Rice paper wrappers are a pantry secret weapon. The dry disks soften up quickly in warm water and become pliable like a dumpling wrapper and you can fold up all sorts of fillings within. You may be familiar with them in the form of Vietnamese summer rolls which are filled with fresh herbs, veggies, and grilled protein, then served cold. However, if you fry those rice paper rolls in a little oil, the outer layer becomes crispy with a satisfying chew beneath.
For the holidays, I’ve taken this technique and applied it to the always delicious flavor combo of Brie and cranberry (usually served at seasonal parties in puff pastry cups). By wrapping this festive combo up in rice paper and frying until crispy outside and gooey within, we’ve got a fun twist on the holiday classic.
The most important part of this recipe is to dip the rice paper wrappers in warm water (not hot!). You only need to submerge each one for a few seconds so that it softens slightly. Once you lift it from the water, it should still feel a little rigid. It’ll continue soaking up any water left on its surface and will become fully softened by the time you’ve filled and wrapped it. If the rice paper wrapper is soaked too long, it tends to stick to itself and becomes difficult to wrap any filling neatly.
When frying these up, I found it’s best to go on a medium heat as this gives them enough time for the Brie filling to melt before the outside burns. You may find that a few parcels gain small tears as they fry, meaning the cranberry sauce will start to ooze out. If this happens, don’t worry: The tear usually isn’t noticeable once they’re plated up! Just wipe out the pan before you fry the next batch.
If you’re prepping these ahead of time, follow the recipe up to step 8. Keep the parcels on the lightly greased tray, brush their tops with a little vegetable oil, and then cover with plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge until you’re ready to fry them (up to 5 hours), then uncover and continue with the recipe as usual.
Ingredients
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7 ounces Brie
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1/3 cup cranberry sauce
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2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
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15 rice paper wrappers (or more as needed)
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2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Directions
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Gather all ingredients.
Allrecipes/Izy Hossack
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Cut the Brie into 15 equal-sized pieces, about 1/2 inch thick.
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Take a wide, shallow bowl or a deep-rimmed plate and fill with warm water. Take one rice paper wrapper and dip it into the water, submerging it for a few seconds until slightly softened. It should still feel a bit rigid - this is key as it’ll make the wrapper easier to handle.
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Lay the soaked rice paper onto a cutting board. Place about 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce in the center, top with a slice of Brie, and a sprinkle of chopped rosemary.
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Fold the bottom half of the rice paper up and over the Brie.
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Fold one side over top and one side underneath.
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Finally, fold the top underneath.
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Repeat the soaking and wrapping process with the rest of your ingredients. Place parcels on a lightly greased baking sheet.
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Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add a few rice paper parcels. Do not crowd the pan or they will stick to each other. Leave them to fry until the underside looks bubbly and lightly golden in places. Flip all the parcels over and let them cook on the other side.
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Remove parcels to a baking sheet. Continue frying remaining parcels, adding more oil as needed. Serve warm.
Allrecipes/Izy Hossack
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 117 | Calories |
| 6g | Fat |
| 13g | Carbs |
| 4g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 15 | |
| Calories 117 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 6g | 7% |
| Saturated Fat 2g | 12% |
| Cholesterol 13mg | 4% |
| Sodium 84mg | 4% |
| Total Carbohydrate 13g | 5% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 2g | |
| Protein 4g | 7% |
| Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium 27mg | 2% |
| Iron 0mg | 1% |
| Potassium 33mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
