Egg Roll

An egg roll

The filling

First fold

Third fold

Frying

An egg roll

Egg rolls have very little egg in them. Egg roll filling is essentially stir-fry, but with smaller particles and less cooking. It goes hot into an egg roll wrapper, which is then cooked in a hot oil. Egg rolls may be eaten plain or dipped in sweet-and-sour sauce or teriyaki sauce.

Egg rolls keep about as well as any other fried food - not well at all. The filling alone will keep well. Leftover filling and wrappers may be used to make wonton soup. Leftover wrappers may be deep-fried alone, then immediately covered in sugar and cinnamon.

Note that these egg rolls do not contain cabbage and carrots, which are used by commercial egg roll producers to cheapen the filling; as a result, the filling in these egg rolls is superior to the commercial product.

Ingredients

• egg roll wrappers (easiest bought ready-to-use, but see the wonton wrapper recipe)
• meat or poultry (suggested: chicken or pork)
• bok choy, or celery and perhaps spinach
• broccoli (optional)
• bean sprouts
• powdered ginger
• soy sauce
• bamboo shoots
• oil to fry the filling, possibly including sesame oil
• oil to fry the finished rolls, possibly including shortening
• egg white

Procedure

Filling

1. Cut the meat into tiny pieces. This is much easier to do if the meat is cooked, but the result will be better if you cut the meat raw and cook it after cutting.
2. Cut the bamboo shoots into matchsticks.
3. If using, chop the broccoli head into little pieces, perhaps 3/8-inch diameter. Cut the stalk into matchsticks.
4. If using celery, cut the stalks lengthwise into 3/4-inch wide pieces and then crosswise into 1/8-inch slices.
5. If using bok choy, cut the leaves away from the stalk. Treat the stalks as celery. Cut the leaves crosswise in 1/2-inch strips, then break the strips into 1.5-inch pieces.
6. If using spinach, treat it much like the bok choy leaves.
7. Wash the bean sprouts, discarding any that are not white and crisp.
8. Place oil in a wok and turn on the heat. High temperatures can produce a better result, but require rapid stirring to prevent burning. Beginners should use lower temperatures. Split the cooking into batches as needed to ensure that your wok is not too full; there should be plenty of room to stir and toss the food in your wok. You may prefer to cook each ingredient separately, then mix them at the end.
9. Add the meat. If it is uncooked, lightly stir-fry it now. Drain juices and add more oil as needed.
10. You may add a small amount of sesame seed oil and/or sesame seeds for flavor.
11. Add soy sauce. For a typical wok full of food, add a tablespoon.
12. Add ginger. About 1/2 teaspoon of ginger should be right, depending on taste. Ginger is somewhat hot.
13. Add the broccoli, celery, and/or bok choy stalks. When done, they should be just slightly softened. Broccoli should end up being very bright green, losing the bluish cast but not gaining any hint of a yellow-brown cast.
14. Add bok choy leaves and/or spinach. When done, they should be just barely wilted.
15. Add the bamboo shoots and bean sprouts, and turn off the heat. Do not overcook the bean sprouts.

Construction and frying

1. Begin heating oil to fry the egg rolls. Deep-fat frying works best, though pan frying in 3/4-inch of oil will also work. You will not need a basket; egg rolls may stick to a basket and rip. You will need tongs.
2. Place an egg roll wrapper on a plate. Beginners may use flour to help avoid sticking, but this will quickly foul the oil.
3. Turn the plate so that the wrapper has one point toward you and one point away from you.
4. Place some hot filling on the wrapper.
5. Fold over the corner that faces away from you.
6. Paint some egg white onto this corner to act as glue.
7. Fold over the left-facing and right-facing corners.
8. Paint some egg white onto these parts also, and also onto the remaining corner.
9. Roll the egg roll toward you, onto the remaining corner of the wrapper.
10. Examine the wrapper to ensure that it is fully sealed. Tears may be patched up with pieces from a spare wrapper and some egg white glue.
11. Place the egg roll into the hot oil. You may be able to cook several at once, but do not allow the uncooked egg rolls to sit for long. Egg rolls that sit uncooked will become sticky and easy to tear.
12. Turn the egg rolls over a few times as they cook, and dunk them under the oil. Be sure not to break them open as you do this.
13. Remove the egg rolls when they are golden brown. Place them onto a fresh plate, so that they do not become contaminated with raw egg whites. Be sure to not handle the cooked egg rolls with hands that may be contaminated with raw egg whites.
14. Serve quickly; they are best eaten hot.

Warning

When a pot of hot oil catches fire, the flames will reach up for 2 or 3 feet. If you must work under flammable cabinets or shelves, be sure to have a fire extinguisher handy (class K in the United States, class F in Europe.) An oil with a high smoke point is less likely to cause problems, including indoor air pollution and fire. Do not use water to extinguish an oil fire.

Variation

Egg rolls, tacos, and tamales have similar construction. The fillings and shells can be interchanged as desired.