Crispy and Golden Fried Lumpiang Shanghai – A Guide to Cook This Filipino Delight
Whatever the nutritionists say about fried food, there’s always a special fan base for fried food items who just can’t resist the crispiness. Lumpiang Shanghai is one of the dishes from that list and is also very famous among Filipinos. It is also called Filipino spring rolls. These rolls are inspired by Chinese spring rolls but have made their space in the hearts of the people of the Philippines and are now widely enjoyed as an appetizer, snack, or even as a light meal. These bitsy treats are crispy from the outside and are filled with flavorful filling of meat and vegetables and are served with a dipping sauce of choice.
Amber, being the ambassador of traditional Filipino foods, understands the needs of people and the high demand for the dish and is serving the Lumpia on its menu which is one of their best-selling dishes. They offer a healthier version of it but not compromising on the tastes as well. They have the option of only vegetable-filled rolls for vegetarian customers. You can now enjoy the real taste of Lumpia Shanghai prepared with care and without compromising the quality. You may also cook the dish yourself by following the recipe I shared below.
Prices and serving:
| Serving Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 10 pieces: | ₱ 190.00 |
| 20 pieces: | ₱ 380.00 |
| 40 pieces: | ₱ 760.00 |
What is Lumpiang Shanghai?
Lumpiang Shanghai or Lumpia is a famous Filipino dish, which is spring rolls cooked with a touch of Philippines-style cooking. The dish is inherited from the Chinese settlers from Fujian China that’s why it is very similar to the Chinese egg rolls. These rolls contain a filling of ground pork, chicken, or beef, mixed with veggies like carrots and then wrapped in a thin spring roll wrapper, and deep fried in oil or air-fried.
Types of Lumpia
There are many types of Lumpia that are cooked all over the Philippines. It is not possible to discuss all in this article but here are a few famous variants.
Lumpiang Ubod:
It is a vegetarian Lumpia, for those who don’t eat meat or who love vegetables. It has a slightly sweet and refreshing taste because of its main ingredient, Ubod (heart of palm). Vegetables like carrots and onions are also added to its filling.
Lumpiang Sariwa (Fresh Spring Rolls):
Wrapped with a fresh spring roll, this Lampia is filled with meat (pork or shrimp), vegetables, and lettuce and is often served with savory dipping sauce.
Sweet Lumpia:
There are also some sweet variants of Lumpia like Turon (made of banana and caramel), Kamote Turon (sweet potato), and Ube Turon (mashed purple yam lumpia). These are a few options for the sweet lovers.
Almost all types of Lumpia have similar preparation and cooking processes. The Lumpia Shanghai, that we are discussing is ideal for meat lovers and also has an adequate amount of vegetables. Below, I have revealed the recipe and ingredients of the Lumpia served on Amber’s menu.
Ingredients
For the Fillings
- 1 1/2 lbs (680 g) ground pork
- 3/4 cup minced carrot
- 3/4 cup minced onion (about 1/2 red onion)
- 1/2 cup minced Chinese celery
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Wrapping
- 2 packs of lumpia wrappers or spring roll wrappers
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Oil to fry the rolls
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of any hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
Making the Filling
Add all the ingredients of filling in a bowl and mix well with the help of a spatula. This mixing may take some time because the aim is not to mix only but to make a consistent mixture of the ingredients in which everything comes together.
Wrapping Instruction
- Put the roll wrappers in a plate or a bowl, and put a damp cloth over it to keep them humid.
- Take out one wrapper and place it on the cooking table in front of you in such a way that its pointed edge is facing up.
- Put some filling, using a tablespoon a little above the lower corner of the wrapper, the one that is close to you, and shape the filling in the form of a strip.
- Fold the lower corner, covering the filling and then the other two side corners, and roll the filling wrapper all the way to almost the top, in such a way that the edges are tucked in and the filling is sealed tightly.
- Brush the top corner with a little eggwash and then seal the lumpia. Set aside and repeat the same process for the remaining wrappers.
- Brush the top corner with a little eggwash and then seal the lumpia. Set aside and repeat the same process for the remaining wrappers.
- You can also store the wrapped lumpia for as long as three months and cook them whenever you feel a craving for the delicious crunchy bites. All you have to do is pack them in a ziplock bag with the air squeezed out as much as possible and keep them in a freezer.
Cooking
- Put some oil in a pan and heat on a high flame until the temperature of 350°F or 176°C.
- Lower a few lumpia in the oil and fry them on each side with the help of a tweezer until the golden brown color is achieved for both sides. One side should take 2 minutes to cook, so a total of 4 minutes should be enough to cook the lumpia.
- Once cooked, extract the lumpia out of the pan and put in a plate or tray to cool down.
Sauce
- Now add all the ingredients of the sauce in a pot and cook over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens to your liking or until it coats the back of the spoon, and extract in a dish to serve with the cooked Lumpiang Shanghai.
- Serve the sweet and sour sauce for dipping with the lumpia and enjoy the treat.
Notes
- You can also store the cooked lumpia and warm them up to 200°C in an oven before serving. They may not be as crispy as freshly fried but still, you will enjoy the taste, if not crispiness.
- If you like the Lumpiang juicier like me, you should consider using ground pork with a higher amount of fat.
- If you are using an air fryer to cook the lumpia, then you should spray enough amount of oil on both sides of the wrappers before wrapping the filling. Heat the air fryer at 198°C for almost 10 minutes and then add the lumpia and cook each side for 8 minutes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving
- Serving: 1 serving
- Calories: 95 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 14.2 g
- Protein: 4.8 g,
- Fat: 1.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 13 mg
- Sodium: 270 mg
- Potassium: 73 mg
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Sugar: 1.2 g
- Calcium: 14 mg
FAQs about Lumpiang Shanghai
Conclusion
Lumpiang Shanghai is a crispy and flavorful Filipino treat that’s perfect for various occasions. With a little preparation and the helpful recipe provided, you can impress your family and friends by making this delightful dish at home. So why not give it a try and experience the taste of Lumpiang Shanghai for yourself?
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