Easy, breezy, fresh Quinoa Spring Rolls with Homemade Duck Sauce, gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! Fresh rice paper wraps filled with raw veggies and red quinoa are perfect for dipping into a sweet apricot sauce! This recipe makes for a light healthy and satisfying meal!
I don’t wrap often, but when I do…deliciousness ensues! My favorite food to eat and for those cozy feels is Indian food, but when it comes to actually making, the Asian cuisines always have my heart! There are just so many different types of dishes you can make; things never get boring! Those fresh rice paper spring rolls you always see around the internet always looked so appealing to me. Last summer I decided it was time to take my own swing at making the dish.
The wraps you use for fresh spring rolls, rice paper wraps, are super delicate. You soak them just for a few seconds and then they get super sticky and stretchy. If you’re too rough, they’ll rip. My first few rolls didn’t survive the wrapping and rolling. But after you test things out and get a feel for it all, you get into the swing of it and a calming rhythm of stuffing, wrapping, and rolling. Just create a little assembly line, play some music, and concentrate on the quinoa spring roll creation!
Now these quinoa spring rolls needed a little “something something” to be dipped in. One of the greatest classic Asian sauces, duck sauce! Duck sauce is just a sweet apricot based sauce that is the sister to soy sauce at a Chinese take-out restaurant. I grew up LOVING duck sauce. I’d be happy with a plate of white rice topped with soy sauce and duck sauce. That salty + umami + sweet combo was to die for!
Sauces always make a meal. A perfect sauce goes a long way, but the flavors have to be just right; complimentary. You don’t want the sauce to take away from the dish, you want the flavor to add to the dish. I guess a good complimentary sauce can be a bit unexpected too. You might not think a sweet duck sauce would be good with quinoa spring rolls and fresh, crunchy, raw veggies, but boy o boy…it is delicious!
Cooked and cooled red quinoa, fresh Napa cabbage leaves, green onion, and celery slices. Crispy, crunchy, and so fresh to bite into! Do a little dunking in the homemade sweet sauce…glorious to a whole new level! Needless to say, my entire family was in love with these gluten-free, soy-free, allergy-free, vegan spring rolls rolls!
Quinoa Spring Rolls with Homemade Duck Sauce
- Spring Rolls:
- 8 Rice Paper Wraps
- 1 Cup Red Quinoa (cooked, cooled)
- 8 Napa Cabbage Leaves (sliced lengthwise)
- 6 Celery Hearts (sliced lengthwise)
- 4 Green Onions (sliced lengthwise)
- Duck Sauce:
- ¾ Cup Apricot Jam
- 3 TB Rice Vinegar
- 1 TB Coconut Aminos
- 1 Tsp Minced Garlic
- ½ Tsp Chili Paste
- ½ Tsp Ginger Puree
- ½ Tsp Onion Powder
- Toasted Sesame Seeds (optional, topping)
- For each spring roll: soak the rice paper wrapper in a wide bowl of warm water for 10-15 seconds.
- Place it on a flat surface and add 3-4 tablespoons of cooked red quinoa and a few slices of each of the sliced veggies to the center of the wrap.
- Fold one end of the wrap over the middle, then fold in the sides (like a burrito), and then fold over the last side.
- For the duck sauce: combine all ingredients together in a small food processor and blend until combined.
- Serve the rolls with the duck sauce and a sprinkling of sesame seeds if desired.
The amount of veggies and quinoa you use will vary of course and with 8 spring rolls you’ll have enough for 2 people as a main dish or 4 people as a side dish. Have fun with the filling! Use white quinoa if you don’t have red, add some carrot, mushrooms, diakon. But whatever you do, make sure you have that fabulous duck sauce for dipping!
So tell me:
+ Are you good with wrap and sushi rolling? Once I get the hang of it, but it takes a few tries!
+ Are you a duck sauce lover? Heck yes! But the packets from Chinese take-out are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and the like!
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The rolls looks so yummy! Thank you for sharing the recipe! Gonna try this recipe this weekend. My family is fan of spring rolls.
I know they will love these then!
These will be delicious Spring Rolls!
They are!
I’m a real sucker for Chinese food, and your vegan, allergy-friendly rice paper wraps are right up my street!
Me too! It is just so good we all need options!
Seriously can’t get over the duck sauce!!!!
It’s delish! Thanks!
I’m a total failure when it comes to sushi rolling, and I don’t think I’ve ever tasted duck sauce, but this looks delicious!
Casey the College Celiac recently posted…Gluten Free Monthly Favorites: Paleo Granola, Spring Hikes and More!
It takes some skills and practice!
I DO love duck sauce! I’ve gotten pretty good at rolling spring rolls and wraps like this, but it’s taken a lot of practice!
Practice makes perfect! Just means we can eat more and more 😉
These look incredible! Love the homemade duck sauce too – I’ll definitely have to try this recipe out!
Fantastic! Thank you, Rhain! That sauce is so yummy 😉
Oh Wow!! I have to make these – they look and sound incredible! <3 I used to love duck sauce as a kid, but I haven't had it since then! I'm SO excited to try this! 🙂 xxx
Duck sauce is a must 😉
Love these! Such a nice healthy alternative to the restaurant versions!
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons recently posted…Asian Chicken Salad with Grilled Vegetables
Yup! Such fresh and healthy!
Well those just look positively scrumdiddlyumptious! 🙂
Haha, thank you!
these sound sooo freaking delicious! yummy
Haha, thank you!
This looks so refreshing and light, I could eat them all haha! And you nailed it with the sauce, it looks so inviting! 🙂
Haha, thank you so much!
These look delicious. May need to tweak a little so the kids eat them too but I reckon these will go down a treat!
I think they’ll love them! Anything you can dip into a good sauce always wins!
Awesome recipe. I’ve made spring rolls before but not quinoa. And I also haven’t made my own duck sauce so I’ll be saving this recipe. Thanks for sharing it.
Gotta have some great homemade sauce next time 😉
Yum! Pinning for later as I know a Peachick or three that would love these! x
O, well I’m glad to hear!
OMG these look so good, can’t wait to try this recipe!
Thank you! I hope you love them as much as we did!
This looks delicious. I already printed it. My daughter will be so excited.
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Fantastic! I know you both will enjoy 😉
What a unique recipe! I’m in love with these flavors.
Thank you!
I love quinoa and this is such a fun, delicious new way to enjoy it!!
Thank you, Liz!
Quinoa in a spring roll huh? I’ve gotta try this one out! Thanks for sharing!
Now they can actually be filling 😉
Those spring rolls look beautiful and i could eat some right now with that tasty dipping sauce
Thank you! 🙂
Spring rolls are the best, and the duck sauce looks delicious.
They make for a great meal!
yum, I love spring rolls!
Thanks!
I’m terrible at sushi rolling but my boyfriend got a hand on it 🙂 Your recipe looks simple enough and healthy, something we would enjoy making together making together with my sweetheart,
I think with his help and some practice, you’ll be just fine 😉
It’s been such a long time since I’ve done anything with spring rolls. I’m inspired!
And oh that sauce! That sauce!
You’ll be rollin’ this weekend 😉
These spring rolls are so pretty! I love that you’ve added quinoa….extra taste and protein!
It makes it into a full meal instead of just an appetizer 🙂
the homemade duck sauce is the best part of this post 🙂
Haha, well thanks! Go so well with so many things!
Wow quinoa spring rolls? This is so creative and looks delicious!
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They are delish!
I don’t think I’ve ever had duck sauce before. I do love any type of wraps. I love spring rolls but your right rice paper can be tricky sometimes but 100% worth it.
If your’ve ever ordered takeout Chinese…you’ve had duck sauce! Haha!
My go to sauce is soy 😉 It’s been ages since I’ve ordered Chinese take out!
I love spring rolls and what a great idea to use quinoa, Rebecca! So healthy and delicious! 🙂
Thanks, Sina!
These look so good! I love spring rolls, and that duck sauce looks delicious!
Thank you! They are a fun little project to make!
This looks delicious! I’m going to try these next weekend!
Great! I know you’ll enjoy them (and making them!)
These look really fresh and light, perfect for summer. And that duck sauce – mmm!
Yes! A nice light meal and that sauce does take it up a notch!