Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls, also known as Chả Giò in the south or Nem Rán in the north. Wrapped in rice paper and deep-fried, these little parcels are filled with cellophane noodles, seasoned ground meat, crunchy vegetables and fresh aromatics.
How to Fill Your Spring Rolls
The pork, cabbage, carrot, and mushroom filling in this recipe is one of the more common filling combinations for spring rolls.
You can also use other proteins such as chicken or turkey (preferably dark meat), beef, or chopped cooked shrimp. Here are the star ingredients of the spring rolls you’ll be making:
Pork: To julienne the pork loin more easily, freeze it until firm but not completely frozen, about 20 minutes. Since only one pound of pork is needed, I’ll often buy pork chops instead when making this recipe.
Spring rolls can use either julienned or ground meat. While I love the ease of ground pork, I like the cohesiveness of a julienned filling. Also, I find that when I use ground meat, I need to cook the combined seasoned mixture together with a cornstarch slurry to bind it all together.
Dried Mushrooms: Dried mushrooms, also known as dried shiitake mushrooms or dried black mushrooms, are readily available at Asian markets. They’re often wrapped on plastic trays or come in plastic boxes.
Look for thick mushrooms with clean edges that curl under (as opposed to the flattish ones). They are meatier and will plump up nicely. Dried mushrooms have a deeper and more savory flavor than fresh mushrooms. Soak them in hot water to reconstitute them; use the soaking liquid in lieu of water or vegetable stock. The stems can also be tossed into stocks.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch is commonly used in Chinese cooking. It’s typically used for marinating meat. The technique is called velveting; the cornstarch coats the meat and gives it a protective barrier that both keeps the meat moist and tender and gives it a “velvety” texture when stir-fried. If you’ve ever stir-fried meat that hasn’t included cornstarch in the marinade, you’ll find that the meat often comes out tougher or dries out faster as it sits.
Tips and Tricks for Making Spring Rolls
Here are a few quick tips or reminders to make spring rolls easier:
- The filling is easier to work with when it’s chilled.
- The filling should be pretty dry; a wet filling will make wrapping more difficult and can cause the wrappers to rip.
- After chilling, if the filling is still on the wet side, throw it into a colander or strainer set over a bowl to drain the liquid.
- Cook the vegetables until just tender. Overcooked vegetables will make for a mushy filling and thus a mushy spring roll.
- While wrapping, when you fold the sides over the filling in the center, try to keep the sides straight and parallel. When the sides are crooked, the spring rolls can form empty gaps of wrapper that look messy and darken faster than the rest of the spring roll.
- Cover the spring roll wrappers with a sheet of plastic wrap or a slightly damp clean kitchen towel as you’re wrapping to keep the wrappers from drying out.
- Have a damp towel at hand when wrapping to wipe your dirty fingers.
Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls That Won’t Explode When You Cook Them! – Marion’s Kitchen
FAQ
What is the fried version of spring roll called?
What are spring rolls actually called?
Are spring or summer rolls fried?
What is the difference between Chinese and Thai spring rolls?
What are fried spring rolls?
Light and crunchy, savory and addicting, these fried spring rolls are served wrapped in lettuce leaves with lots of fresh herbs, dipped in a fish sauce, and eaten out of hand. Light and crunchy, savory and addicting, these are well worth the time and effort.
What is a fresh spring roll called?
In English, naming it spring roll can be confusing if the difference between fresh and fried is not made. As for French we simply call them nems, while we call the fresh version spring roll :’) This is sometimes quite funny how all languages have their own translations.
How do you make Vietnamese fried spring rolls?
Vietnamese fried spring rolls (Cha Gio) may be less well known than their Chinese counterparts, but they are just as delicious. Place the wood ear mushrooms and vermicelli noodles in separate small bowls and cover both with hot water. Leave each to sit until the mushrooms expand and the noodles become white, around 5-10 minutes for each.
How do you make fried spring rolls?
Fried spring rolls are filled with juicy shredded pork, cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms to create slender, smooth, and delicate packages. I fry them until golden and the wrappers are shatteringly crispy at first bite. The filling is a moist mixture of pork, marinated with cornstarch, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine.