{"id":37305,"date":"2024-02-03T11:00:14","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T16:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omnivorescookbook.com\/?p=37305"},"modified":"2024-02-08T10:43:04","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T15:43:04","slug":"vegetable-egg-rolls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omnivorescookbook.com\/vegetable-egg-rolls\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegetable Egg Rolls (\u7d20\u6625\u5377)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

These vegetable egg rolls combine the pleasant crunch of the fried shell with the freshness of the garden. A savory, sweet, sour dipping sauce takes them up a notch and makes for an appetizer that\u2019s just fun to eat, and perfect for hosting and other celebrations. {Vegetarian}<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chinese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There’s something very satisfying about biting into a homemade egg roll, especially when it’s freshly fried and golden crispy. You can hear it, and you can feel it, as you bite into the egg roll. The shell of the egg roll shatters, and then you sink your teeth into the savory filling inside. It\u2019s a small joy you can experience and easily share with your family, simply by making your egg rolls at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not your ordinary takeout egg rolls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Egg rolls, as they are known in the US, are probably familiar to you if you\u2019ve had American-Chinese takeout. My vegetable egg rolls have the same name and a few ingredients in common, but I promise – these are so much better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, my vegetable egg rolls use some more authentic ingredients than most takeout places. Wood ear mushrooms and mung bean vermicelli add some really fun textures to the filling. Though you may need to swing by your Asian market or shop online to find them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those outside the US who may be confused by the term \u201cegg rolls\u201d, I\u2019m referring in this post to fried \u201cch\u016bn ju\u01cen<\/em>\u201d (\u6625\u5377), literally meaning \u201cspring rolls\u201d in Chinese. This dish is commonly referred to as spring rolls throughout the non-US English-speaking world, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Zha<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vegetable egg rolls for Chinese New Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Egg rolls, given their association with springtime in China, are a perfect treat to serve for Chinese New Year. The holiday is a celebration of the coming spring and often called \u201cSpring Festival\u201d, (\u6625\u8282, ch\u016bn ji\u00e9<\/em>) in Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egg rolls aren\u2019t limited to being eaten at Chinese New Year, though they are extra popular then. And while they are most common in the South (Guangdong, Fujian) and East (Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang), I even love them as a northerner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vegetable spring roll ingredients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a handful of ingredients that may require a special trip or online order, but they\u2019re essential to getting the authentic Chinese experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egg roll wrappers <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The package may say \u201cspring roll pastry\u201d or \u201cegg roll shell\u201d or similar. It should be in the frozen section of your grocery store or Asian market. The wrappers might not contain egg and should be wheat flour based. The wrappers should be square-shaped. Do NOT use Vietnamese rice paper wrappers for this recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Spring<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wood ear mushrooms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They typically come dried and need to be rehydrated, though you may be able to buy them fresh. They add a delightful firm crunch to the filling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mung bean vermicelli <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This will add texture and absorb lots of flavor, making the filling umami-rich. It may also be called \u201cbean threads\u201d. It should be very thin, not the wide type. This is different from rice vermicelli and sweet potato vermicelli, but you can also use them as a replacement.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vegetarian oyster sauce and Chinkiang vinegar <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These two ingredients go in the dipping sauce. The vegetarian oyster sauce gives a deep, mushroomy umami and the vinegar has a nice malty tartness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mise en place<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re ready to cook, you should have prepared:<\/p>\n\n\n\n