There’s a reason these are called summer rolls! They are the perfect summer lunch or light supper. They are also great as an appetizer for summer entertaining. But you have to hurry. In case you hadn’t noticed, summer days are numbered :)
I’ve only recently discovered the joys of making summer rolls at home, after enjoying them in restaurants for years. For some reason, I thought they might be tricky to make. Not! Sure, the first couple rolls I made weren’t the prettiest, but once I got the hang of it, I was a summer roll making machine. This green curry variety is one of my favourites, especially when I have left-over chicken around to make the process even easier and quicker.
With left-over chicken, simply cook up the sauce and combine with the chicken. Store in the refrigerator and spoon out as needed. This way you can make just one or two rolls and eat them fresh whenever the mood strikes.
Thai Green Curry Chicken Summer Rolls
Summary: These are at their best served on the same day but can be made a day ahead as long as they remain wrapped in a damp cloth and plastic wrap. If you have some left-over cooked chicken, you can easily use it up in these summer rolls. Simply skip the cooking of the chicken and proceed with the rest of the recipe. Feel free to use extra veggies in your rolls if you like – match-stick carrots or red pepper would be a nice addition.
Ingredients
- For the Chicken:
- 1 tsp. green curry paste
- 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts
- For the Sauce:
- 1 cup coconut milk (thick kind with cream and milk, stirred to combine before measuring)
- 1 tsp. green curry paste
- 1 Tbsp. fish sauce
- 1 tbsp. shredded ginger
- 1/2 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh or canned tomatoes
- 1/4 tsp. grated lime rind
- 1 Tbsp. lime juice
- 8 round rice paper wrappers
- 2 or 3 green onions, cut in long shreds
- 1/3 English cucumber, cut into long shreds
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
- 1 cup baby lettuce mix
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- To cook chicken (skip this section if you are using left-over cooked chicken): Preheat oven to 400° F. Combine curry paste, soy sauce and 1 Tbsp.vegetable oil. Brush on to chicken breasts. Heat remaining oil in an oven-proof skillet over medium heat and add chicken breasts. Sear for 2 minutes on each side. Place skillet in oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until juices are clear. Remove chicken from skillet. Keep skillet for making sauce. Cut chicken into long pieces, about 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch by 6-inches long or so.
- For the sauce: To a skillet, add coconut milk, curry paste, fish sauce, ginger, sugar, tomatoes and lime rind to skillet. Heat over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until sauce is very thick and only about 1/2 cup remains. Stir in lime juice. Return chicken to skillet and toss with sauce. Refrigerate to cool.
- Prepare vegetables and divide chicken into 8 portions. Place a sheet of waxed or parchment paper on counter top.
- Dip rice paper wrapper into a large bowl of warm water for 4-5 seconds to soften and transfer to parchment paper. Working with 1 wrapper at a time, place 1 portion of chicken filling onto top third of wrapper, spreading it to about an inch of the edge. Add 2 to 3 shreds of green onion, 2 long shreds of cucumber, 3 cilantro leaves and a few leaves of baby lettuce mix. Season with salt and pepper. Roll up wrapper tucking in ends as you roll. Place, seam-side down, on a tray. Repeat with remaining rolls.
- When finished, cover with a damp cloth and wrap in plastic wrap until serving.
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Number of servings (yield): 4
I love spring rolls/summer rolls, but I’ve never attempted to make them at home. Yours look so good! I may have to look for some of those wrappers the next time I go to the “big city.” Thanks!
Thanks Betty. I’m sure you’ll be able to find them. They are quite easy to find in my little town, at least.
This looks quite interesting. I am a vegetarian but my hubby loves chicken! So might try this for him…great clicks :)
I think he would definitely love them, Rosh. A great lunch and they actually keep quite well in the fridge after assembling.