Easy Filipino Lumpia Recipe (2024)

Lumpia, or Filipino egg rolls, are light and crispy, with a flavorful ground meat and vegetable filling. Besides making fried lumpia, I'll show you how to make air fryer lumpia for a healthier option. Serve this Filipino lumpia recipe with easy fried rice, and spicy bibimbap sauce.

I just love Filipino food! Anything from this pancit bihon recipe to , and of course, lumpia!

I first fell in love with Filipino egg rolls while spending time in the Philippines when I was in the Navy.

I got reintroduced to lumpia years later when a sweet Filipino nurse brought them to work. She made the BEST lumpia I've ever had! I still have the recipe she jotted down for me back in the early '90s.

As you can see from the picture below, she didn't give me exact measurements. I use her recipe as a guide and have developed my own recipe over the years.

🧐 Why This Recipe Works

• This Filipino lumpia recipe is a crowd-pleaser. It is always the first to disappear at any potluck or party.
• Besides being delicious, lumpia can be assembled up to a day in advance and fried as needed.
• This Filipino lumpia recipe is so versatile! The lumpia can also be portioned out and frozen to enjoy at a later date.

🛒 What You Need For This Recipe

🔖 Recipe Ingredients And Substitutions

• Wrappers: Lumpia wrappers can be hard to find unless you go to an Asian market. Luckily, you can use egg roll/spring roll wrappers as an alternative.
• Meat: Choose from ground beef, pork, chicken, or a combination of two or three of them. You can also add shrimp if you wish!
• Vegetables: For the filling, you'll need green cabbage and carrots, or a coleslaw mix. You'll also need diced celery, green onions, white or yellow onions, garlic, and canned water chestnuts, which add a nice crunch.
• Spices: I usually just add salt and black pepper. The heat will come from the Sriracha sauce added to the filling and the dipping sauce that you will serve the lumpia with.
• Dipping Sauce: Lumpia is traditionally served with a sweet and spicy chili sauce. If I don't have any on hand, I will make bibimbap sauce instead.
• Vegetable Oil: You will also need oil to fry the lumpia in.

🥟 How to Make This Filipino Lumpia Recipe

Step 1: Begin by browning pork, beef, or chicken in a large skillet or a wok.

Step 2: Add celery, chestnuts, onions, and scallions and saute for a few minutes. Next, add the garlic, coleslaw mix, salt, pepper, soy sauce, and Sriracha. Cook for a few more minutes. Cool filling.

Step 3: Before rolling the lumpia, whisk an egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make a thin eggwash. The eggwash acts as a glue to keep the lumpia wrappers from opening while being fried.

How to Roll Lumpia (Filipino Egg Rolls)

There are a few different ways to roll lumpia. For this recipe, we will be cooking the filling first and rolling the lumpia similar to rolling Assyrian egg rolls.

Step 1: Place the wrapper with one of the corners facing up. Dab eggwash on all four corners of the wrapper.

Step 2: Add up to two tablespoons of filling towards the bottom of the wrapper and form into a strip. Roll up the bottom corner of the wrapper over the filling then fold in the sides.

Step 3: Finish by rolling tightly all the way up until the lumpia is sealed. Place seam-side down onto a platter and continue until you use up all the wrappers and filling.

Pro Tip: Make sure to keep the wrappers covered either with a dish towel or plastic wrap to keep it from drying out!

Here is another way to roll lumpia. Cut the wrapper in half so that you have two triangle-shaped wrappers.

Shape the uncooked filling into a thin cigar shape and place it on the bottom, long edge of the wrapper. Fold in both sides over the filling, then roll up to seal.

How to Cook Lumpia

Step 1: Heat oil in a skillet until it reaches 375 degrees F. Using tongs, carefully add 3 to 4 lumpia into the hot oil. Roll the lumpia as necessary so that all the sides are golden brown. This should only take a few minutes.

Pro Tip: If you don't have a digital thermometer, you can tell that the oil is ready if it begins to bubble as soon as the lumpia is placed into the hot oil. If the oil does not bubble right away, keep heating it then try again.

Step 2: Drain fried lumpia on paper towels and continue until all the lumpia is fried. Serve immediately, while still hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

♨️ Air Fryer Lumpia

You can also prepare lumpia in an air fryer! To make air fryer lumpia, brush lumpia on all sides with avocado oil or olive oil. Place inside air fryer basket and air fry on 375 degrees F for about 6 minutes. Using tongs, flip lumpia to the other side and air fry for an additional 6 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: Depending on the air fryer you're using, the time may need to be adjusted, so you may want to check on them sooner to make sure they don't burn.

🤷🏻‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips

• Feel free to use a combination of chicken, pork, or beef in the filling.
• Using coleslaw in the filling not only saves you time, but you can serve the leftover coleslaw on the side!
• If you prefer, you can replace the coleslaw with a combination of julienned carrots and cabbage to equal 3 cups.
• Instead of egg wash, you can use a slurry of cornstarch and water for sealing the lumpia.
• Make sure the oil temperature reaches 375 degrees F. The oil should be hot enough to begin bubbling as soon as the Lumpia is added. Having the oil at the right temperature will keep the lumpia from absorbing more oil than necessary and becoming too greasy.

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