Ā 
Ā A new month and with it comes a new recipe swap.
This time Christianna of Burwell General StoreĀ asked us to give our take on Oregon style coleslaw.
Ā 
We have had a coleslaw recipe swap earlier as well. That time I had given an indo-chinese take on the recipe. This time too I am doing an Indo-chinese take on the recipe.
I don’t know why, but there is something about cabbage that always makes me think of chinese food. Maybe because of its use in chow mein noodles. Or in manchurian. Or in spring rolls.
Growing up I loved spring rolls. My mom would hardly make them at home, but we would get them at the Air Force Mess parties and I would always feast on them. The filling always comprised of cooked chow mein noodles mixed with finely chopped veggies like carrots, cabbage and bell peppers that were sauteed in soy sauce, vinegar and ginger garlic paste. The wrappers always made from scratch.
I, on the other hand, have been a little busy over the past few days and making the wrappers from scratch was out of the question. Plus, this time thanks to my Indonesian friend I knew the exact kind of wrappers to buy from the Asian store to make spring rolls at home.
I have tried making spring rolls in the past, during my first year of marriage. It was a major disaster.
The first time I made spring rolls at home I used rice wrappers, not aware they were rice wrappers since the only english words on the package mentioned them to be spring roll wrappers.
I was also unaware that rice wrappers are used differently than regular spring roll wrappers and are actually served without frying them. I somehow figured that they had to be soaked in water before using them to wrap (it was a little trial error after having few of them break when trying to roll them!).
But then, after wrapping I fried them and well, they were nowhere close to what spring rolls should be like.
Ever since that goof-up I never worked with them again. Until now.
I saw them being used on Live with Kelly and now I know you just need to wet the rice wrappers till they become soft and then roll them up like regular wrappers and serve as such. Definitely a healthier way to eat spring rolls.
I got 24 regular flour spring rolls from the mixture and with the leftover filling, I also made some rice wrapper spring rolls, putting my newly acquired rice wrapper knowledge to test.
- 1 packet chow mein noodles
- 1 cabbage, shredded
- 3 carrots, julienned
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 capsicum, julienned
- few sprigs of spring onion, finely chopped
- 3 tsp soy sauce
- 1½ tsp vinegar
- 5-6 tbsp tomato sauce
- 1 tsp pepper powder
- 2 finely slit green chilli
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 3-4 tsp ginger, thinly sliced
- 5 tbsp vegetable oil, and extra for frying
- 24 spring roll wrappers, thawed and covered with a wet towel
- salt to taste
- Boil the noodles along with little salt and oil till it is cooked or transparent, strain and wash with cold water, if sticky apply 2-3 tsp of oil to it and separate them.
- In a wok, or skillet, heat the oil, on high flame.
- Fry the green chillies and onion. Keep stirring, continuously.
- Add the garlic, carrots and saute for a minute.
- Add in the cabbage, capsicum and fry them till half-cooked on high flame.
- Pour in the soy sauce, tomato sauce, pepper powder, salt to taste.
- Add in the chow mein and mix it well.
- Add vinegar and spring onions and remove it from flame. Let cool completely.
- To make the spring rolls, spread out a spring roll wrapper on a clean working surface. Take 2-3 tbsp of the mixture and shape the spring roll the same way you shape burritos/ or as shown in the image below.
- Deep fry the spring rolls 3-4 at a time on medium flame (oil should be preheated). Remove when golden brown, cut it into half or as per desired size and serve hot with ketchup.
Delish! I too have had my trial and error moments with spring roll wrappers but they are so worth figuring out. Fantastic swap!
Thank god I did not give up on them. I have used these spring rolls wrappers to make samosas as well and they turned out great! A whole new world just opened up!
It looks delicious!!!
I really have to try it.
http://tapasnalingua.blogspot.com
Oh it is delicious! Hope your try it out and like it!
Shumaila i have been one of those loyallll followers who could not leave a comment simply cuz i did not have a gravatar ID or apparently have one and could not figure out the Password !! so glad you took the space š
Oh, I was not aware of this problem! I am glad I got it sorted out! And, thanks for following me!
I thought Indo-Chinese means Indonesian-Chinese. At least thats what we called the food too. And I can eat lots and lots of spring rolls
You know what, it could mean that as well. Next time I’ll make sure to specify it as Indian chinese (to avoid confusion!). š
This is one of those snack that I can eat and make every day if required. Your rolled these perfectly!
Well, tenth time lucky I guess with the rolling! š
These spring rolls looks so yummy, a must try! š
Great step-by-step pictures of the rolling process – a big help for anyone as clumsy and heavy-handed as me!
I have had my share of spring roll mishaps, so I knew I had to help somehow. Am glad the pictures help:)
This looks delicious and your pictures are amazing. Would love for you to share your photos with us at foodepix.com.