But, did you know that spring rolls were actually invented by the Vietnamese? Spring rolls have their origins in Vietnam and were eaten during the spring season.

That is how they got their name. Vietnamese spring rolls consist of a moist rice wrapper that is filled with fresh, crunchy, seasonal spring vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, bell peppers, fresh rice vermicelli and herbs such as mint and coriander. A non-vegetarian version would contain shrimp as well.

The roll is not deep-fried; instead, it is consumed as a refreshing, colorful appetizer to be enjoyed with a sweet and savory dipping sauce. The sauce is prepared with peanut butter, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar and honey.

Spring rolls are known by many names in other parts of the world such as popiah in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Indonesia and Philippines know them as lumpia and Westerners call them egg rolls.