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

Print

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

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 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.

How to make lumpia crispy for long? ›

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 lumpia and fresh lumpia? ›

The fried lumpia is the most popular and the most well-known to Filipinos, but there is also the fresh lumpia or lumpiang sariwa which is made with a soft, freshly made wrapper instead of one that needs to be fried to a crisp. Lumpia are commonly stuffed with many ingredients.

What makes lumpia so special? ›

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. It's best eaten fresh out of the pan with soy sauce mixed in, but some people like to eat it cold.

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 do we call lumpia in English? ›

Throughout the country, spring rolls are generally called lumpia; however, sometimes an old Chinese Indonesian spelling is used: loen pia.

What is the English word for lumpia? ›

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

Are spring roll wrappers and lumpia wrappers the same? ›

Lumpia Wrappers

Lumpia are a Filipino-style version of spring rolls. Typically made from flour, cornstarch, and water, lumpia wrappers are thin and delicate, but strong enough to hold fillings. You can serve either serve lumpia fresh or fried.

What is the secret of crispy lumpia? ›

Instead of folding individual lumpia, you roll up a large, long one that you freeze and slice into shorter pieces. Don't worry about the exposed filling on the sides—they form a crisp, flavorful meat crust when deep-fried.

What is the best oil for frying lumpia? ›

I recommend vegetable oil, which has a neutral flavor and a high smoking point, but peanut oil is a good alternative. Fry the lumpia in batches.

Is it better to fry lumpia frozen or thawed? ›

There's no need to defrost before frying.

What is authentic lumpia made of? ›

Lumpia is a delicious savory fried roll filled with ground pork, carrots, and cabbage. Traditionally found in the Philippines, lumpia is a perfect appetizer that is crispy and golden and served with dipping sauce on the side.

Is lumpia a Filipino delicacy? ›

Lumpia has been loved for so many years by Filipinos among all ages. It is sometimes offered as an appetizer or snack and is made of a thin crepe-like wrapper that is filled with a mixture of ground meat, vegetables, and spices and fried until golden.

What is Chinese lumpia called? ›

In Hokkien, the language spoken in Fujian province, they called it lunpia (潤餅), meaning “soft pancake”. In the Philippines, lumpia refers to spring rolls of the fried (prito) and fresh (sariwa) variety.

Is lumpia a spring roll or egg roll? ›

The first thing to know is that both egg rolls and lumpia are types of spring rolls. A spring roll is an Asian wrap that is sometimes fried. You may have vegetables or meat in the wrap that is often made from either wheat or rice.

Why is it called lumpia? ›

Lumpia was introduced to the Philippines during the pre-colonial period by early Hokkien immigrants and traders from Fujian between 900 and 1565 AD. The name is derived from Hokkien, a language that originated in southeastern China: "lun" means wet, moist, or soft, and "pia" means cake or pastry.

What is the fried version of spring roll called? ›

The fried version with minced pork is called imperial rolls or chả giò (southern Vietnam), nem cuốn, chả cuốn or Nem rán (northern Vietnam). They are often called "egg rolls" in Western countries, which is a misnomer. Central Vietnam has its own version of a fried roll called "ram".

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