Summer is in full swing folks! That means trips to the pool, the beach, perhaps even a trip to the grocers freezer aisle to cool off if neither of the previous two are available. Unfortunately we don’t have AC in our house. Now before you go feeling too sorry for us, we live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so most of the year it’s fairly mild – AC is really more of a luxury than something critically needed. However, we do get some days during the summer that reach into the upper 80’s/low 90’s. Wow… I can’t believe I just wrote that. It was only a year ago that we were living in Atlanta (aka Hotlanta) – oh, how soon we forget.
But I digress. On hot days, turning on the stove is a big no-no and I use the stove sparingly. That’s what’s so great about these BLT Summer Rolls – the only thing you need to cook is the bacon; and personally I’m willing to briefly turn on the stove for something as mouthwatering as bacon.
I love summer rolls. They’re light, fresh, and oh so good! And they’re so versitle! Granted, these certainly are not the traditional Vietnamese variety, but if you want to get a little creative with your food, the sky’s the limit (just check out these Lox Summer Rolls).
Something else I love… a nice bacon, lettuce, and tomato (BLT) sandwich. It’s often my go-to at any diner or deli. Who can resist the crispy lettuce, juicy tomatoes and of course the porktastic bacon?! Certainly not me.
A roll like this only seemed natural – a thin, light rice paper wrapper that gives you more BLT bang for your buck! And the dipping sauce… let me just tell you about the dipping sauce. It’s a mix of creamy avocado and tangy crème fraîche – if this were a standard BLT sandwich, I’d slather it all over the bread before piling that bacon, lettuce, and tomato high!
- Avocado Dipping Sauce
- ½ avocado
- ¼ cup creme fraiche
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 4 mint leaves
- Kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- BLT Summer Rolls
- 6 rice paper rounds
- 12 baby romaine lettuce leaves*
- 6 slices of cooked bacon
- 1 large tomato, seeded and diced
- In the bowl of a food processor - add the avocado, creme fraiche, lemon juice, and mint. Add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Fill a large bowl with room temperature water. Working with one rice paper wrapper at a time, dip it into the water so the entire round is submerged. As soon as you have wet the entire round, remove it from the water and lay it on your work surface (the rice paper wrapper will be fairly stiff, but it will continue to soften as you work).
- Place a lettuce leaf in the center bottom ⅓ of the wrapper. Then top with the a slice of bacon, some diced tomato, and top with another lettuce leaf.
- Fold each side of the wrapper over the filling. Then roll up from the bottom, while using your fingers to compress the filling into the wrapper - roll tightly. (See the VIDEO I created for these Lox Summer Rolls to see how to roll them up).
- Slice in half and serve with the avocado dipping sauce and enjoy!
Saw a pin for this on Pinterest and had to come and take a look, I love the idea of a blt in rice paper, and that dipping sauce sounds just perfect. Btw, I just love that first picture of the blt
I know no AC around your parts is perfectly normal. When my sister lived out there she didn’t have AC either, but one summer when I visited her it was HOOOOT! So I can imagine not wanting to turn on your AC for sure! Anyways, who needs air when you can just sit your butt on the couch (preferably in front of a fan) and devour a few of these?! LOVING these summer rolls, girlfriend! Turning a BLT into a summer roll is genius! And I love how you put it — more BLT bang for your buck! Hahaha! SO TRUE! And that avocado dipping sauce? Yesssss! Totally making these for lunch this week! Pinned! Cheers, doll!
What a beautiful and creative combination! These summer rolls look so fresh! Perfect for summer!
Thanks, Mira!
You make those rolls look kinda small…..imagine how GIANT they will look in my hands!!! You rock as always Kathleen, seriously you are the Queen of Asian Cool. PS You ARE taking the pups to the beach every day aren’t you??? In this heat??
Lol! Girl… I’d have to make burrito-sized summer rolls for them to look normal in my hands 😉 The weather is cool again, so it’s back to walks and the dog park. But yes, on those warmer days it’s dog beach all the way!
Weather is so dark and gloomy here! But I still want to have these summer rolls.And that dipping sauce sounds so dreamy. Avocado and crème fraiche? This combo must be divine. Have a wonderful weekend my friend! 🙂
Hopefully these rolls can brighten the weather you way 😉 Enjoy the rest of your weekend my dear.
Though I have no complaints about it being too warm around here right now, even if it were I would gladly turn my oven on to cook some bacon, especially for these rolls. Bacon definitely makes everything better, doesn’t it? How perfect for Summer! And that sauce with avocado and creme fraiche? I bet I could just drink that on its own, lol 😀 BLTs have got to be one of my favourite sandwiches for sure and I love this lightened up version with the rice paper rounds. Pinning and trying soon 🙂
Bacon DOES make everything better! Makes the day better too 😉
Why do I forget about summer rolls? Sandwiches tend to be too ‘bready’ for me and these rolls totally resolve that and, bonus, they’re totally portable! You’ve inspired me to go on a summer roll rampage next week – I’m going to try both versions you have here. I’ll send you pics. 😉 Happy weekend, sweet friend!
Girl… I’ve been on a summer roll rampage recently – I just can’t get enough, especially this time of year. I can’t wait to see your pics. Wish I could be there making them with you 🙂
I could eat this for lunch every day, or even a light dinner. I can eat bacon anytime and the sauce sounds so good. These would also be great for picnics for the beach.
Me too, Janette! They were certainly my dinner that day 😉
Oh Kathleen, your beautiful photos once again make me want to reach into my computer screen and eat one of these BLT rolls for breakfast! I love BLTs and they are my favorite sandwich (well besides a good super rare roast beef with horseradish sammie ;))
Ooo… you and my hubby would get along well! I think he would inhale a rare roast beef sammie smothered with horseradish.
I so love the way you do ‘fusion’, Kathleen – always such a creative girl! These are such a fabulous idea. A BLT is such a work-a-day classic (a wonderful one, of course), and yet you’ve managed to make it super classy. I’ve got to try that dipping sauce!
We hardly ever need AC around here either (and this summer’s been particularly cool so far), but I still get a craving for cold and easy food during the summer months. Thanks so much for the great idea!
Thanks, Helen! It’s been cool here recently, but today looks like it’s going to warm up a bit… may be a good day for some blt summer rolls 😉
They looks so beautiful, light and delicious! ♡
Thanks, Miriam!
Haha! Just today I extended my visit in the freezer aisle of my favorite grocery store! So, I made my son BLT’s last night but they were nothing like this! (And actually my hubby thought we were out of lettuce and wanted to use cabbage in place of! Thankfully, I was able to save the day with a little iceberg!) So, I guess you could say our BLT experience was just about as far away from yours as it could be! Wait ’til I show my son your version… We’re in trouble! 😉
Oh lordy… cabbage? Lol! That sounds like something my husband would do. It’s a good thing you were there my friend 😉