Spring Rolls: Everything You Need to Know + An Easy Recipe

Spring rolls are a beloved staple in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines, tracing their origins back to traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in China. Originally shaped to resemble gold bars symbolizing wealth and prosperity, spring rolls have evolved into a versatile dish found in many variations worldwide. For more inspiration and creative ways to enjoy this dish, you can explore delicious ideas at https://www.umamicart.com/blogs/recipes/recipes-spring-rolls/.

Spring Rolls vs. Egg Rolls

Though often used interchangeably, spring rolls and egg rolls differ significantly:

• Spring Rolls use thin, semi-translucent wrappers made primarily from flour and water. They can be fried, steamed, or served fresh and have a flaky, crispy texture when fried.

• Egg Rolls incorporate egg into the thicker dough wrapper, resulting in a bumpier, crunchier exterior. They are always deep-fried.

Popular Spring Roll Fillings

Traditional spring roll fillings vary but usually contain a mixture of vegetables and meats such as:

• Cabbage, carrots, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts

• Pork, shrimp, chicken, tofu

• Aromatic herbs like Thai basil, mint, or cilantro in fresh Vietnamese-style rolls

Homemade Cantonese Spring Roll Recipe

Ingredients

For the pork and marinade:

• 6 oz shredded or ground pork

• ½ tsp white pepper

• ½ tsp cornstarch

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp sesame oil

• 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine

For the filling:

• 1 cup sliced bamboo shoots

• ⅓ cup diced shallots

• 1 cup shredded carrots

• 3 cups chopped green cabbage

• ~10 mushrooms, chopped

• 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 2 tbsp oil

• 2 tbsp water

• 2 tbsp cornstarch (dissolved in 2 tbsp cold water)

• ¼ tsp sugar

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• ½ tsp salt

For the wraps:

• ~8-inch spring roll wrappers (about 20 per pack)

• 1 tbsp cornstarch (dissolved in 1 tbsp hot water)

• Oil for frying

Directions

1. Marinate pork with seasoning ingredients for at least 30 minutes.

2. Stir-fry pork in oil over high heat. Add garlic, mushrooms, and carrots, stir briefly, then add bamboo shoots, cabbage, Shaoxing wine, and simmer to reduce moisture.

3. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, pepper, and sugar. Thicken filling with cornstarch slurry, cool, and refrigerate before wrapping.

4. To assemble, keep wrappers covered to prevent drying, place filling on wrapper, fold edges, and roll tightly sealing with cornstarch water.

5. Fry rolls carefully in hot oil until golden. Drain excess oil and serve warm with dipping sauces.

Popular Dipping Sauces

• Hoisin sauce

• Vietnamese nuoc cham (fish sauce with lime and sugar)

• Peanut dipping sauce — creamy, sweet, nutty

• Sriracha and other chili sauces

Serving Suggestions

Spring rolls pair well as appetizers alongside fried rice, vermicelli noodle salads, hot and sour soup, egg drop soup, or a fresh side of coleslaw.

Shop Spring Roll Ingredients at Umamicart

Find all the essentials—including spring roll wrappers, fresh shrimp, ground meats, vegetables, and authentic dipping sauces—at Umamicart. Convenient online shopping makes it easy to enjoy making spring rolls at home.