Easy Egg Roll Recipe
Egg rolls might seem like an intimidating dish but by following a few simple steps you’ll see they’re really are a straightforward, easy to make recipe. Here you’ll learn how to deep fry in oil or bake in the oven for a lighter alternative. Both options are delicious but nothing beats that deep fried texture. They great thing about these is that people of all ages love them! Who can resist this delicious finger food? Pair with your favorite Asian dipping sauce like sweet and sour sauce, sesame sauce, Thai sweet chili sauce, or teriyaki sauce. And if you’re like me load up on the Sriracha! Then if you want to go the lazy route one day, you can even try making a meal of the filling served over rice, no egg roll wrappers or assembly required (just add a little extra soy sauce to the filling).
Photography credit: Jess Larson
Ingredients for Egg Rolls:
Lean ground turkey – I like the ground turkey and how it pairs with the other ingredients, but feel free to use ground pork, chicken, or even make them vegetarian by omitting the meat altogether and adding another vegetable like mushrooms or use tofu. Vegetable oil – if you plan to fry the egg rolls, be sure you have plenty of vegetable oil, at least 6 cups. For baking you’ll only need a little for brushing. Bell pepper – use whatever color bell pepper you prefer. I usually go for red. Garlic – use freshly minced garlic for best flavor. Ginger – again for best flavor use freshly minced, don’t substitute dry ground unless that’s all you have access to (in which case you’ll only need about 1/4 tsp). Diced green onions – you might also find these at the store labeled as scallions. I like to use these here because they cook quickly whereas yellow or red onions don’t. Green cabbage – thinly slice the cabbage so it cooks quickly and has a better overall texture in the end. Red cabbage can be substituted. Matchstick carrots – if you can’t find matchstick carrots, you can grate a carrot on the large holes of a box grater. Soy sauce – it’s the salt of Chinese food, so be sure not to leave it out. It also adds a key umami flavor that highlights this recipe. Sesame oil – this oil packs a flavorful punch. A little goes a long way. Chinese five spice – this spice can be found in most grocery stores in the spice section, but you can also make your own. Here’s a great recipe for homemade Chinese five spice. Egg roll wrappers – you can also find these in most major grocery stores. You can typically find them near the produce section, or near the refrigerated salad dressing. If you don’t see them in either of those spots try asking a clerk for help locating them. Egg – you’ll use this to help seal the wrappers and act as the glue so the filling stays intact.
How to Make Egg Rolls:
How to Fry Egg Rolls:
Preheat vegetable oil in pot: Add oil to a pot (it should come up about 1 1/2 – 2 inches) and heat to 370 degrees. Fry egg rolls in oil until golden brown: Fry egg rolls in batches, 5 at a time, until golden brown, turning once halfway through. It should take about 2 – 3 minutes total. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Note photos on this page are of fried egg rolls. Baked will have a different appearance with golden brown color in areas rather than all over.
How to Bake Egg Rolls:
Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease an 18 by 13 – inch baking sheet. Bake egg rolls until golden brown: Place egg rolls on a prepared baking sheet, brush both sides of the rolls with oil. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, turn and continue to bake until golden brown and crisp.
Tips for the Best Egg Rolls:
Be sure to fold wraps in nice and tight and roll snuggly so the oil doesn’t seep in while cooking. Also don’t skip using the egg, this will help seal and hold rolls. Bring oil up to temperature before frying otherwise egg rolls will absorb more oil and may not be as crisp. Use a deep fry or candy thermometer to take temperature of oil. Monitor and maintain the temperature of the oil. You don’t want it to drop too much or egg rolls may not cook properly and you don’t want it to rise too much or they’ll burn and it can become dangerous. If baking don’t use a dark baking sheet or egg rolls will burn. Serve with a dipping sauce for added flavor and contrast.
More Delicious Asian Recipes To Try:
Asian Lettuce Wraps Beef and Broccoli Chicken Chow Mein Chicken Fried Rice Sweet and Sour Chicken Teriyaki Chicken
