Lumpia + Superbowl = Super Yum!

One of my "signature" dishes that Patrick particularly loves is lumpia. Simple "Filipino eggrolls." It's a labor of love to make these delicious little rolls of fun!

Prep time is approximately 2 hours (more if you make a ton more). First, you make the filling: pork, bean sprouts, veggies, soy sauce, water, etc. I let the filling steam for about 30 minutes, then drain it in a strainer. Goodbye to all the yummy juice that's collected & steamed your filling for the last 30 minutes!

Next, prep the work area with springroll wrappers, wax paper, flour, and 1-2 eggs, whipped into a fervor! Next, get a large frying pan or electric skillet & prep your oil. You can use canola, vegetable, or blended (I've never tried olive, I confess) I use spring roll wrappers for two different reasons: #1-my mom taught me with springroll wrappers, #2-they are a heckuva lot easier to find and use than actual lumpia wrappers, which I have only found in the Asian supermarket on Spring Mountain. Once the workstation is set up, bring your filling over and start wrapping! The spring roll wrapper explains how to roll these yummy little treats. Once you've rolled your first 5 or so, turn on the oil. By the time you finish your first 12-15 lumpia, your oil should be ready. CAREFULLY drop the lumpia into the oil and brown on both sides. You're really only cooking the springroll wrapper, because the insides are cooked already. After this phase is complete, I like to drain the lumpia on a rack, carefully placed on a cookie sheet in the oven. I usually have the oven on "warm" just to keep the lumpia warm as the oil is draining off them.

I like to serve these with rice & soy sauce, "Chinese mix" frozen veggies (steamed), as well as sweet & sour sauce for Patrick. The time it takes to make them is worth it. These are great at parties & EVERYONE always loves them. You can substitute the pork for turkey if you choose. I've done this and added a dash of worcestershire sauce to balance the flavor. Turned out fairly decently. If you have the time and desire to learn something new, lumpia is a great dish!