Lumpia Wrapper and Its Wonders
Every Filipino Celebration, whether a birthday or the holidays, wouldn’t be complete without Lumpiang Shanghai on the table. It’s a staple in every gathering and one of the first dishes swiftly consumed. But did you know that there are lots of recipes and dishes that you can make out of this lumpia wrapper?
Lumpia Wrapper and its Wonders
Lumpia wrapper is generally known worldwide as a spring roll wrapper that is thin and light in texture. It has four main ingredients: flour, cornstarch, water, and salt. Once mixed, because of its viscosity, you cannot knead it like any other type of dough. That is why it is slammed on the pan and spread in a circular motion. This process creates a thin wrapper sheet yet strong enough to hold different fillings.
From savory to sweet fillings, lumpia wrappers can make appetizers, main course dishes, and desserts. It is all up to your cravings and creativity how you could make use of this wide-ranging ingredient.
Let’s start with the Appetizers
Turon in the Philippines is an afternoon snack enjoyed by many Filipinos. But it could also serve as an appetizer to wake your taste buds up. This dish includes bananas, sometimes with strings of jackfruit, wrapped in a lumpia wrapper. It is deep-fried in oil and later sprinkled with lots of sugar, creating a sticky glaze on the wrapper. How could that not prepare your palate for the main course, right?
However, if you’re not a fan of sweet dishes as a starter, you can try making an empanada using lumpia wrappers. It wouldn’t have much difference from the typical empanada, only that you’re substituting the pastry with the wrapper. In this version, you will be wrapping your mixture of minced chicken, potatoes, carrots, peas, and raisins (optional). Once sealed, fry up and enjoy!
The Heavy-filling Wrapper.
Here are the fillings you could use for your main course. If you’re going for Filipino-style lumpiang shanghai but want to add a bit of twist to it, you can check this one out. Prepare your ground beef, bacon, mushrooms, and cheese. You can follow the steps of making the usual lumpiang shanghai. Also, don’t forget to season this filling, as it would enhance the flavors furthermore!
However, you don’t have to worry if you’re craving seafood because this could also be the star of your spring roll dish. You could use both minced prawns/shrimp and crab meat. Mix a quarter of a teaspoon of cornstarch and water for the binder. Season it well and wrap it up! You can dip this in cajun or sweet and chili sauce for a hint of heat.
The Palate Cleanser
Have you heard of fried marshmallows? No? Then you must try making one of these. Worry not, because you don’t need a campfire for this sweet and creamy dessert. Since a lumpia wrapper is thin, you might want to use two of them to avoid the marshmallow from leaking once fried. For your fillers, spread some chocolate chips alongside your marshmallows, and then you can add graham crackers according to your liking. Seal and drop it in pre-heated oil. Once golden brown, take it out of the pan, let it rest for a bit, slice, and indulge!
Ube mochi isn’t just in the form of balls. It can also be in a linear form! Mix glutinous rice flour, water, and sugar in a bowl until it forms into a dough. Take a piece from that dough and spread it across your lumpia wrapper. Next, add ube jam to the layer of the dough, then roll and wrap the lumpia wrapper. Fry it for about eight to ten minutes, and you’re good!
Lumpia wrapper may be one of the most underrated ingredients. Still, with some experimentation, creativity, and a good sense of what ingredients come together, you can unlock several dishes to satisfy each craving. So, what are you trying to fill your next lumpia wrapper dish?
