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Florence Lin's Chinese Spring Rolls - traditional Shanghai Spring rolls are light and crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Serve for Chinese New Year or any special occasion

Florence Lin's Chinese Spring Rolls

Course Appetizer
Cuisine Chinese
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 20 Spring rolls
Calories 109 kcal

Ingredients

  • 20 Spring roll wrappers
  • 6 dried shitake mushrooms
  • 1/2 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 1/4 pound raw shrimp shelled, deveined
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 4 cups napa cabbage shredded
  • 1/2 cup bamboo shoots shredded
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons mushroom soaking liquid
  • 1 egg

Chicken Marinade

  • 1 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

Spring Roll Filling

  1. Soak shitake mushrooms in hot water for 30 minutes. Use wet paper towel to keep mushrooms submerged in water. 

  2. Cut chicken thighs into thin slices; then cut again into matchstick strips. Mix with Chicken Marinade ingredients. Cover and refrigerate.

  3. Coarsely chop shrimp. Cover and refrigerate.

Strain liquid from soaked mushrooms, reserving 3 tablespoons mushroom soaking liquid for cornstarch slurry. Cut off stems and slice caps into thin strips.

  1. Heat wok until very hot. Swirl in 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, then add chicken pieces in single layer. Flip chicken over when underside is brown, about one minute. Break up pieces with spatula. Use slotted spoon to transfer chicken to a plate. 

  2. Add shrimp and stir-fry until just cooked through, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate.

  3. Heat wok until very hot. Swirl in 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, then add mushrooms, celery, cabbage and bamboo shoots. Stir-fry until cabbage softens, about 3 minutes. Add salt and toss. Return chicken and shrimp to wok and toss with vegetables. Stir cornstarch slurry and swirl into wok along perimeter of wok. Toss well until mixture thickens. Transfer to plate, cover and refrigerate to chill.

Wrapping Spring Rolls

  1. Whisk egg in a small bowl with a fork until frothy. Have damp cloth or paper towel handy to cover wrappers so they don't dry out.

  2. Place one spring roll wrapper on flat surface. Spoon 2 tablespoons of filling onto lower corner of wrapper, spreading into a 4" line. 

    Florence Lin's Chinese Spring Rolls - traditional Shanghai Spring rolls are light and crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Serve for Chinese New Year or any special occasion

  3. Fold bottom edge over filling and roll wrapper to the center.

    Florence Lin's Chinese Spring Rolls - traditional Shanghai Spring rolls are light and crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Serve for Chinese New Year or any special occasion

  4. Bring two end flaps towards center of wrapper and gently press down.

    Florence Lin's Chinese Spring Rolls - traditional Shanghai Spring rolls are light and crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Serve for Chinese New Year or any special occasion

  5. Brush exposed edges of wrapper with beaten egg. Finish rolling spring roll towards top corner into cylinder shape.

    Florence Lin's Chinese Spring Rolls - traditional Shanghai Spring rolls are light and crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Serve for Chinese New Year or any special occasion

  6. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. Place finished spring rolls on plastic wrap lined platter. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to fry. 

    Florence Lin's Chinese Spring Rolls - traditional Shanghai Spring rolls are light and crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Serve for Chinese New Year or any special occasion

Frying Spring Rolls

  1. Pour enough oil into a skillet to reach halfway up spring rolls during frying process. Heat oil to 350 degrees or use bamboo chopstick to test for readiness. When oil is hot enough, small bubbles will form around the chopstick when inserted into the oil.

  2. Place a few rolls into hot oil and fry on both sides until crisp and golden brown. Do not overcrowd. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm in 200 degree oven. If you want to fry spring rolls ahead of time, reheat in 400 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Adapted from Florence Lin's Complete Book of Chinese Noodles, Dumplings and Breads

Nutrition Facts
Florence Lin's Chinese Spring Rolls
Amount Per Serving
Calories 109 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Cholesterol 34mg11%
Sodium 337mg15%
Potassium 173mg5%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 170IU3%
Vitamin C 13mg16%
Calcium 56mg6%
Iron 1.1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.