Lumpia (Crispy Filipino Spring Rolls Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Lumpia are Filipino fried spring rolls filled with ground pork and mixed vegetables. This lumpia recipe is authentic and yields the crispiest lumpia ever. Serve them as an appetizer or finger food, with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Lumpia (Crispy Filipino Spring Rolls Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

Lumpia (Crispy Filipino Spring Rolls Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2)

Almost every country in Asia has its own interpretation of spring rolls, or egg rolls in the United States. In the Philippines, spring rolls are called lumpia.

In this lumpia recipe, Marvin, a native Filipino who blogs at Burnt Lumpia will explain different types of lumpia and share lumpiang Shanghai recipe with us.

Lumpia (Crispy Filipino Spring Rolls Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (3)

Table of Contents

What Is a Lumpia?

Many people wonder what does lumpia mean? Lumpia is a Filipino word and it comes from the Chinese spring roll, with veggies (like cabbage and carrots), meats (usually pork), and/or seafood (sometimes shrimp) as the filling.

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Different Types of Lumpia

There are many types of lumpia, here are some of the most popular ones:

  • Lumpiang Sariwa refers to “fresh” lumpia with veggies and meat as the filling. You use a thin homemade crepe, instead of spring roll wrappers to wrap them.
  • Lumpiang Hubad (naked lumpia) is made without a wrapper.
  • Lumpiang Prito is Filipino fried spring roll with meat and a variety of vegetables as the filling.
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How to Make Lumpia?

Below is the recipe for Lumpiang Shanghai with vegetables and ground pork as the filling. For serving, you dip them into Chinese sweet and sour sauce.

Lumpiang Shanghai are also thinner and smaller than its other fried counterparts. Lumpiang Shanghai are very easy to make as you just roll them up. They are perfect finger foods for parties!

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Difference between Lumpia and Egg Rolls

Lumpia is the Filipino version of fried spring rolls. Egg rolls are American version of Chinese spring rolls. Both share the same origin but they taste and look different, with egg rolls being bigger and “fatter” in shape.

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Can You Freeze Lumpia?

Yes, you can make lumpia ahead of time and freeze them in the refrigerator. In case you are wondering how long does frozen lumpia last? The answer is a long time. You can freeze them for months in the freezer without going bad.

Just make sure that you thaw them to room temperature before deep-frying.

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How Many Calories per Serving?

Each roll is only 65 calories.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

For a classic Filipino meal, I recommend the following recipes.

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Lumpia (Filipino Spring Rolls)

Lumpia are Filipino fried spring rolls filled with ground pork and mixed vegetables. This lumpia recipe is authentic and yields the crispiest lumpia ever. Serve them as an appetizer or finger food, with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

4.50 from 313 votes

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By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 50 Spring Rolls

Prep 30 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 package Lumpia wrappers (Chinese or Vietnamese spring roll wrappers meant for frying can be used (25 sheets))
  • 2 lbs. (1kg) ground pork
  • 5 cloves garlic (peeled and minced)
  • 1 inch (2.5cm) ginger, peeled and minced
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder (optional)
  • 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 6 oz. (175g) cabbage, thinly sliced

Instructions

  • Using a serrated knife, cut the square lumpia wrappers in half so that you have two stacks of rectangular wrappers. Place a damp paper towel over the wrappers to keep them from drying out as you work.

  • Combine the pork, cabbage, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, chicken bouillon powder (if using), eggs, and ground black pepper in a large bowl. Using your hands, or a rubber spatula, mix the filling well so that the seasonings are evenly distributed.

  • Place one of the rectangular wrappers vertically on your work surface with the short edge facing you. Place a heaping teaspoon of the filling on the wrapper about half an inch from the edge closest to you. Grasp the bottom edge of the wrapper and roll it up and over the filling, continuing to roll until 2 inches of wrapper remain.

    Lumpia (Crispy Filipino Spring Rolls Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (13)

  • Dip two fingers into a bowl of water, then moisten the last 2 inches (5cm) of wrapper with your fingers. Finish rolling the lumpia, then rest it on its seam. Continue rolling with the rest of the filling and lumpia wrappers.

  • At this point, you can freeze your rolled lumpia if you wish by placing them in freezer bags and then into your freezer.

  • To cook the lumpia, fill a large frying pan with about 1/2-inch (1cm) of vegetable oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Gently place the lumpia into the hot oil and fry until golden brown on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes total (if frying frozen lumpia, it will take 1 to 2 minutes longer).

  • Place the fried lumpia on paper towels and serve immediately with sweet and sour sauce or chili sauce (bottled from the store is fine).

Notes

Watch the cooking video on this page for step-by-step guide.

Recipe Contributor: Marvin at Burnt Lumpia.

You can also add finely minced raw shrimp to the pork mixture if you'd like. Also, instead of ground pork, you can use ground beef or ground turkey.

You can use Chinese or Vietnamese spring roll wrappers (for deep-frying) if you can't find lumpia wrappers.

Course: Filipino Recipes

Cuisine: Filipino

Keywords: Lumpia

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Lumpia (Filipino Spring Rolls)

Amount Per Serving (1 roll)

Calories 65Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 20mg7%

Sodium 83mg4%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 4g8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Lumpia (Crispy Filipino Spring Rolls Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

How to make lumpia still crispy? ›

Keep them uncovered: It is best to keep the lumpia uncovered, as covering them can trap moisture and make them less crispy. Reheat in the oven: If you need to reheat the lumpia, it is best to use an oven rather than a microwave, as the latter can make them soggy.

What is the difference between spring roll and lumpia? ›

Although spring rolls and lumpia are similar, they are not the same. Lumpia are usually longer and skinner than spring rolls. Besides the shape, spring rolls from Chinese restaurants are usually vegetarian, while lumpia, lumpian shanghai specifically (this version), is mostly meat.

What is the difference between lumpia and fresh lumpia? ›

For "fresh" (non-fried) lumpia, the wrappers are usually made with egg in addition to the other basic ingredients (and it may use rice flour). This essentially turns it into a thin egg crêpe. It is still thinner than other spring roll variants, but much thicker and softer than variants made from just flour and water.

What is the difference between lumpia and lumpia shanghai? ›

Lumpiang Shanghai is regarded as the most basic type of lumpia in Filipino cuisine, and it is usually smaller and thinner than other lumpia variants.

Do you need to thaw frozen lumpia before frying? ›

There's no need to defrost before frying. To fry your lumpia, heat about a quart of vegetable oil in a wok or high-sided sauté pan over medium heat (the oil should be at least three inches deep). Cohen says the most important aspect of frying lumpia is making sure that the oil is hot—really hot.

How do you keep crispy rolls crispy? ›

If you want it crispy tomorrow, you have to leave it exposed to air, but then it will get a bit stale and dry out some as well. If you want it to remain as fresh as possible, then you really have to enclose it in something like a plastic bag to retain its moisture.

What are spring rolls called in America? ›

An egg roll is a fried, savory roll filled with shredded cabbage, ground or roast pork or shrimp and other ingredients inside a wonton wrapper or thick, wheat flour wrapper. Egg rolls are thought to have been invented in New York City's Chinatown restaurants in the 1930s.

What can I substitute for lumpia wrappers? ›

Wonton wrappers will work BUT the lumpia will look bubbly on the outside. To make these gluten-free, you can opt to use rice paper instead of lumpia wrappers, just as you would in Vietnamese Spring Rolls.

What is the difference between Chinese and Filipino spring rolls? ›

For one, lumpia wrappers are lighter in texture than egg roll wrappers, consisting of a mixture of flour, water, and salt, that form a thin and crispy wrapper when fried in oil. Egg roll wrappers, on the other hand, are usually thicker and denser because it uses eggs. Another difference is in the filling.

What do we call lumpia in English? ›

Lumpia is also the name for the Filipino version of spring rolls. Chinese Hokkien traders brought the spring roll to the Philippines in the 7th century. “Lumpia” derives from the Hokkien word for spring roll, lun pia.

What is the English of lumpia? ›

Noun. lumpia (plural lumpia or lumpias) (chiefly Philippines and Indonesia) A kind of spring roll.

Why do Filipinos eat lumpia? ›

Filipinos love Lumpia because it is a delicious dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course or snack. It has a light and crunchy wrapper with savory meat filling inside.

Does lumpia get soggy? ›

when frying is so that the oil drains downward doesn't make them all soggy. and when they stack this way they don't lie down on top of each other. and the top ones get crispy and the bottom ones get covered in oil and soggy. so that's a tip for having crispy lumpia or spring filipino spring rolls.

What ethnicity is lumpia? ›

Filipino Lumpia ~ This is a traditional Filipino dish. It is the Filipino version of the egg rolls. It can be served as a side dish or as an appetizer..

What food is similar to lumpia? ›

Lumpia is very similar to spring rolls or egg rolls found in local Asian cuisines.

Why won t my egg rolls stay crispy? ›

Keep Oil at 350˚F – If the temperature drops too low, the egg rolls will be soggy and oily. If it's too hot, they will burn before the filling is cooked through. Ensure the oil does not drop below 325F.

How do you keep frozen spring rolls crispy? ›

The best method to cook frozen spring rolls is by deep frying them. This gives you a golden and crispy exterior while ensuring that the filling inside is thoroughly cooked. However, you can also bake them in the oven for a healthier alternative.

How do you know when lumpia is done frying? ›

Cook until golden brown and the inside temperature reads 165° F. Usually cooks in approximately 8-10 minutes.

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