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5 from 2 votes

How to Make Lumpiang Shanghai

Lumpiang shanghai is a Filipino-style crispy spring roll filled with seasoned ground meat and vegetables, often served as a party favorite or everyday viand.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time4 minutes
Total Time19 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Filipino
Keyword: fried lumpia, lumpia recipe, lumpiang shanghai, springroll
Servings: 50 pcs
Calories: 90kcal
Author: Manny

Ingredients

  • 1 kilo ground pork or ground chicken or beef
  • 1 pc medium onion finely chopped
  • 1 pc carrot finely chopped
  • 1/8 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1/2 Tbsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp. brown sugar optional
  • 1 Tbsp. green onion finely chopped
  • 2 cups grated cheese (optional)
  • 50 pcs small lumpia spring roll wrappers
  • cooking for deep frying

Instructions

How to make Lumpiang Shanghai:

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl starting with the pork, onion, carrots, garlic, green onion.
  • Mix well using a fork or preferably your hands. You can use a plastic disposable gloves to be sure that the mixture in free from contamination.
  • Then gradually add the rest of the ingredients: soy sauce, pepper, salt and sugar. Mix very well until the all the ingredients are uniform in texture. Add grated cheese if you want to make it cheesy.
  • To make the lumpia, lay a piece of lumpia wrapper in a flat surface. Put about 2 tablespoon of the meat mixture on the center and form it into a log shape.
  • Make sure the filling will be too thick, not thicker than your finger. Fold one edge of the wrapper towards the center and roll it half way to from a log shape.
  • Fold both sides of the wrapper (adjacent to the previous fold that you made) towards the center.
  • Roll the lumpia until it forms a log shape. Seal the edges with a dab of water to moistened it.
  • Do the same procedures to the rest of the batch. Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the lumpia until golden brown and crispy.
  • Place on a colander or paper towel to drain excess oil. Serve with dipping sauce either catsup, sweet and sour sauce or spiced vinegar (sinamak).

Video

Notes

Cooking Tips for Lumpiang Shanghai:

Keep the Filling Thin

When preparing the rolls, avoid making the filling too thick. If the meat mixture is too packed, the wrapper will burn before the inside cooks properly. A filling no thicker than your finger ensures a perfectly cooked, juicy center with a crisp golden shell.

Seal the Edges Properly

To keep the rolls from bursting open during frying, always seal the edges with a dab of water. Some home cooks even use a bit of beaten egg for a stronger hold. This step helps maintain the shape and prevents oil from seeping inside the lumpia.

Fry in the Right Temperature

Oil temperature is key for the perfect crunch. If the oil is too hot, the wrapper browns quickly while the inside stays raw; too low, and the rolls absorb excess oil. Medium-high heat gives that even golden crispness that makes lumpiang shanghai irresistible.