Air Fryer Chicken Spring Rolls with Fresh Rice Paper

Ingredients

For the Spring Rolls

1 pound (454 g) raw boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 Tablespoons (30 ml) grape seed oil or vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic , minced
1 Tablespoon (15 ml) soy sauce or fish sauce (use Tamari for gluten free)
2 teaspoons (10 ml) sesame oil
1-2 avocados , sliced lengthwise
fresh lettuce , chopped or torn in small pieces
fresh basil , mint or other herbs
carrots, celery, cucumbers, daikon radish or bell peppers , cut into thin strips
8 sheets rice paper (approximately depending on how large you roll the spring rolls) , about 8 inches in diameter

For the Peanut Dip

1/2 cup (140 g) Hoisin
1/4 cup (65 g) Peanut Butter (or almond butter, cashew butter, etc…)
2 teaspoons (10 ml) rice vinegar , or to taste
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) sesame oil , or to taste
1 teaspoon (5 ml) optional – fresh lime juice , or to taste
optional – chili hot sauce or Sriracha sauce
1/2 cup (120 ml) water (approximately) , or to preferred dip consistency

Equipment

Air Fryer
Instant Read Thermometer (optional)

Instructions

Make the Peanut Dip and set aside: In a bowl, combine all dip ingredients except the water together (1/2 cup (120ml) hoisin, 1/4 cup (60ml) peanut butter, 2 teaspoons (10ml) rice vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) sesame oil, optional 1 teaspoon (5ml) lime juice, & optional chili hot sauce to taste). Add water to the sauce until the consistency is what you like in a dip (usually about 1/2 cup (120ml) but will depend on the thickness of your hoisin and peanut butter). If you’re making a very large batch, you can add all the ingredients in a blender for a smoother dip. But make sure to keep adding enough water to make it dip-able. The dip will usually thicken a bit more after resting.
For Air Frying the Chicken: Pat dry the chicken breasts. For thicker chicken breasts, cut several 1/2″ deep slits in the chicken so it will cook through to the middle better. Coat each chicken breast with oil, then season with dried herbs, salt, & pepper.
Spray or brush light layer of oil on the air fryer basket or rack. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket/rack in a single layer.
Air Fry at 380°F(195°C) for 10 minutes, then flip the chicken over.
Continue to Air Fry at 380°F(195°C) for another 4-8 minutes, or until cooked to your liking and the internal temp is 165°F (75°C) in the thickest part. If you’re cooking bone-in chicken breast, cook for additional 2-6 minutes, if needed.
Rest the chicken breast for about 5 minutes (or more) then slice into long pieces.
Making the Spring/Summer Rolls: Slice the avocado and gather the cooked chicken, sliced avocado, lettuce, herbs, vegetables, rice paper, a cutting board or surface to roll on, and a large bowl of warm water (about bath temperature).
Gently dip each rice paper wrapper in warm water for a few seconds until damp. Don’t over soak the rice paper. Place rice paper on plate or working surface. You can fold the rice paper in half or leave as a full circle. The half will make a smaller but easier to roll spring roll since the rice paper is doubled up. As rice paper begins to absorb the water and become more soft and pliable (about 5 seconds, depending on wrappers and water temp.).
Begin to add the fillings. On the 1/3 section of the rice paper wrapper closest to you, start layering your fillings of lettuce, herbs, chicken, avocado, and vegetables (use the lettuce and herbs to prevent the firmer vegetables from poking through the rice paper).
Start rolling the wrapper over the fillings away from you, tucking and rolling the wrapper with your fingers, making sure all the fillings remain right and round within the rice paper wrapper.
Serve immediately with hoisin peanut dip, or cover with plastic wrap to eat a few hours later.

Notes

The thickness of chicken breasts can vary so much. Also, different air fryers cook hotter than others. So test air fry one batch first. After your first batch, you’ll know more of what the exact time and temp is for your specific size of chicken breast and model of air fryer. Approximate Air Fryer Cooking Times for Different Sized Boneless Chicken Breasts are cooked at 380°F/195°C: (for thicker chicken breasts, it is recommended to cut several 1/2? deep slits in the chicken so it will cook through to the middle better) * 6 oz. – 12-15 minutes * 8 oz. – 14-18 minutes * 10 oz. – 16-20 minutes * 12-16 oz. – 18-22 minutes

If cooking multiple chicken breasts, don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Only cook in a single layer (don’t have the chicken breasts overlapping each other.

If your air fryer is preheated or if you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce timing by a few minutes (unless preheating is called for in the recipe).