Cooking the Best Lumpiang Shanghai Recipe

If there were a Loyalty Award for the dishes, it would surely be given to Lumpiang Shanghai, for it is present on all occasions, whether big or small. Recipes of lumpia are always included in every Filipino’s to-cook list whenever there are birthday celebrations, dedication, wedding, reunion, anniversary, or even a simple family get-together.

Our featured dish, the Filipino Spring roll, is a handy pick Chinese-inspired dish that tastes great any time. It is a small, log-shaped, meaty, and crispy brown Filipino finger food. Its versatility is limitless because it is commonly served as breakfast, lunch, or even merienda.

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What Is Best Filipino Lumpiang Shanghai And What Are Its Ingredients

This Lumpia is made of ground pork, chicken, or beef filling mixed with finely chopped onions, carrots, celery, and other seasonings and spices, all of them wrapped in a thin crepe called lumpia wrapper. Also, a sticky beaten egg or plain water is used to seal its ends, and then it is fried until it turns golden brown and crispy enough.

This recipe is preferably eaten when dipped in either sweet chili sauce or the traditional banana ketchup popular in the Philippines. It is typically served with steamed or fried rice for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even a merienda or afternoon snack.

It is well known that lumpia recipes have Chinese influences. It originated in Fujian, China, and was first brought to Southeast Asian countries, like the Philippines, back in the 7th century. When the Chinese people began settling in our country, they introduced lumpia and its several variations to our people until it became one of our famous and most favorite local recipes.

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Ways To Cook Lumpiang Shanghai Recipes

To finish this featured Filipino dish, you will have to use the following two methods. The first is making the stuffing or the lumpia’s insides, and the other is frying the roll itself. Listed below are how you can choose from in making your appetizing and delicious version of our featured recipe.

For the Lumpiang Shanghai Filling

There are several ways to cook your lumpia insides, depending on your preference and the length of time you have before your meal.

• Through instant pot - you can use this method if you are looking forward to finishing the dish’s insides as soon as possible. To use this kitchen device, set your instant pot to its saute function. Add oil and then place the ground pork or any meat inside and then mix. When the meat is finally cooked, add salt, pepper, carrots, and garlic and then stir. When done, you can turn off the instant pot and proceed to the remaining steps.
• Through stir-frying - this method is the traditional way of cooking the insides of lumpia recipes. You have to saute the onions and garlic and wait until the onions are already soft. Then add the meat and stir-fry until it changes its color. Then add the veggies, spices, and seasonings and stir fry until cooked.

Cooking the Lumpia roll itself

• Through Stovetop frying

Stovetop frying is the most usual way of frying our lumpia recipes. You only have to heat a generous amount of vegetable or olive oil in a pan where you will fry the spring rolls. When it comes to a boil, place the lumpia rolls inside the pan. Fry them for around 10 minutes or until golden brown and serve while hot and crispy.

• By using Air Fryer

It is a small countertop convection oven primarily made to mimic deep frying without literally submerging the lumpia in the oil. You can still achieve that crispy and tasty, golden brown lumpia with a smaller amount of it. Using its built-in fan and heating mechanism, faster frying is facilitated and employed.

To use the air fryer in making your lumpia recipes brush or mist the spring rolls with oil. We recommend you use olive or vegetable oil as they are healthier options. Then place several pieces inside the air fryer basket. Make sure that the lumpia rolls are not touching each other. Air fry them at 390 to 400 F 198 to 204 degrees Celsius for around 15 minutes and flip the rolls between this duration. You can also air fry frozen lumpia at the same temperature, but you need to cook them for around 18 to 20 minutes.

• Oven-Baked Lumpia

This method is another way of making this particular recipe. Once you have made the rolls, preheat the oven to 420 degrees. Brush or spray the rolls with oil, then place them inside the oven. You can flip the rolls after 10 minutes of baking, then cook for another 5 minutes or until the outside turns golden brown.

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Variations of Filipino Recipes

This small but crispy and delicious lumpia recipe will forever be loyal to our dining table, and that’s the thing most of us like about this particular Filipino dish. And over time, Pinoy cuisine has produced other variations due to our different cravings. These different variations, depending on what is the main ingredient used in making the recipe. Some of these creative and healthy Filipino versions are as follows:

Lumpiang Hubad

This variation is made with pork, carrots, cabbage, sweet potatoes, and celery, all chopped in tiny pieces to facilitate faster cooking. Basically, it has the same components or ingredients as our featured dish, the only difference is that it is not wrapped.

Lumpiang Sariwa

It is also known as Fresh Lumpia. This is an unfried variation and consists of shredded fresh vegetables, like ubod or palm tree trunk, flaked chicken, crushed peanuts, and turnips. It is usually dipped in a sweet sauce.

Lumpiang Ubod

Its main ingredient is ubod itself or the heart of a coconut palm. It is cooked just like the way you do it in Shanghai. Unlike the others, it is served without a sauce.

Dynamite Shanghai

This is the spicy version of lumpia. It is made with long, green chili peppers cut from one side where the chili seeds are removed. It is then stuffed with ground meat and cheese and then wrapped and fried. It is perfect for serving with ketchup, mayonnaise, or vinegar.

Lumpiang Adobo

If you have leftover adobo and want to create a delicious recipe out of it, you can try making this variation. You only have to mix the adobo, carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, and cabbage in a bowl. Place the mixed veggies and adobo on a thin crepe, roll it carefully, and then seal its end with beaten egg. Deeply fry it until golden brown and crispy enough for your liking.

Lumpiang Gulay

Lumpiang Gulay, as its name suggests, is the vegetarian version of our featured dish. They are often made with tofu, bean sprouts, green beans, carrots, cabbage, fried in vegetable or olive oil, making it a perfectly healthy dish. And if you have kids who do not like eating veggies, you can have them savor this nutritious and savory fried vegetable dish without them knowing.

Lumpiang Sisig

This particular variant uses sisig as the lumpia’s insides. To cook this dish, saute the sisig until slightly done, and then add the chili, pepper, and salt to taste. Remove from the pan and let it cool down for a while. 

For the spring roll, get your cooked mixture and place it on the thin crepe. Fold in the two sides, then tightly and carefully roll to ensure that it will not break while being fried.

Lumpiang Isda Recipes

It is another healthier variation of our dish. Instead of ground pork and beef, you will use any fish like cream dory, galunggong or mackerel, tuna, and salmon. You will have to boil the fish of your choice first for approximately 10 minutes and then carefully debone it. Set it aside, and then saute garlic and onion until golden brown. Add the fish, salt, and pepper to taste, and then stir fry. Let it cool down for a while before wrapping. Then fry it in medium heat until the crepe’s outside gets golden brown. Serve it while hot with spiced vinegar as a dip.

Lumpiang Labong Recipes

It is also known as bamboo shoots spring rolls. As its name suggests, bamboo sprouts are used instead of pork or other types of meat. Bamboo shoots or sprouts, more commonly known as labong, are rich in vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and fibers, making it another healthier variation of our featured dish. To make this, saute onions and cloves of garlic until the onions are soft. You can add the cabbage and carrots with the bamboo shoots and then stir fry. Roll them carefully using wrappers, fry it and then serve while still hot and crunchy.

Lumpiang Togue Recipes

Lumpiang togue can be made with pure vegetables or be mixed with pork or shrimp. Whatever variation you choose, it will surely taste delicious and crispy. To make the pure veggies version of this dish, you may opt to use tofu instead of meat or shrimp. Then stir fry the veggies and roll tightly in a wrapper. Deep fry and then serve while still hot.

Lumpiang Singkamas Recipes

Using Mexican potato or singkamas is another creative yet healthy dish variation of lumpia. It is made using singkamas and other vegetables like carrots and potatoes. You can also make this particular version of Lumpia with ground pork to taste more meaty and delicious. 

To cook this, saute onions and smashed garlic until golden brown. You can add the bell pepper, singkamas, and meat. Stir fry them until the meat changes color and turns a little brown. Then, set the mixture aside and let it cool down. Next, tightly roll it in a thin crepe. You may also opt to add cheese in the middle of the meat and veggies to enhance further the texture and savory taste of the crispy fried lumpia. Be sure to serve it while still hot to enjoy that crispy, delicious, and have that melted cheese goodness.

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Recipe Cooking Tips

Making this particular dish requires effort and time, but it is indeed easy and uncomplicated to prepare. However, to further guarantee that you will encounter no mishap or kitchen dilemma during the process of preparation, we have listed some tips you may opt to consider and follow.

• To ensure that the lumpia’s insides are thoroughly cooked and that you will get the ideal results in making and preparing this particular recipe, stir fry it first until the meat changes its color.
• Use of ground meat – you can choose from chicken, pork, and beef. You can also use fish, but if you do not want to get in trouble of shredding the fish, you can use canned tuna instead.
• Finely chop the vegetables, potatoes, and carrots, or you can replace them with sweet potatoes if you do not prefer the other two veggies.
• Choose the newly made thin crepes or wrappers so you can easily roll the lumpia fillings without them breaking.
• Always choose the freshest fish or meat and vegetables in the market to ensure your dish’s quality and taste, and avoid foodborne diseases.
• How to keep our featured lumpia dish crispy:

Of course, Lumpiang Shanghai is exceptional to be served when they are crispy. Eventually, over time they turn soggy, making it less appetizing to eat. Here are a few things to take note on how to keep them crispy for a longer period.

1. Use an Air Fryer – frying the Lumpia in this particular kitchen device is a surefire way to have your lumpia stay crispy. We will not need to use oil in the whole process, making it a healthier option in making this dish.
2. Freeze the Lumpia– freezing the lumpia first overtime will dry out the insides and thin crepe. Frying them frozen is a good way to keep it crispy, too. Only make sure that the pan is hot enough to the point that it will not burn the Lumpia.

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Troubleshooting Your Recipes

It may be a simple recipe; however, you should never go wrong when making this to ensure that it will turn out good and perfect for your liking. Unfortunately, if you made a mistake during the process, here are troubleshooting techniques you can apply that might save your dish.

Overcooked meat or filling

To avoid this, make sure that when you add the ground meat when the onion is already translucent during sautéing. Occasionally, stir the meat until it is brown enough. Anyway, it will still go under frying after it has been wrapped with the thin crepe.

Undercooked insides

This mishap is also a common problem encountered when making this particular dish. To avoid this, stir-fry or cook the meat first before rolling them up in the crepes. And if you are done with all the frying, and it turns out undercooked, you need to heat the pan again in deficient heat and place the rolls again until they are completely cooked. But of course, do not let the crepes be overdone, or else, your dish will be more of a disaster.

Too bland or too salty

To avoid this problem, you can try frying one roll first and then taste it when cooked. Adjust the condiments you think are over or lacking, and then proceed to the remaining steps and procedures.

Wrapper problems

This is a common problem when frying lumpia recipes that the wrapper will open up when it’s in the process of being fried. To avoid this, you need to prepare a paste made of cornstarch and water or even a beaten egg to seal the Lumpia when already wrapping the insides. Also, make sure that you roll it tightly in the crepe to avoid this mishap.

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Other Recipes Perfect to Serve with

This featured Filipino dish can be eaten any time of the day, as the main dish, side dish, or even a finger food for snacks or during a drinking session with your buddies. They are the best partners for some other recipes and drinks.

1. Plain Rice - even if Lumpia is a type of side dish, appetizer, or merienda, most people make it as their viand and eat it with a hot bowl of steamed rice. The blandness of the rice goes very well with the crispy wellness of our featured dish. 
2. Fried Rice and Egg or SiLog - LumpiaSiLog is a common Filipino breakfast served in almost all local eateries and even restaurants. The crispy lumpia perfectly blends with the soft texture of the fried rice and egg. You sure would not regret it if you have this trio as your breakfast meal.
3. Pancit – having Lumpia as a side dish for this noodle dish is like the perfect thing ever. Whether it be Pancit Bihon, Canton, or Guisado, they are a match made in heaven. They are stapled recipes which you can see present on almost every occasion.
4. Lomi - Lumpia is one of the common toppings used in serving lomi. The crunchy texture of the Lumpia blends perfectly with the thick and sticky consistency of the lomi, which makes them a delicious and mouth-watering combo. 
5. Spaghetti - be it fiesta, holidays, or birthdays, spaghetti is often served with lumpia. Our featured dish’s crispness and savory taste add flavor and crunchy texture to the sweet style of Filpino spaghetti. You will surely ask for more once you have a taste of this delicious party food combination.
6. Pork Caldereta - pouring the sauce of your a little bit spicy caldereta to your warm rice and then having a bite of this crunchy lumpia dish is definitely a must-try combo. The crispy nature of lumpia adds flavor to the thick texture of the pork caldereta’s sauce.
7. Chicken or Pork Adobo - like the caldereta sauce, adobo and its delicious sauce is also a great partner to our Lumpia. Imagine munching the crispness of lumpia with that savory adobo sauce right inside your mouth. So yummy!
8. Sizzling sisig - the quite sour flavor of crispy sisig paired with our salty and equally crispy lumpia dish is like a match made in heaven combination. Eat them together with a hot bowl of steamed rice, and you will surely ruin your diet.
9. Bulanglang na Gulay - any viand that is salty is a perfect pair to bulanglang na gulay. It is because the soup of the bulanglang blends perfectly with the salty taste of the crunchy lumpia. You will surely ask for a bowl of extra rice if you try this for your lunch or dinner.
10. Paksiw na Bangus - you will indeed love the combination of paksiw na Bangus and crispy lumpia. The crunchiness of the lumpia and its salty flavor goes very well with the sour taste of paksiw.
11. Sinigang na Hipon - it is one of the most famous Pinoy soups that use shrimp. Like the paksiw na Bangus, it also tastes sour, so it is ideal for pairing it with the salty and crispy lumpia. This combination is perfect for both lunch or dinner meals.
12. Chop suey - chop suey is a vegetable dish that is stir-fried with or without meat. Eating it with our featured dish is a very delicious meal for lunch, especially because the crepe’s crispiness adds texture and additional flavor to the chop suey.
13. Soda - If you want that extra feeling of being full and you love that specific sensation you feel in your throat right after you drink soda, you may opt to use it as your refreshment after a hearty meal with our featured dish. It will also take away the aftertaste of the food you have eaten.
14. Orange juice or Pineapple juice - A sip or two of the sweetness and a little bit sour taste of these two juices, in particular, is a perfect refreshment after you finish your lumpia meal. It quenches your thirst and aids in your digestion, which is beneficial to the body.
15. Fruit shake - be it mango, avocado, or banana shake, it will always be a perfect refreshment to complete your meal.
16. Beer – talk about hanging out with your friends over a nice ice cold beer. Well, having Lumpia as your finger food could never go wrong. This crunchy dish is as good as having chicharron, with the fact that it’s very delicious and healthy.

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