Egg roll recipes are easy to make and these finger foods make a great appetizer, side dish or finishing touch to any Asian-inspired meal. While it's unclear which Asian country actually invented the egg roll, what we do know is this: all Asian countries make some version of this dish and all versions have their own flavor combinations. This dough-and-filling combination is as adaptable as it is popular, so don't be afraid to try Southwestern flavors and ingredients or go experiment with your own favorites.
Types of Egg Rolls
Chinese Egg Rolls. The traditional Chinese egg roll has a filling made from minced vegetables and meat (or shrimp) inside a flour and egg-based wrapper. Although you can use any vegetables in egg rolls, the classic ingredients are cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, water chestnuts and onions. Fry before serving.
Spring Rolls. Spring roll fillings are similar to those used for egg rolls, but the wrappers are thinner, made from rice and almost appear translucent. The ingredients for the spring roll fillings vary depending on the country of origin (China, Japan, Thailand or Vietnam) so you'll see several different combinations of meat, vegetables and spices used.
Hmong Egg Rolls. These egg rolls are made with traditional egg roll wrappers and contain a mixture of pork, cabbage, thread noodles, onions and soy, fish and oyster sauces. They are served with a dipping sauce also made with fish sauce and soy sauce.
Filipino Egg Rolls. In the Philippines, you can get an egg roll filled with beef, pork, carrots, onions and cellophane noodles, wrapped in an egg and flour wrapper and fried. These are typically served with a sweet and sour sauce.
Mexican Egg Rolls. Egg and flour wrappers are used in Mexican egg rolls as well, but the fillings are most often beans, cheese, meat and peppers and the rolls are fried like traditional Chinese egg rolls.
Tex Mex Egg Rolls. Many restaurants in the Southwest region of the United States serve Tex Mex egg rolls containing a filling made of black beans, corn, chicken, spinach, peppers and cheese inside an egg and flour wrapper that's then fried. Generally these egg rolls are served with salsa, guacamole or sour cream in the place of dipping sauces.
Avocado Egg Rolls. Americans have taken the egg roll to a new height by creating the avocado egg roll. This consists of a traditional egg roll wrapper filled with avocado, onions and sun dried tomatoes marinated in a sauce made from olive oil, garlic, lime juice, cumin and cilantro. This delightful egg roll is served with a hot and sweet dipping sauce or a black bean and tomatillo salsa.
Making Traditional Homemade Egg Roll Wrappers
Ingredients You Will Need:
2 eggs
½ cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup water
Beat the eggs until the yolks are completely broken and have combined with the egg whites. Mix in salt. Add flour little by little, using a whisk to blend ingredients, until all flour is incorporated and the mixture is free of lumps. Gradually add water, whisking as you go, making sure that the mixture remains lump-free.
Spray 8-inch skillet with non-stick cooking spray, then place on a burner set to medium heat. When the pan is hot, pour ¼ cup of wrapper batter into skillet and swirl pan to coat the bottom evenly. Cook wrapper only until the batter is set. Do not flip wrapper. Carefully remove the set wrapper from the pan and place on plate or marble cutting board to cool. Do not stack wrappers or they will stick to one another.
How to Make Filling for Traditional Egg Rolls
Ingredients You Will Need:
1 cup chopped cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
¼ cup green onions, minced
3 ounces cooked shrimp, diced
1 cup ground pork
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ teaspoon sugar
Cook the ground pork in a skillet with the soy sauce, sugar, garlic powder and black pepper. Use a spatula to break up the ground pork into smaller pieces. Add the cabbage, onions and carrots and sauté until vegetables are slightly cooked but still crunchy. Add shrimp. Toss mixture and remove from heat. Let mixture cool before filling wrappers.
How to Fill and Fry Egg Rolls
Ingredients You Will Need:
Peanut oil, for skillet
One egg white, for sealing egg roll wrappers after filling
Pastry brush to seal the egg rolls
Once your egg roll filling has cooled, fill the first egg roll wrapper with about ¼ cup of filling. Fold the corners in first, then roll the wrap, sealing the final loose end with egg white. Set aside. Repeat until you've made the desired number of egg rolls.
Fry the rolls in hot peanut oil until golden brown on all sides. Use a slotted spoon to remove roll from pan. Set on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Serve immediately with sweet and sour sauce for dipping.
 | Egg rolls can be made from various ingredients and are great when served as a meal, as an appetizer or as a snack. Egg rolls are a delicious Asian food that vegetarians can enjoy, as they lend themselves to many different types of fillings. |
 | Let this pork egg roll recipe inspire your creativity. Egg Rolls lend themselves to being a creative dish. They can be served as a meal, as a side or as an appetizer. |
If you use good fresh ingredients with plenty of flavor, and cook them to crispy perfection, you can make delicious egg rolls at home. The best part of this recipe is that it is baked, not fried, meaning you don't have to feel guilty afterwards. |
 | Folding egg rolls can be somewhat of a challenge if you've never done it before. Once you have mastered the technique, you can make numerous egg rolls quickly and easily. |
 | The key to a making a success out of any egg roll recipe is to freeze the egg roll wrappers, whether store bought or homemade. Freezing makes them easier to work with and helps to keep them from breaking apart during cooking. |
