GF, DF

A fresh and fun starter to impress your guests. Smoked salmon is paired with a fresh mango salsa and topped with zingy wasabi lime mayo, peanuts and fresh chives. These crispy rice cups are deceivingly easy to put together and pack a punch with vibrant flavours.

I like to serve these rice paper cups in summer as they are refreshing to eat and don’t require any cooking at the time. The rice paper can be fried a few days prior to serving and the other components can be prepared the day before. A great starter for impressive holiday entertaining.

Grilled prawns also work wonderfully instead of the salmon in the recipe so feel free to experiment with different flavour combinations!

What's in this recipe?

Wasabi mayo

Kewpie mayonnaise
I prefer to use kewpie mayo over regular mayo as it is more creamy and has a sweeter taste. Kewpie mayo is made with rice or apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar which gives it unique flavour. Can be substituted for regular mayo if that’s all you have on hand - still delicious!
Wasabi paste
Wasabi adds spiciness and earthiness to this recipe. Wasabi paste can be bought in tubes at mainstream supermarkets.
Lime zest
A little lime zest just lifts this sauce and gives it acidity and freshness. Can be substituted with lemon zest.

Mango salsa

Mango
Use fresh mangoes that are in season. Mangoes add sweetness to this recipe and pair beautifully with the richness of salmon.
Cucumber
Cucumber really adds freshness to this recipe and cuts through the bold flavours of salmon and wasabi.
Lime juice
Lime juice gives acidity to the salsa and brings out the sweetness of the mango. Lime juice also helps to keep the salsa fresh and moist when made the day prior. Can be substituted with lemon juice if required.
Chili & spring onion
A tough of spice rounds out this salsa. The spring onions have a milder and sweeter flavour than regular onions and give depth to the salsa.

Salmon & rice paper cups

Rice paper
Rice paper can be found at regular mainstream supermarkets. Most often used uncooked for rice paper rolls, it crisps up beautifully when fried!
Smoked salmon
Smoked salmon gives beautiful richness to this recipe. I like to buy smoked salmon with skin as it is more moist. Just peel off the skin before using. Can be substituted with cooked prawns.
Chives
Fresh chives add fragrance and freshness to the dish. They also provide a beautiful pop of green on top. Can be substituted with coriander or dill.
Roasted peanuts
Roasted peanuts provide extra crunch and a toasted flavour. Can be substituted with toasted sesame seeds.

Step-by-step photos

Preparing wasabi mayo

Mixing together mango salsa

Frying rice paper

Fried rice paper on cooling racks