Cooking Lesson #90 Manila Filipino Lumpia

Manila Filipino Lumpia

How you doin’? How much do you know about Filipino food? It is a very diverse and delicious cuisine. One of my favorites is deep-fried Lumpia rolls. Lumpia is derived from the fried Chinese spring roll or egg roll and is very popular in Indonesian and Filipino cuisine. It is smaller in size and shape than an egg roll. Lumpias are made of thin paper-like or crepe-like pastry skins called "lumpia wrappers" enveloping savory or sweet fillings.
 
The origins date back centuries (17th Century). The Chinese originally sought to create a meal that incorporated all the fresh bits and pieces of vegetables available in spring after a winter of consuming mostly preserved foods. They can be served as a side dish or as an appetizer.
 
In Indonesia lumpia has become a favorite snack and is known as a common street food. In the Philippines, lumpia is one of the most common dishes served at gatherings and celebrations.
 
                                 You will need a candy or frying thermometer for this recipe.
 
Prep time:  45 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
Yield: about 30 Lumpias
 
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1-pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup chopped sweet yellow onion
1/2 cup minced carrots
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup thinly sliced Napa green cabbage
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1-package lumpia wrappers (about 30 pieces)
2 cups vegetable oil for frying
 
Directions

1. Place a wok or large skillet over high heat and add the 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Cook the pork, stirring frequently, until no pink is showing. Remove pork from pan and set aside.
2. Drain the grease from the pan, leaving a thin coating. Cook garlic and yellow onion in the same pan for 2 minutes. Stir in the cooked pork, carrots, green onions and cabbage. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and soy sauce.
3. Remove from heat and set aside until cool enough to handle.
4. Place a lumpia skin on a flat surface with one of the points down in front of you. Spoon three heaping tablespoons of the filling onto the wrapper near the closest corner of the wrapper, leaving a 1-1/2” space from the wrapper edges. Bring the corner of the wrapper closest to you up and over the filling, and neatly fold in the two sides toward the center. Roll the wrapper with the filling up toward the topper of the wrapper. Keep the roll tight as you assemble. Before the final roll, moisten the top corner and adjacent sides with water to seal the edges. Repeat for each lumpia.
5. Cover the rolls with plastic wrap to retain moisture.
6. Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat, add oil to 1/2” depth, and heat until the oil has reached 350°F.
7. Slide 3 or 4 lumpia into the oil. Fry the rolls for 1 to 2 minutes, gently turning them until all sides are golden brown.  Be sure to allow the oil to return to 350°F before frying the next batch.
8. Drain on paper towels.
9. Serve immediately.

 
ChefSecret:  The big secret is to make sure to tightly roll and seal the rolls well.
 
                                                     Sweet Chili Lumpia Dipping Sauce
 
Prep time:  2 minutes
Cook time:  3 minutes
 
Ingredients
1 cup water
1-1/2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (better yet use palm sugar, if you can find it)
1-2 chili peppers (siling labuyo), minced finely
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1/8 teaspoon of kosher salt
 
Directions

1. Mix all the ingredients together, dissolving the cornstarch thoroughly.
2. Cook over medium heat until thick.
3. Serve as a dip for Filipino Lumpia, Lumpiang Shanghai, Cheese Lumpia or any fried food.

 
ChefSecret: 

1. Siling Labuyo, better known as Thai bird chili peppers, are added depending on one's preference, whether mild and flavorful or hot and spicy.
2. Use caution when handling fresh chili peppers being sure to keep your hands away from your face, especially your eyes. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling them and before using the bathroom to avoid painful cross-contamination.
3. You can use a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to better control the heat of the lumpia dipping sauce, instead of using fresh chili peppers.
4. If available, use tapioca starch; cornstarch can turn the sauce into a pasty consistency if stored refrigerated.

 
Covid-19 Quip of the Day:  I told my suitcases there would be no vacation this year. I’m staying home with my emotional baggage.
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#Appetizers #Lumpia #Pork #FilipinoCuisine #FilipinoFood #EggRolls #SpringRolls #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica

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