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Spring Rolls

17/11/2023

Spring rolls are a classic Asian appetizer, but I will introduce you to a version with an Italian twist. In this recipe, we will use fresh vegetables and, instead of soy sauce, which is typical in Asian cuisine, we will use more Mediterranean ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 8 spring roll wrappers
  • 200 g of savoy cabbage, finely sliced
  • 100 g of carrots, julienned
  • 100 g of zucchini, julienned
  • 1 scallion, finely chopped
  • 50 g of champignon mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 100 g of bean sprouts
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Chopped fresh basil, for an Italian touch
  • 1 lightly beaten egg, to seal the rolls

Preparation

  1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and sauté the scallion with the garlic clove until they become translucent.
  2. Add the cabbage, carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms and cook for a few minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
  3. Stir in the bean sprouts and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and the chopped basil to add the Italian touch. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  4. To assemble the rolls, lay a wrapper on a work surface and place a spoonful of the vegetable filling on one corner of the wrapper.
  5. Fold the side nearest to the filling over it, then fold the side edges toward the center and roll tightly to form a roll. Seal the edge with a bit of the beaten egg.
  6. Repeat the process until all ingredients are used up.
  7. In a pan, heat plenty of oil and fry the rolls until they become golden and crispy.
  8. Drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

For a slightly more Italian dipping sauce, you could prepare a simple fresh tomato sauce with a touch of garlic and basil, or a yogurt sauce with chopped fresh herbs.

Curiosity

Spring rolls, a well-known Chinese dish, are named this way because they were originally prepared to celebrate Chinese New Year, which coincides with the beginning of spring. Over time, they have become popular in many regions of the world, adopting different local variations.