Authentic Chinese Spring Rolls Recipes

AUTHENTIC CHINESE SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Mix marinade ingredients well. Add pork. Mix well and marinate at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
• Saute cabbage and carrots in 1 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in wok until crisp-tender. Alternately, steam vegetables in a bamboo steamer until crisp-tender (about 5 minutes). Spread out on a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan and put in refrigerator (or freezer, if you're in a hurry) until thoroughly cold. Saute meat in wok in 1 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil until no longer pink. Continue to saute until all moisture/juices have evaporated. Meat should appear dry. Spread out on another cookie sheet or jellyroll pan and put in refrigerator (or freezer, if you're in a hurry) until thoroughly cold. Stir together cooled meat, binder mixture, cooled cabbage and carrots, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and green onions. Mix well. Make sure filling is cool to the touch.
• Combine sealer ingredients and mix until smooth. Place one wrapper on the counter with a point facing toward you, so the wrapper looks diamond-shaped, not square. Place a small amount of filling, about 1/4 cup, about 1/3 of the way up on on the wrapper. roll the wrapper tightly, tucking in the sides, to form a narrow finished roll about 1/2 to 2/3 inch in diameter. Seal the roll by brushing the triangle end flap with sealer for about the last 1-1/2 to 2 inches. Keep finished rolls under a damp towel or a couple of damp paper towels. Can be refrigerated or frozen at the point. For long term storage in freezer, put rolls in plastic bags.
• To make the dipping sauce, combine all ingredients and stir well. To make the alternate dipping sauce, combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring until smooth. Strain and cool.
• Heat 1 quart vegetable oil in wok to about 350 degrees. Add rolls one at a time. Do not crowd. Cook in batches of 8 to 10 until deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Regulate heat as necessary to maintain temperature. Don't let temperature go over 375 degrees. Cut in half diagonally and serve warm with a Chinese mustard for dipping and one of the soy-sauce based dipping sauces listed above. Cutting the rolls in half diagonally facilitates absorption of the sauce into the filling when the roll is dipped. Also, it makes the rolls go farther and be easier for people to handle at a party, etc. Cooled rolls can be reheated at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, wrapped in foil.

TRADITIONAL SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Remove any fat or gristle from the pork loin. Going across the grain, make paper-thin slices and cut them into matchstick-size shreds. Place the shreds in a bowl, add the marinade, toss lightly to coat, and let stand 15 minutes. Combine the sauce ingredients.
• For the paste, combine the flour and water with a whisk until smooth.
• Heat a well-seasoned wok, add 3 tablespoons oil, and heat until very hot. Add the Chinese cabbage and stir until just wilted, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the Chinese chives or scallions, the bean sprouts and the two tablespoons of rice wine. Stir-fry another minute over high heat and remove with a strainer. Drain off any liquid and spread the mixture out on a tray to cool.
• Reheat the wok, add 3 tablespoons of oil and heat until very hot. Add the pork shreds and fry over high heat, stirring constantly, until they separate and change color. Remove and drain.
• Drain the pan, add 2 tablespoons of oil and heat until very hot. Add the shredded black mushrooms and toss lightly over high heat 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the cooked pork and the sauce. Stir-fry briefly until sauce thickens and remove. Spread on a platter and cool. Once cool, mix with the cabbage-bean sprout mixture.
• Arrange one spring roll wrapper flat on a counter. (Cover the others with a damp cloth to keep them them from drying out.) Grab a portion of filling - about 1/4 cup - and squeeze out any excess liquid. Place the filling across the lower third of the skin and, using your finger, spread some paste on the opposite edge. Starting at the edge near the filling, roll up the skin a little to enclose it. Fold in the two side ends and continue rolling over so that the skin forms a tight little package. Repeat for remaining skins and filling.
• Heat a wok, add remaining oil and heat to 375 degrees. Add five or six spring rolls and fry, turning constantly, until golden brown and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain until cool on absorbent paper. Fry remaining rolls. Serve with hot mustard and plum sauce.