Il Cucinologo
EN

Spring Rolls

17/11/2023

Spring rolls are a classic Asian appetizer, but I will present you with a version with an Italian touch. 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 sheets of spring roll pastry
  • 200 g of cabbage, finely sliced
  • 100 g of carrots, cut into julienne
  • 100 g of zucchini, cut into julienne
  • 1 scallion, finely chopped
  • 50 g of button 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
  • Fresh chopped 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 begin to soften.
  3. Stir in the bean sprouts and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and chopped basil to add the Italian touch. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  4. To assemble the rolls, place a sheet of pastry on a work surface and position a spoonful of the vegetable filling on one corner of the sheet.
  5. Fold the side closest 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 little beaten egg.
  6. Repeat the process until the ingredients are used up.
  7. In a skillet, heat plenty of oil and fry the rolls until golden and crispy.
  8. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

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

Trivia

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