Homemade Egg Rolls with Easy Duck Sauce

🥕 The Ingredients

With simple, easy-to-find ingredients, you can create authentic-tasting homemade egg rolls right in your own kitchen. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and variations) below.

An arrangement of ingredients on a wooden grey background including ground pork, egg roll wrappers, cabbage, carrots, onion, garlic, ginger, and Asian seasonings.

👉 Substitutions and Variations

Protein – Ground pork is traditional, but you can easily substitute ground beef, chicken, turkey, or even plant-based protein.

Vegetables – Packaged coleslaw is easy and tasty. However, if you want a more authentic texture, shred green cabbage and carrots with your food processor (with shredding attachment) or with a box grater. Sprouts can be found in the produce section of most supermarkets or at Asian markets. Feel free to add other vegetables, such as shredded zucchini, squash, or cucumber.

Wrappers – Egg roll wrappers can usually be found in the refrigerated produce section of most supermarkets. Spring roll wrappers are lighter, but very tasty. If using spring roll wrappers, you’ll need to use two wrappers per roll.

Asian seasonings – Oyster sauce can be substituted for the hoisin sauce. Go with low-sodium soy sauce, if desired. Sesame seed oil gives the classic flavor and shouldn’t be omitted. All of these ingredients can be found in the Asian section of most well-stocked supermarkets.

See the recipe card (with video) below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

👩🏼‍🍳 How To Make Homemade Egg Rolls

A large silver skillet filled with chopped onion, minced garlic, and minced ginger being sautéed in olive oil.

Step 1: In a large skillet, sauté the onion, ginger, and garlic.

A skillet filled with ground pork that has been fully cooked with sautéed onion, garlic, and ginger with a pool of hoisin sauce resting on top of the meat mixture.

Step 2: Add the pork and cook until no longer pink. Then add the hoisin, soy sauce, and sesame oil.

A person using a wooden spatula to stir a pork and cabbage mixture in a skillet that will be used as the filling for homemade egg rolls.

Step 3: Stir in the cabbage, carrots, sprouts, and scallions.

A person getting ready to use fingers to roll the edge of an egg roll wrapper over a pork and cabbage filling the is in the center of the wrapper.

Step 4: Brush egg wash on the edges of the wrapper, add filling, roll, and tuck in the ends

Two crispy freshly made egg rolls being held in a mesh spider over a wok that is filled with hot vegetable oil.

Step 5: Fry until golden.

A person using a small spoon to add homemade duck sauce over the top of a homemade egg roll that has been split in half and is sitting upright in the middle of a black dinner plate.

Step 6: Serve at once with easy homemade duck sauce

🧑🏾‍🍳 How To Roll and Egg Roll

Step 1: Place the filling in the center of an egg roll wrapper and brush water along the edges to help seal.

Step 2: Roll one side of the wrapper over the filling, covering it completely.

Step 3: Fold the left and right sides of the wrapper inward toward the center.

Step 4: Continue rolling the egg roll tightly until it is fully sealed and closed.

A person rolling an egg roll wrapper over a pork and cabbage filling.

🙋🏽‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between an egg roll and a spring roll?

Egg rolls typically have a thicker, crispier wrapper and are usually filled with a mix of meat and vegetables, then deep-fried, while spring rolls have a thinner, more delicate wrapper and can be served fresh or fried with lighter fillings.

Can I bake homemade egg rolls instead of frying them?

Yes, you can bake egg rolls for a healthier option—just brush them with oil and bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes until golden and crispy.

How do I prevent homemade egg rolls from bursting while frying?

To avoid bursting, make sure not to overfill the wrappers, seal the edges well with water, and fry them in hot oil (around 350°F or 175°C) so they cook quickly and evenly.

Comments