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    Home / Appetizers

    Grilled Asparagus Tofu Spring Rolls with Ginger-Lime Dipping Sauce

    Published Mar 23, 2016

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Grilled asparagus and marinated tofu add substance to these fresh spring rolls (a.k.a. summer rolls) packed with crunchy roots, creamy avocado, and pungent fresh mint and scallions. Naturally vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

    fresh and delicious grilled asparagus tofu spring rolls with ginger-lime dipping sauce

    Real talk: spring rolls are a pain. You prep vegetables, cook fillings, make a sauce, soften the wrappers, and then, after all that, you have to stand over the counter for forever rolling the slippery little buggers around ingredients that want to spray everywhere. All this for an appetizer that disappears in about 2.2 seconds. And yet, spring rolls are delicious. I want to eat them all the time.

    This is why I tricked Emma into making them for me.

    tofu in baking dish

    ingredients on table

    Emma is one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram because not only is every photo a stunner, her daily culinary creations make me want to get into the kitchen and cook. I spied these spring rolls on her Instafeed several weeks ago, and when we plotted another cooking day here in SF, I could only think of one thing I wanted to make. Or rather, that I wanted someone to make for me... (cue maniacal laughter).

    Grilled Tofu

    We cut up tofu, tossed it in a marinade that I'm currently obsessed with (Love & Lemons' Tofu Bahn Mi FTW), snapped asparagus, threw them both on the cast iron stovetop grill that I'm also obsessed with, set off the smoke alarm, opened all the doors and windows, washed sprouts, slivered scallions, picked mint leaves, ribboned carrots, peeled avocado, and matchsticked jicama and watermelon radish. (Whew. I'm exhausted just from writing that. Also, matchstick is totally a verb.)

    greens on tray

    When it came time to assemble the rolls, I mixed up some cocktails (another very important step in the spring roll making process) and "supervised" as Emma slaved away. The spring roll goddess knocked out these beauties in no time, and doctored up the marinade into the perfect dipping sauce, all without breaking a sweat. Girlfriend is PRO.

    Grilled Asparagus

    But the joke was on me. When Emma left, I realized that, in the flurry of chopping/grilling/drinking/smoke-alarm-setting-off, I'd forgotten to record the recipe, which meant I'd have to make spring rolls. Again. By myself.

    Cut to yesterday afternoon, which found me wrestling with wrappers while simultaneously talking on the phone, trying to tune out the jackhammering going on in our building for the fifth day in a row, panicking about the cookbook edits I should have been working on, and being late to an appointment.

    Jay took a break from work to hover over me in the kitchen as all this was happening, and my response was to give him a death stare and make a shooing motion with my hands because I'm a terrible person. Little did I know he had come to see how these were done so he could finish up when I had to leave. My hero!

    delicious Grilled Asparagus Tofu Spring Rolls with Ginger-Lime Dipping Sauce

    When I returned home, the kitchen sparkled, and I opened the fridge to find three containers of pristine spring rolls snuggling together with a jar of marinade. I stopped hating the spring rolls and, as I plowed my way through four of the little guys for dinner, I was thankful for all the work that had gone into them (especially the work done by someone other than myself).

    top down shot of Grilled Asparagus Tofu Spring Rolls with Ginger-Lime Dipping Sauce

    Biting into one of these rolls is heaven. A nap of salty/sweet/tangy sauce caresses a tender rice wrap, which gives way to soft tofu and asparagus, crunchy-sweet root vegetables, pungent scallions and fresh mint, and creamy avocado. The jicama, avocado, and lime give these a California twist, and they're hearty enough to make a light meal. Spring, in a roll. (See what I did there?)

    close up of Grilled Asparagus Tofu Spring Rolls with Ginger-Lime Dipping Sauce

    The moral of the story is: make these delicious spring rolls. But, as with all spring rolls, make them when you have a leisurely afternoon, some nice music playing, a cocktail at hand, and, preferably, a troupe of friends to sit around the table rolling rolling rolling to their heart's content.

    dipping Grilled Asparagus Tofu Spring Roll

    Check out Emma's site for more photos and to read her account of the day!

    Grilled Asparagus Tofu Spring Rolls in Ginger-Lime Dipping Sauce

    More Tofu And Vegetarian Recipes:

    • Vegetarian Cobb Salad with Grilled Tofu & Coconut Bacon
    • Italian-Style Marinated Grilled Tofu
    • Rainbow Spicy Tofu Sushi Burritos {vegan}
    • Curried Noodles with Crispy Tofu & Winter Vegetables {gluten-free & vegan}
    • Fava Bean Crostini
    • Green Garlic, Chive, and Cheese Souffles, and Roasted Asparagus

    *Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram,  Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this tofu spring roll recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet  and  #bojongourmet.*

    5 from 1 vote

    Grilled Asparagus Tofu Spring Rolls with Ginger-Lime Dipping Sauce

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Grilled asparagus and marinated tofu add substance to these spring rolls packed with crunchy roots, creamy avocado, and pungent fresh mint and scallions.
    Alanna Taylor-Tobin
    Prep Time: 40 minutes
    Total: 40 minutes
    Servings: 12 -16 rolls

    Ingredients

    Marinade and Dipping Sauce:

    • 6 tablespoons tamari (90 ml)
    • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (such as sunflower) (45 ml)
    • zest of 1 medium lime
    • juice of 2 medium limes
    • 3 medium cloves garlic, pressed or minced
    • 1 ½ teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
    • ½ teaspoon finely grated fresh turmeric (or ¼ teaspoon ground)
    • 1 teaspoon chile garlic sauce (or Sriracha)
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (30 ml)
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (30 ml)

    Spring Rolls:

    • Oil for the grill
    • 12 ounces extra-firm tofu, cut into strips (340 g)
    • 1 pound asparagus, ends snapped (455 g)
    • ¼ medium jicama, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
    • 1 small watermelon radish, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
    • 2 large carrots, scrubbed and peeled into ribbons
    • 3 scallions, washed and slivered on the diagonal
    • 1 small bunch mint leaves, washed and dried
    • a large handful pea sprouts or other sprouts, washed and dried
    • 2 medium, ripe but firm avocados, seeded, peeled, and sliced
    • ~20 rice paper wrappers

    Instructions

    Make the Marinade and Dipping Sauce:

    • In a bowl or measuring pitcher, combine the tamari, oil, lime zest and juice, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and chile garlic sauce. Whisk well to combine as much as possible – the oil will want to separate out. Reserve ½ cup of the marinade for the dipping sauce, and to it add the rice vinegar and maple syrup. Use the remainder (a scant ½ cup) to marinate the tofu in the next step.

    Make the spring rolls:

    • Press the tofu strips gently with paper towels to remove excess water, then place in a shallow baking pan in a single layer, and pour the remaining marinade (a scant ½ cup) over the tofu, tossing to combine. Let sit at least 15 minutes or up to two hours (or cover and chill for up to 2 days).
    • Preheat your grill (or stovetop grill) and brush lightly with oil. Grill the tofu and asparagus in batches until cooked through and bronzed, turning once. Remove and let cool. (Alternatively, fry the tofu and asparagus in batches in a wide skillet coated with a thin layer of oil.)
    • Have the jicama, watermelon radish, carrots, scallions, mint, pea sprouts, and avocados prepped and ready to go in individual bowls. Fill a shallow, wide bowl with warm water. Soak a rice paper wrapper in the water for 10 - 20 seconds, then remove and place on a cutting board. On the lower third, place some pieces of tofu, asparagus (trimmed to fit with a 1-2 inch border on each side of the wrapper), jicama, radish, carrot, scallions, mint, pea sprouts, and avocado. Fold the bottom of the wrapper up over the filling. Fold the edges in, then continue to roll up. It may take a few tries to get the wrapper tight around the filling without tearing it. Keep the finished rolls covered as you work so they stay moist.
    • Slice the rolls in half and serve with the dipping sauce. They keep well, airtight, for up to 1 day.

    Notes

    I love this mix of ingredients, but feel free to mix and match as you see fit.
    Don't forget to reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade to use as a dipping sauce with a touch of maple syrup and vinegar added to make the flavors pop.
    Turmeric adds flavor and color to the marinade but you can leave it off if you prefer.
    Marinade adapted from Love & Lemons.
    For photos of the spring rolling process, see this post.
    Nutritional values are based on one of twelve spring rolls.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 147kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 5gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 570mgPotassium: 411mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2065IUVitamin C: 12.9mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1.9mg
    Making this? I'd love to see!Tag your snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet!

     

    Tofu Asparagus Spring Rolls {vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) on tray

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    the cover of the award-winning cookbook, Alternative Baker

    Hungry for more?

    Alternative Baker celebrates the unique tastes and textures of 14 gluten-free flours, from buckwheat flour to almond flour to sorghum and coconut! This cookbook will fill your kitchen with sweet treats that burst with flavor every month of the year.

    Learn more and find out where to buy →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ethan Wilkins says

      March 24, 2016 at 1:25 am

      Delicious tofu! And so easy to make!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:15 am

        Thanks Ethan!

        Reply
    2. Tori says

      March 24, 2016 at 3:34 am

      Omg, these are making me so hungry! I'm such a huge fan of these flavors and these rolls look heavenly!!!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:14 am

        Aw, thank you Tori!

        Reply
    3. Kankana says

      March 24, 2016 at 3:47 am

      Those are so neatly packed but that dipping sauce is what I am eyeing more. So good!!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:14 am

        Oooh, it's crazy good - Emma and Love and Lemons' creation!

        Reply
    4. Traci | Vanilla And Bean says

      March 24, 2016 at 9:34 am

      What sweeties, Jay and Emma. And a beautiful gesture of love even with the laser eye glare. Sounds like the stress is maxing out with that jackhammer (I'd have to move out). Your spring rolls are gorgeous and completely worth the effort to make something this nourishing and delicious. I've never made my own, but appreciate your expertise and nudge. This is fabulous, Alanna!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:13 am

        You are the sweetest, Traci. Thank you always for the kind words! Can I be you when I grow up? <3

        Reply
    5. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

      March 24, 2016 at 1:48 pm

      I love how fresh and light these rolls look, and that dipping sauce sounds fab!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:12 am

        Thanks, lovely!

        Reply
    6. Kimberly/TheLittlePlantation says

      March 25, 2016 at 2:56 am

      They look perfect. well worth the troube ;)
      Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:11 am

        Thanks, Kimberly!

        Reply
    7. Brian @ A Thought For Food says

      March 25, 2016 at 5:59 am

      Definitely making these beautiful rolls this summer. What a wonderful lunch or afternoon snack (or, you know, breakfast... because I'd totally eat these for breakfast). Paired with a crisp wine (or sake)! :-)

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:09 am

        I love the way you think! Veggies for brekkie always and forever.

        Reply
    8. Sandy Coughlin says

      March 25, 2016 at 6:18 am

      These are simply beautiful and I love all the flavors, perfect for an Easter appetizer!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:11 am

        Aw, thanks, Sandy!

        Reply
    9. Matt says

      March 25, 2016 at 6:57 am

      These have be so ready for summer, I'm a novice when it comes to tofu though. Now I'm motivated to give it another try!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:10 am

        Aw, do it! I was anti-tofu for years but Emma has changed my mind!

        Reply
    10. Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says

      March 25, 2016 at 6:58 am

      So pretty! I canNOT resist grilled asparagus.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        March 25, 2016 at 9:10 am

        Totally the best spring thing ever!

        Reply
    11. Aida Mollenkamp says

      March 25, 2016 at 10:51 am

      Oh, I love how much "Spring" you packed into these Spring Rolls!

      Reply
    12. Stephanie says

      March 25, 2016 at 10:56 am

      I always enjoy reading your posts! These are some pretty spring rolls and I bet they are just as tasty!

      Reply
    13. Jennifer Farley says

      March 25, 2016 at 1:17 pm

      These are perfection!

      Reply
    14. Allie | In This Kitchen says

      March 25, 2016 at 2:50 pm

      Your husband sounds just plain amazing. Glad to read about something so sweet like that :) That's the kind of thing that just wins a girl's heart!
      And not to mention these freakin' gorgeous spring rolls... I swear they are one of my favorite appetizer-like foods in existence. *So* refreshing every time. I'm inspired!!

      Reply
    15. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says

      March 25, 2016 at 3:16 pm

      1. These photos are my fav ever.
      2. I LOVE this recipe x2493. SO GOOD.
      3. PINNING!

      Reply
    16. Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama says

      March 26, 2016 at 9:12 am

      I think this is the prettiest spring roll I have ever seen! I love the idea of grilling everything first, it must add some great texture and taste.

      Reply
    17. Tania | My Kitchen Stories says

      March 29, 2016 at 9:56 pm

      Yes I so totally agreed with you reading this because they are a pain to make but by goodness don't they look magnificent.

      Reply
    18. Grady's line camp says

      April 17, 2016 at 5:40 am

      Love those spring rolls , especially as a midnight snack for me :)
      Beautiful food photographs too!

      Reply
    19. Celeste | The Whole Serving says

      April 18, 2016 at 10:06 am

      Love all of the ingredients in this one, my mouth is watering. Glad I found your blog.

      Reply
    20. kath says

      May 18, 2016 at 4:58 pm

      This looks amazing - we love spring rolls here. But my kids are allergic to sesame - what do you think about substituting peanut butter for the tahini? Or would that take over taste-wise? I never really know what to substitute for tahini.
      Thanks!

      Reply
    21. Eva says

      May 21, 2016 at 5:14 pm

      Oh dear! 2 am at night and I saw this post. I hope morning comes soon ;) Gotto try this! xx

      Reply
    22. AArti says

      August 10, 2016 at 12:22 am

      This looks delicious.

      Reply
    23. Casimira says

      December 10, 2020 at 10:21 pm

      Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I am having troubles with your
      RSS. I don't understand the reason why I am unable to join it.
      Is there anybody else getting similar RSS problems? Anybody who
      knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

      Reply

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