Can I make these rice paper dumplings ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble them a few hours ahead and refrigerate them, then sear just before serving for the best texture.

Can I air fry these instead of pan searing?

Yes. Brush lightly with oil and air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 8–10 minutes, turning once if needed.

Crispy Salmon Rice Paper Dumplings with Bang Bang Sauce

Name: Crispy Salmon Rice Paper Dumplings with Bang Bang Sauce
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 340 g salmon fillet; 0.25 tsp salt; 1 tbsp tamari (or soy sauce); 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce; 1 tbsp avocado oil; 2 medium carrots (shredded); 1 medium zucchini (finely chopped); 1 medium yellow onion (finely chopped); 2 cloves garlic cloves (minced); 120 ml cilantro (chopped); 0.5 tsp salt; 12 sheets rice paper wrappers; 30 ml avocado oil (for searing); sesame seeds; scallions (chopped); 3 tbsp Greek yogurt; 2 tbsp mayonnaise; 3 tbsp sweet chili sauce; 0.5 tsp rice vinegar; sriracha (to taste)

Rice paper dumplings work best when the filling is cooked and relatively dry, which is why the vegetables are sauteed before wrapping. That keeps the wrappers from splitting and helps the outside crisp quickly in the pan.

Salmon gives the filling enough richness on its own, so the bang bang sauce can stay light with a mix of yogurt and mayonnaise instead of leaning fully on mayo. If you want more heat, increase the sriracha rather than the sweet chili sauce so the dip does not get too sugary.

For a balanced plate, serve these with shredded cabbage, cucumber salad or a simple slaw rather than treating the sauce as the only side. They also work well as a starter for a larger rice bowl or noodle meal.

If you are meal-prepping, store the cooked filling separately and wrap only the portion you plan to cook that day. Freshly seared wrappers stay crisp much better than reheated ones.

Rice paper can go from pliable to sticky very quickly, so it helps to dip each sheet briefly and assemble without waiting too long. If the wrappers get too wet before folding, they are more likely to tear when the dumplings hit the pan.

The sauce should stay loose enough for dipping rather than coating. That keeps the dumplings crisp and lets the salmon filling stay the main focus instead of getting buried under sweetness or heat.

Serve them while the wrappers are still hot from the pan. That is when the outside has its best crunch and the filling still feels soft and steamy against the cool sauce.

If you are meal-prepping, store the cooked filling separately and wrap only the portion you plan to cook that day. Freshly seared wrappers stay crisp much better than reheated ones.

The sauce should stay loose enough for dipping rather than coating. That keeps the dumplings crisp and lets the salmon filling stay the main focus instead of getting buried under sweetness or heat.

Serve them while the wrappers are still hot from the pan. That is when the outside has its best crunch and the filling still feels soft and steamy against the cool sauce.