Homemade Egg Rolls are a favorite around here, when we go for dinner, egg rolls is one of my favorite things to order! Making egg rolls is easy so easy and everyone loves them!
What’s in an Egg Roll?
These egg rolls are filled with a pork and veggie filling and while the recipe doesn’t call for bean sprouts, I sometimes enjoy adding them as well!
Once rolled, they are fried until crispy & hot however these can also be baked (however you won’t get the same crispy crust you find when you fry them).
You will be able to make at least 12 egg rolls and possibly more. You may be wondering where to buy egg roll wrappers and the good news is almost every grocery store has them! Check the produce area (near the tofu products) or the freezer. If you don’t see them, just ask.
Most egg roll wrappers come more than 12 per package I just make as many as I can until the filling runs out!
How to Make Egg Rolls
Egg Rolls are so easy to make! For the traditional egg rolls, I simply cook the filling and add it to the egg roll wrapper. Roll, fry and enjoy!
While I add pork and veggies, you can add any fillings you like including beef or keeping them all vegetable.
Egg rolls are hard to resist, especially when each bite has the perfect balance of crunchy texture and savory filling. When our family heads to our local Chinese restaurant, there’s the inevitable question of whether we want to start with an egg roll appetizer. With the Lunar New Year coming up, I wanted to create a homemade recipe to celebrate.
It’s fun and easy to make egg rolls at home, especially with family and friends to help fill and fry. This recipe uses a mixture of fresh vegetables like cabbage, carrots, shiitake mushrooms and green onions for a tasty vegetarian filling. There are a few tricks to make egg rolls extra crunchy that you won’t want to miss.
How to Make Egg Rolls
- Organize: Make sure to cut and measure out all of your ingredients before you start cooking. This will make stir-frying the filling quick and seamless.
- Wrapper: For extra crispy egg rolls make sure to select paper-thin wrappers, often called “spring roll” wrappers. They can be found in the refrigerated or frozen section of Asian markets. Do not confuse them with the white-colored Vietnamese rice paper wrapper. Most major grocery stores carry “egg roll” wrappers that are thick, heavy and flexible. However, they’ll yield a more chewy egg roll and take a few minutes longer to fry.
- Oil: When deep frying it’s essential to select the right oil for cooking. You want something that has a high smoke point like peanut oil or canola oil (around 450°F/232°C) because the egg rolls will be fried at 350°F/177°C.
When making the filling, stir-fry the vegetables and aromatics in a wok or saute pan until softened and tender. A little bit of sesame oil and soy sauce is used to season the vegetables.
The filling should be thoroughly cooked before added to the wrapper. I recommend spreading the vegetables on a sheet tray and chilling in the refrigerator.
Sometimes the vegetables will release additional moisture, so you can also slightly tilt the pan to gather any excess liquid as it cools. You don’t want the filling to be soggy or overly wet when adding into the hot oil.
Evenly add about 2 tablespoons of filling to the top corner of the wrapper. Make sure to tightly roll and tuck the egg rolls to ensure that they stay a cigar shape as they fry. You want to remove as much excess air and space as possible between the filling and wrapper. I used some egg whites to seal the sides and top of the wrapper, however, water or a cornstarch slurry can be used.
In between rolling make sure to cover the wrapper with a damp paper towel because they dry out quickly once opened. The wet paper towel will keep the wrappers pliable. At this point, the egg rolls are ready to fry, or they can be frozen. If storing for later, make sure to freeze them in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan and then transfer to a resealable plastic bag or airtight container.
Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the oil reaches 350°F/177°C. Try to maintain this temperature throughout the frying process. If the oil gets too hot, the wrapper will brown and cook too quickly, and the egg rolls won’t be as crispy because there was not enough time for the water to be removed. Simply turn down the heat and wait for a few minutes until the temperature drops down again.
I like to work in small batches, two at a time because they cook in just a few minutes and I want to make sure they get an even fry. A stainless steel spider strainer comes in handy for moving the items, draining excess oil, and safely removing the egg rolls from the pot.
Are you ready to dip and devour the egg rolls? I like to serve them with a sweet and sour sauce to compliment the flavors of the savory filling. These appetizers disappear fast, so you may want to double to the recipe to make sure everyone gets a few pieces. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
INGREDIENTS:
I bag coleslaw mix
1 lb pork sausage
2 cloves garlic minced (or garlic pwdr)
1 tsp ground ginger
Salt to taste
1/4 c onion diced
Directions:
Brown the sausage in a large skillet and add the other ingredients right on top. Cover and cook on the stovetop about 5 min on med. remove lid, stir/toss, and taste. Finish to your taste/texture preference.
