Vegetable Spring Rolls

Golden, crackly and impossible to stop at one, vegetable spring rolls are the snack everyone hovers around at the table. That shattering pastry giving way to a savoury tangle of cabbage, carrot and mushroom is pure takeaway magic, and it's far easier to recreate at home than you'd think.

The filling comes together in one wok in minutes, and rolling gets quicker with every one you do. Frozen spring roll wrappers from the Asian grocer (or the freezer aisle at most supermarkets) do all the heavy lifting.

Make a big batch and freeze the extras uncooked. They fry beautifully straight from frozen, which means crispy spring rolls on demand whenever the craving hits.

Servings
4
Prep Time
35
mins
Cook Time
25
mins
Ingredients
15
Total Time
60
mins

Ingredients

  • 20 frozen spring roll wrappers (20cm square), thawed
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for deep-frying
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp finely grated ginger
  • 1/4 wombok (Chinese cabbage), finely shredded (about 400g)
  • 2 carrots, julienned
  • 100g shiitake or button mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 100g vermicelli noodles, soaked and roughly chopped
  • 3 spring onions, finely sliced
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp water (for sealing)
  • Sweet chilli sauce, to serve

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok over high heat. Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add the wombok, carrot and mushrooms and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until just wilted but still with a little bite.
  3. Add the vermicelli, spring onion, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil and white pepper. Toss well, then tip into a colander set over a bowl and cool completely — draining off excess liquid keeps the rolls crisp.
  4. Place a wrapper on the bench in a diamond shape. Spoon 2 tablespoons of filling near the bottom corner, fold the corner over the filling, fold in the sides, then roll up firmly. Seal the top corner with a dab of cornflour paste. Repeat with the remaining wrappers.
  5. Heat oil for deep-frying in a wok or large saucepan to 180°C (a cube of bread should sizzle and brown in about 15 seconds).
  6. Fry the spring rolls in batches of 4-5 for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally, until deep golden and crisp.
  7. Drain on a wire rack or paper towel and serve hot with sweet chilli sauce.

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