Lumpiang Shanghai Wraps (Filipino Spring Roll Lettuce Wraps)

About This Recipe

Lumpiang Shanghai are the Philippines' beloved thin, crispy fried spring rolls, filled with a mixture of ground pork, carrot and onion, and despite the name, they're a distinctly Filipino creation rather than an import from Shanghai. This lunch format wraps the fried rolls in crisp lettuce leaves along with fresh herbs and cucumber, turning the usual party appetizer into a lighter, fresher meal that balances the rolls' richness. Dipped in the traditional sweet and sour sauce, this format keeps all the craveable crunch and savory pork filling of the original while making it feel more like a complete lunch than a small appetizer.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 400 gground pork
• 1carrot(finely grated)
• 1onion(finely diced)
• 2 clovesgarlic(minced)
• 1egg
• 2 tbspsoy sauce
• 1 tspsalt
• 1/2 tspblack pepper
• 20spring roll wrappers
• 3 cupsvegetable oil(for frying)
• 1 headbutter lettuce(leaves separated)
• 1/2 cupfresh mint and cilantro(for wrapping)
• 1cucumber(julienned)
• 1/3 cupsweet chile sauce(for dipping)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the filling

   Mix ground pork, grated carrot, onion, garlic, egg, soy sauce, salt and pepper until well combined.

2. 2

   Wrap the rolls

   Place a spoonful of filling near one edge of each spring roll wrapper, then roll tightly, folding in the sides, and seal with a bit of water.

   Roll the spring rolls tightly and evenly — a loose roll causes uneven frying and can burst open in the hot oil.

3. 3

   Fry

   Fry the rolls in batches in hot oil (350F/175C) for 5-6 minutes, turning, until deeply golden and crisp; drain.

4. 4

   Slice

   Slice each fried roll in half or into thirds.

5. 5

   Assemble the wraps

   Place a piece of fried lumpia on a lettuce leaf along with fresh herbs and cucumber.

6. 6

   Serve

   Wrap and dip in sweet chile sauce.

Variations

• •

  A version with shrimp mixed into the pork filling adds extra flavor and texture.

• •

  Serving the fried rolls whole with the dipping sauce, without the lettuce wrap, is the more traditional party appetizer format.

• •

  Adding pickled carrots (like in a banh mi) instead of fresh gives a different, tangier flavor profile.

Storage

Uncooked, wrapped lumpia freeze exceptionally well; fry directly from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes. Fried lumpia keep 2 days refrigerated and reheat well in an oven.

Frequently Asked Questions