How To Actually Enjoy Being Around People: Make Lumpia (Filipino Egg Rolls) Together

You can spend an hour in many different ways – you can watch an episode of reality TV, you can have a work meeting where your group tugs at each other then ultimately makes no decision, or you can gather around a table and make lumpia with your friends. Which one sounds more worthwhile?

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Servings: 2

Prep Time: 40 min

Cook Time: 10 min

Ingredients:

Prep The Filling:

• 1 carrot
• 1/2 onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 can (8 oz) water chestnuts
• 1/4 cup chives (1 handful)
• 1 lb ground pork or chicken
• salt & pepper
• 2 tsp garlic powder

For The Wrapper:

• 1 pack square egg roll wrappers
• 1 egg white

Special Equipment You Need: 

• air fryer — we got ours on Amazon

or

• a pan with deep sides or a frying machine + neutral, high-heat oil (vegetable, canola, etc)

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Recipe:

1. Use a grater to medium grate the carrot. Finely chop the chives, onion, garlic, and water chesnuts.
2. Pan fry the onion and garlic at high heat until browned. Add the ground meat and cook for 5 min or until done.
3. Mix all filling ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Separate an egg white and place it into a small bowl.
5. Unpack the egg roll wrappers and cut each diagonally in half to form 2 triangles. To prevent the wrappers from drying out, keep them in a bowl or tupperware with a slightly damp paper towel laid on top.
6. Grab a spoonful of filling and place it about 1/2 inch from the edge of the triangle. Pack and shape it into a long rod. Fold the sides of the triangle over the ends of the filling. Then starting at the base of the triangle, roll up the lumpia. Use egg white to “glue” the tip of the wrapper. Demonstrated this video:

1. Lets fry it up! Air-frying method: Lightly brush vegetable oil on the lumpia. Air fry at 400 deg F for 8-10 min, making sure to flip halfway. Frying method: Fill a cast iron pan or a wok to about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil. Heat to medium-high. Gently place the lumpia and fry for 3-5 min, flipping at half time, or until golden brown.
2. Let lumpia cool on a cooling rack for 5 min. Dip with sweet chili sauce and enjoy!

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Notes:

• We choose the air-fryer method when we want to minimize the our fat consumption. If you decide to not brush the lumpia with oil, expect to have some crunchy yet uneven lumpias. To make the lumpia’s cook evenly in the air fryer, lightly baste with a neutral oil.
• When frying with oil, make sure to use a neutral, high-heat oil (canola, vegetable, etc.) Do not use olive oil or it could catch fire.