Streetfood for Monthly Mingle; springrolls (again…)
I love streetfood. Whenever we go out and travel to another destination it is one of the first things I check out. So when I saw that this month’s theme for the Monthly Mingle was indeed, all about streetfood, I had to join in. So that’s when I started thinking about streetfood in Holland and came to the sad conclusion that there isn’t much. Looking back at history I think Dutch folks always used to eat wholesome and hearty food, but they always did it indoors behind closed curtains. Maybe partially due to our usually uninviting weather, we didn’t live on the streets as they do in warmer climates. So our streetfood culture – if that’s how you can even call it – exists of a few stalls that sell on markets and such. I don’t count festivals as yes, there is streetfood abound there, but that is not exactly part of culture so I figured I’d have to look at the things that would always be there.
So we started thinking; what is really Dutch and sold on the streets here? Poffertjes would be one thing, herring, when it’s the season, is another typical one. And sure enough there is usually a couple of stands somewhere that sell hamburgers, fries, that kind of stuff, but for some reason I just don’t think that is typical streetfood. So not a big thing here, that’s for sure. One thing we do see everywhere, in every city and on every market is the Vietnamese springroll. Usually one of those typical small cars (see pic below), with a little Vietnamese man or woman in there selling the fried springrolls. With sweet chili sauce mostly. And while not by origin Dutch, it’s still streetfood right?
And while I know I have done a couple of springrolls here I had never made any with prawns and since I had a few prawns left in the fridge plus a whole bunch of vegetables I wanted to use before they would walk out of the fridge by themselves. And for me – whatever the origin of the springroll – it is the ultimate streetfood. Healthy, delicious and so quick to put together (not counting all the cutting required!). These babies are no exception to the rule; I baked the prawns in a mixture of coconut, panko and lime, let them cool of a bit and then cut them into chunks to be included into the springroll. Tom had been doing all the vegetable cutting (well, don’t feel sorry for him, I was taking out those horrible poopshoots from the prawns 
..)
So nothing new in particular but that doesn’t mean it is not very very good. I am submitting my prawn springrolls to the Monthly Mingle which is being hosted by the fabulous Zizi from Zizi’s Adventures whom I had the pleasure of meeting in real life during the London Foodblogger Connect in 2011. Monthly Mingle is the brainchild of Meeta from What’s for Lunch Honey.
Prawn coconut springrolls
Yield: 2
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Ingredients:
- rice paper
- 10 large raw prawns, peeled and poopshoot removed
- 3 tbsp flour
- 3 tbsp panko (or other breadcrumbs)
- 3 tbsp of dried coconut (not sweetened)
- 1 egg
- zest of 1 lime
- sunflower oil for frying the prawns
- 1 tsp salt
- filling for the springrolls
- carrots, finely sliced into strips
- cucumber, finely sliced into long strips
- red chili, finely sliced
- Thai basil
- spring onions, finely sliced into thin strips
- red pepper, thinly sliced
Directions:
- Prepare all your vegetables and slice them as evenly and as thinly as you can. Our were a little bit too thick and that will effect the end result, so as thin as you can!
- Once all your vegetables are cut and ready to go, prepare your prawns. Clean them and make three little bowls ready; one with flour, one with the combined panko and coconut and lime and one with the egg, loosely beaten.
- Dip your prawns into the flour first, then the egg and lastly with the coconut mix.
- Heat a layer of sunflower oil in a wok or frying pan and in batches cook your prawns until golden brown. Leaves to drain on kitchen paper.
- Once cooled of, cut them into manageable chunks to include into the ricepaper.
- Prepare a flat bowl (I always use one of those silicon tartcases... perfect size!) for dipping your rice paper in, with lukewarm water. Not to warm, not too cold.
- Dip each sheet into the water one side and repeat on the other side. It will still be slightly stiff when you take it out and put it on your kitchencounter but once it's been there it will soften quickly so work fast.
- Put your vegetables neatly in the middle and top with some prawns and start wrapping the rolls.
- There are many tutorials around how best to do that so I will not attempt to try and explain. Steamy Kitchen has a great way of doing it which is fairly foolproof. Check it out!
- Make a nice dipping sauce for dipping your rolls in and enjoy!
Recipe by Simone van den Berg
Gizmo is so not impressed (she doesn’t like prawns!)
Appetizer
Asian
Bread
Breakfast
Desserts & other sweets
Healthy
I love springrolls and yours look wonderful! Great summer food.
Gizmo is so cute!
Cheers,
Rosa
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 16th, 2012 at 23:35
She is the cutest!
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Am adding your great spring roll recipe to the ones I have and am trying it out soon: quite one of my favourites, even if I may have it with friends in the back garden! Oh, Gizmo, why do I think that your anger is NOT directed at Chinese spring rolls?
!
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 16th, 2012 at 23:35
You should definitely try them. They are goooood! O and Gizmo is yawning! Haha… Not angry at all. I don’t think she knows what that means!
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What a refreshing recipe. Red chili and Thai basil really give the good kick there
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Norma Chang — August 16th, 2012 at 14:01
Beautifully wrapped spring rolls, fresh and healthy. Love yur cat photo.
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When I was based in the Netherlands for a couple of month on a project I totally fell in love with herring!! I’d have it raw with the chopped onions…oh how I love and miss them! At the end of my stay was the beginnings of the Christmas holidays and the oliebollen stands came out, and I fell in love one more! So you can say that all the way over here in Asia is one fan of Dutch “street food”
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:37
I can’t really say I am a big fan of herring to be honest…
Now talk about oliebollen! That’s a different story all together!
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I also am a big fa of spring rolls but never seem to cook them or make them at home!
Lovely & cool pics too, dear Simone! 
Your creations look just stunning, fabulous even!
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:37
Thanks so much Sophie!
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Springrolls on Junglefrog too! That must be the summer vibe;)
(I’ve never seen anyone selling these soft springrolls in Holland, they should to that!)
They look delicious and I love that last picture of Gizmo, too sweet!
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:38
I know! I think they only ever sell the fried ones, but I think the soft ones are much better! yours look great too!
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Funny, I don’t put these together with Holland, but then I’m not sure what street food would be there. I know that Spring Rolls are universally loved and you’ve laid them out beautifully. And, now I’m in the mood for them. I’m pinning this
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:39
You wouldn’t find these in their soft shells anywhere on the streets Angela, but the fried ones are found nearly everywhere. Certainly not typically Dutch that’s for sure!
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congratulations, you have a wonderful blog! I will follow you now! kisses!
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Love the spring roll. Gizmo is super cute!
Best,
Sihi
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:39
Thanks Sihi! Gizmo is indeed the cutest!
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I am glad you shared them again, those look delicious! I cannot wait to go on a trip and enjoy fun street food someday:-) Beautiful! Hugs, Terra
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:40
Thanks Terra. Streetfood is the best for sure in a lot of different countries!
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amazing pictures! And very yummy springrolls, greetings
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I love making these – I love eating them – and your photographs definitely do them justice. There is no end to what you can put in them, and I have never had one I did not LOVE. I don’t make them nearly often enough! When we were in Amsterdam, we were asking everywhere – where is the Dutch food? I was there in herring season and did get the little puffy melt in your mouth Poffertjes, but I know there is so much more. I think you told me once that the only way to get any real Dutch food is to eat in someone’s home – the home of a grandma, etc… I am just amazed that there are not more “comfort food” type home cuisine restaurants there. Canada is similar, but we are a MUCH newer country. I did love to see the multiculturalism in Amsterdam, and I usually hate seeing that when I travel. I love that aspect of our country – but when I travel, I want to only see how it used to be…
V
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:42
Ah yes, I cannot agree more; I love to see the original culture of a place too. And yes streetfood is not part of our culture and getting any good Dutch food in a restaurant is unfortunately difficult too. During wintertimes it might be easier as there are a lot of comfort food type dishes that are only made during the winter. Tasty for sure. And yes poffertjes..
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Great memories came to my mind with this spring rolls. I loved the vietnamese rolls specially those from Hanoi which were some fried and others like yours. Thanks for sharing your spring rolls
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:42
I had some really good ones in Hanoi too! Everywhere in Vietnam really..
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Your spring rolls looks great! They do make great food for eating on the go. The coconut prawns sound delicious in them. And, my kitty doesn’t like prawns either!
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:43
Well, you’re not gonna believe this but today of all days, Gizmo decides she wants to have a prawn. We had them on the BBQ this evening and she ate one! Weird animals.. The older the weirder I guess!
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This looks delicious, thank you so much! Side note: loved the “poopshoot” comment; it drives me crazy when people leave those in >: (
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:44
Haha… Although I have to say, I hate the actual job of removing them.. Yuck!
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Not only do the spring rolls look droolingly delicious, I am so enjoying the “story” shots of the cart, the produce and the keeper. Kitty is quite the star as well. My small town doesn’t have much street food either except as you mentioned during festivals and market days. Even then very limited selections, so your creative train of thought has resulted in the perfect addtion to the Monthly Mingle in my mind. Well Done!
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Simone (junglefrog) — August 19th, 2012 at 23:44
Thanks so much Robin! Gizmo always steals the show!
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These look fantastic, and so much healthier than the fried ones. Yum!
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Beautiful post, Simone! I love the story, the photos and the recipe! Thanks for participating in Monthly Mingle!
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I have been wanting to try and make spring rolls for a long time! These sound really tasty
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