Fried Spring Rolls

Chinese new year celebrates Spring, so it’s no wonder that spring rolls (also known as egg rolls/春卷) are popularly served on the reunion dinner table. I love spring rolls any time of the year. I made extras to keep in the freezer, so that I can deep fry them whenever needed.

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It’s great to make your own spring rolls because the oil is clean (we don’t re-use oil until it has turned dark), and you can use any filling you like (I dislike bean sprouts so I made a special batch without bean sprouts, just for me). Even though my version do not come with meat, you can add minced meat or chopped shrimp in the filling. The possibilities are endless. The ingredients are very accessible and cheap too.

Step-by-Step Photos (How to Wrap Spring Rolls)

Spring Roll Wrappers
I used TYJ (Spring Home) brand of wrappers. Thanks tigerfish for sharing and do check out her baked spring rolls recipe.

Spring Roll Wrappers
Tip: While folding the spring rolls, cover the wrappers with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out and hardening.

How to Wrap Spring Roll
Place a heaped tablespoon of filling near the corner of the wrapper nearest to you.

How to Wrap Spring Roll
Fold the corner over the filling.

How to Wrap Spring Roll
Fold both sides towards over the centre of the wrapper.

How to Wrap Spring Roll
Roll the filling towards the centre.

How to Wrap Spring Roll
Keep the folds tight as you continue to roll the filling.

How to Wrap Spring Roll
Secure the remaining corner with egg white to seal the egg roll.

How to Wrap Spring Roll
Repeat until all the filling is used up.

Spring Rolls Recipe
Deep fry & enjoy!

Spring Rolls Recipe

At the start of preparing the spring rolls, take out the frozen wrappers and allow to thaw at room temperature. Alternatively, transfer from freezer to fridge the night before. While folding the spring rolls, cover the wrappers with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out and hardening.

Ingredients:

Fillings

  • 20g dried shrimp soaked in 50ml hot water until softened, soaking water reserved
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 dried Chinese shiitake mushrooms soaked in 200ml hot water until softened; squeeze out excess liquid from caps, discard stalks and slice mushroom cap thinly; soaking water reserved
  • 1/2 turnip (known locally as jicama or “mang kwang”, NOT daikon/white radish) (roughly 300 grams) peeled and sliced to thin matchsticks
  • 200 grams cabbage (roughly 1/4 head cabbage) finely shredded
  • 1 carrot (roughly 80 grams) peeled and finely julienned using a zig zag peeler
  • 50 grams bean sprouts
  • vegetable oil for deep frying

(A) Seasoning

  • 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp ikan bills powder may substitute with chicken seasoning powder
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • dashes of white pepper powder to taste

Folding spring rolls

  • 1 egg white
  • spring roll wrappers

Directions:

Cook the spring roll filling

  1. Pat dry dried shrimps on paper towel. Chop finely.
  2. Heat oil in wok, stir fry dried shrimps for a minute or two, until aromatic. Add garlic and stir fry for 30 seconds.
  3. Add mushrooms, turnips and half of the soaking liquid. Stir fry until the turnip have just softened and turned translucent.
  4. Add cabbage, carrots, remaining soaking liquid and seasoning (A). Stir fry until the vegetables are soft and cooked. Add bean sprouts and briefly stir fry until they are just wilted.
  5. Transfer contents of the wok to 2 large plates and allow to cool completely at room temperature before folding the spring rolls.

Wrap the spring rolls and deep-fry

  1. To wrap the spring rolls, peel a piece of wrapper and place it diagonally (diamond shape) facing you on the work surface. Place one heaped tablespoon of filling at the bottom edge and start rolling. Fold in the two sides and continue rolling. Finish the spring roll by securing the top edge with egg white. Repeat wrapping until all the filling is used up. Check out step-by-step pics here.
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a wok or pot to 180°C (356°F). Deep fry spring rolls, in batches (do not overcrowd the wok) until lightly golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels before serving.

Noob Cook Tip

Wrap spring rolls separated individually using cling wrap or parchment paper, then seal them in a ziplock bag. To cook, thaw at room temperature for 20-30 minutes (not too long) and deep fry as usual.