Name: Crispy Vegan Air Fryer Rice Paper Dumplings
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h
Ingredients: Air Fryer; Saute pan; 10 Rice paper wrappers; 1 cup Shredded Cabbage; 1/2 cup shredded Beet; 1/2 cup Red Bell pepper; 1/2 Yellow Bell pepper; 1/2 cup thinly sliced Zucchini; 1 inch grated Ginger; 1 - 14 ounce block Firm Tofu; Salt and Black pepper; 1-2 TBSP Soy sauce; Chili sauce (optional); Cooking Spray oil

These Crispy vegan Air Fryer rice paper dumplings are easy to make and taste amazing. Serve with soy sauce or your favorite dipping sauce, and they are sure to please your palate.

There is so much you can do with rice paper. They are easy to work with, low in calories, naturally gluten-free, and store really well. I always have rice paper in my pantry, and whenever I need to fix a quick snack or side dish, I either make rice paper spring rolls or rice paper dumplings in Air Fryer.

Vegan Air Fryer Rice Paper Dumplings plated with soy sauce

These Air Fryer rice paper dumplings are filled with sauteed vegetables and tofu. The great thing about dumplings is that you can use any vegetables in your fridge, and they will taste amazing.

Did I mention that this recipe is kid-approved too! Vegetable and tofu fillings make a great complete meal or snack for kids. Also, the texture of rice paper dumplings makes them exciting for kids to eat.

I have used cabbage, beet, zucchini, yellow and red bell paper to make these vegan Air Fryer rice paper dumplings. As a source of protein, I have used extra firm tofu. This vegetables and tofu mixture tastes divine when wrapped in rice paper with a few seasonings.

Rice Paper Dumplings?

Traditionally, dumplings (Jiaozi) are made of unleavened dough and filled with a variety of filling. However, these dumplings are made with rice paper instead of regular dumpling dough and filled with vegetables and tofu.

Using rice paper wrappers instead of traditional dumpling dough makes this recipe naturally gluten-free and light on your body. So, if you are watching your weight, you can guilty free enjoy these vegan air fryer rice paper dumplings.

When cooked in the air fryer, it requires little oil to crisp up compared to the pan-fried or deep-fried version.

Also, the texture of these vegan air fryer rice dumplings makes you want to take this recipe repeatedly. The crispy outside and flavorful vegetable and tofu fillings inside are a perfect flavor combo to please your palate or crowd.

Ingredients used in making these Vegan Air Fryer Rice Paper Dumplings

There are many variations in dumpling recipes. Traditional Chinese dumplings are made of dough (all-purpose flour and water) and filled with pork, cabbage, and scallions.

The great thing about rice paper dumplings is that that recipe is adaptable. To make vegan rice paper dumplings, you can use any vegetables and tofu as a filling. Then, fill them with vegetables and paneer (cottage cheese) for the vegetarian version.

For this recipe, I have used vegetables and firm tofu as filling. This no-onion, no garlic rice paper dumplings are my kid’s favorite snack.

Here are the ingredients I have used to make Vegan Air Fryer Rice Paper Dumplings

Cabbage
Beat
Red Bell pepper
Yellow Bell pepper
Zucchini
Ginger
Firm Tofu
Salt and Black pepper
Soy sauce
Rice paper wrappers
Cooking Spray oil

You also need a sauté pan and an Air Fryer. You can cook these crispy rice paper spring rolls in any model of Air Fryer – basket model, tray model, or instant pot crisp lid. They will come out crispy with little oil.

How to prepare vegetables for Vegan Rice Paper Dumplings?

Cut the cabbage in half, wash and pat dry. Grate the cabbage with a grater or cut them into shreds.

Wash, dry, and cut red/yellow bell pepper and zucchini in long shreds.

Wash and peel purple beat. Grate the moment using a grater or cut them into thin shreds.

Cook veggie filling

raw vegetables ginger and tofu and cooked vegetable in ne frame

Heat a skillet or sauté pan on medium heat, then add one tablespoon of sesame oil.

Add cut vegetables and grated ginger and let them soften a bit. Then add soy sauce or tamari (gluten-free option) and freshly ground black pepper. You can add chili sauce here if you prefer spicy dumplings. But I did not add chili or garlic sauce to my dumplings because I like the flavor of sautéed vegetables.

Stir and cook them for 1-2 minutes.

How to cook Firm tofu?

uncooked tofu and cooked tofu with vegetables in one frame

First, crumble the tofu in a bowl.

Then heat a skillet on medium heat and add one teaspoon of sesame oil. Now add crumbled tofu. Let it cook for about 5-7 minutes until golden brown. If you like heat to your dumplings, you can add chili garlic sauce to your tofu.

Once the tofu is cooked, mix it with sauteed vegetables and try the mixture to adjust the seasoning. If you need to add seasoning, add it to the mix now.

How to assemble Rice Paper Dumplings?

Working with rice paper is tricky, but your rice paper dumplings will come out in perfect shape if you pay attention to specific points.

Important tips to consider before working with rice paper

Read the instructions given on rice paper packaging. It will guide you on how many minutes you need to submerge the rice paper sheet to get them ready for filling
Depending on the tapioca content of rice paper wrappers, you will need to submerge rice paper in water for 5-10 seconds. If you use 100% rice paper, you will need to submerge rice paper in water for about 10 seconds.
Use a glass plate or parchment paper to transfer wet rice paper. The wet rice paper will stick on a wooden chopping board.
Once you transfer, wait for 30 seconds before you start filling rice paper. If the rice paper sheet is too wet, it won’t crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
Once you are done rolling one rice paper dumpling, dry the surface before working with the second rice paper sheet.
Let the filling completely cool down before assembling rice paper dumplings.
You need to place rolled dumplings directly on an oil sprayed air fryer basket.

Step-by-step Process of Assembling Rice paper Dumplings

Fill a large shallow pan with warm tap water. Make sure to take a large pan to fit dry rice paper.

Take a glass plate as a working surface.

Submerge rice paper dry sheet in water for 5 seconds. (Time may vary depending on the brand of rice paper you are using).

Take the rice paper sheet out from the water gently and lay it on the working surface.

Wait for 30 seconds before starting to fill the rice paper.

Steps for filling the rice paper dumplings

Place 2 tablespoons of vegetables and tofu mixture in the lower third middle of the rice paper.

Fold one side toward the middle first.

Then fold the bottom seam upward tightly over the filling.

Now fold the second side toward the middle.

Then finish rolling the rice paper all the way up until a tight rectangle of dumplings is formed.

Now re-roll the filled dumplings using the second rice paper sheet following the same steps.

Two layers of rice paper protect the filling from the rice paper while cooking and keep the texture of the dumplings firm and crisp after cooking in the air fryer.

Put the rolled dumplings in a single row in a crisper air fryer tray. I keep an oil sprayed crisper tray in an air fryer basket before placing dumplings on it.

Air Frying Dumplings

Spray them with oil once your dumplings are arranged in a single layer in an air fryer basket with a crisper tray.

Place the air fryer basket with dumplings in an air fryer.

Cook them at 400°F/200ºC for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

Other Rice Paper Recipes:

Crispy Vegan Rice Paper Spring rolls

Gluten-Free Vegan Air Fryer Rice Paper Samosas

What to serve with Rice Paper Dumpling?

Soy sauce is my favorite dipping sauce with rice paper dumplings, but you can serve your dumplings with peanut soy sauce, sweet chilly sauce, or anything you like.

Soy sauce recipe for Ricepaper Dumplings

1 Tbsp soy sauce

½ Tbsp white vinegar

1 Tbsp white sugar

1 minced garlic clove (optional)

½ cup boiling water

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds while serving with rice paper dumplings.

3 ingredients Peanut Soy Sauce

6 TBSP peanut butter

1 ½ TBSP soy sauce or tamari

¾ TBSP Sriracha

6 TBSP water

Mix the ingredients in a bowl and serve with rice paper dumplings.

FAQs

How long to cook Vegan Rice paper Dumplings in Air Fryer?

The time and temperature for cooking rice paper dumplings in the air fryer depend on the type and model of air fryer you are using. For example, I have #Gourmia Air Fryer, and it took 12-15 minutes at 400°F/200ºC to turn them into crispy dumplings.

If you are making dumplings for the first time in the air fryer, take this as a general guideline and check your dumplings before 12 minutes to find an optimum cooking time for your recipe.

Can you store leftover rice paper dumplings in the refrigerator?

You can, but rice paper dumplings taste best when eaten immediately after cooking. It will lose its crispness if you refrigerate leftover spring rolls.

Can you reheat leftover vegan rice paper dumplings in an Air fryer?

Heat them at 360°F for 5-7 minutes if you have leftover dumplings. But it won’t be as crispy as the freshly made rice paper dumplings.

Can you make Rice paper dumplings in advance?

I would not recommend making rice paper dumplings in advance, but you can prepare vegetables and tofu filling in advance and refrigerate them until use. Then, bring them out of the refrigerator 1 hour before you are ready to assemble dumplings.

Can you freeze Rice paper dumplings?

No, I would not recommend freezing rice paper dumplings. The rice paper texture will change significantly upon thawing, and it won’t crisp up nicely. Rice paper dumplings taste best when eaten fresh.

Are Rice paper Wrappers gluten-free?

Yes, rice paper wrappers are gluten-free. Rice paper is an excellent option for those who follow a gluten-free diet to make dumplings or spring rolls.

Other side dishes that you may like

Air Fryer Veggie Black Bean Enchiladas

Moist and Quick Air Fryer Banana Bread (EGGLESS, VEGAN)

Keto Air Fryer Paneer (Gluten-free, Low-carb)

Easy Air Fryer Pinwheel Samosa Recipe

Crispy Air Fryer Cassava Fries or Yuca Fries

Crispy Air Fryer Cassava Chips or Yuca Chips

Crispy Air Fryer Bread Pakora (Potato stuffed Bread Roll)

Vegan Air Fryer Chickpea Burger

Air Fryer Frozen Pierogies

Air Fryer Breaded Mushroom (Vegan, Vegetarian)

10 Minutes Air Fryer Flatbread Pizza

Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan (No Breading)