Little Chinese Laundry Bundles Spring Rolls Food

CHINESE SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Mix the pork with the marinade ingredients and set aside for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the rest of the ingredients. Cut all of the vegetables to approximately the same size. You want everything the same size so each ingredient blends together.
• Brown the pork over high heat in 2 tablespoons of oil, and add the garlic, mushrooms and carrots. Stir fry for 30 seconds, and add the bamboo shoots, napa cabbage, and Shaoxing wine. Continue stir-frying for a minute. Adjust the heat to simmer the mixture, as the napa cabbage will release a lot of moisture.
• Stir in the soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, white pepper, and sugar. At this time, you have the option of adding 1/4 cup of the decanted water from soaking the dried mushrooms. It strengthens the mushroom flavor, so this is purely according to your personal preference. You may also have to simmer the filling longer to reduce the additional liquid.
• Continue simmering the filling for another 3 minutes--until the napa cabbage is completely wilted--and stir in the corn starch slurry to thicken. How much slurry you add depends upon the wetness of the filling (this varies if your cabbage had more moisture or if you did add the optional mushroom water), but there should be no standing liquid at all.
• Transfer the filling to a large shallow bowl, and let cool. Place into the refrigerator to cool further-at least one hour. It's best to start with a cold filling for easier wrapping. The key to wrapping spring rolls is making sure that they're tight, yet not overstuffed. It's best to use fresh spring roll wrappers if you can, as freezing the wrappers can result in the spring roll skin being a bit too damp.
• Place the wrapper on a flat surface so that a corner is facing toward you. Use about two spoonfuls of the mixture per spring roll, and spoon it about 2 inches from the corner that is closest to you. Roll it over once, and, like you're making a burrito, fold over both sides. Continue rolling it into a cigar shape. With your fingers, brush a bit of the cornstarch water onto the corner of the wrapper that is farthest from you to seal it.
• In case you're wondering, we did try egg wash instead of the cornstarch mixture to seal the spring roll but the egg wash "stains" the spring roll, so it's best to use the cornstarch mixture.
• Place each roll on a tray. This recipe makes about 18-20 spring rolls. You can also freeze these spring rolls on the tray overnight, and transfer them to a zip-lock bag when they are completely frozen for future use. We usually fry some fresh and freeze the rest, unless we are hosting a party, in which case, these go like hot cakes!
• To fry the spring rolls, fill a small pot (which requires less oil) with oil until it's 2 to 3 inches deep. Heat the oil slowly over medium heat until it reaches 325 degrees. Gently add the spring rolls one at a time, frying in small batches. Carefully roll them in the oil so they cook evenly until golden brown and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels.
• Prepare the dipping sauce by adding all ingredients to a small sauce pan. Mix and heat until just simmering and pour into a small bowl. Serve the spring rolls hot with the dipping sauce!

AUTHENTIC CHINESE SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Mix marinade ingredients well. Add pork. Mix well and marinate at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
• Saute cabbage and carrots in 1 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in wok until crisp-tender. Alternately, steam vegetables in a bamboo steamer until crisp-tender (about 5 minutes). Spread out on a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan and put in refrigerator (or freezer, if you're in a hurry) until thoroughly cold. Saute meat in wok in 1 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil until no longer pink. Continue to saute until all moisture/juices have evaporated. Meat should appear dry. Spread out on another cookie sheet or jellyroll pan and put in refrigerator (or freezer, if you're in a hurry) until thoroughly cold. Stir together cooled meat, binder mixture, cooled cabbage and carrots, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and green onions. Mix well. Make sure filling is cool to the touch.
• Combine sealer ingredients and mix until smooth. Place one wrapper on the counter with a point facing toward you, so the wrapper looks diamond-shaped, not square. Place a small amount of filling, about 1/4 cup, about 1/3 of the way up on on the wrapper. roll the wrapper tightly, tucking in the sides, to form a narrow finished roll about 1/2 to 2/3 inch in diameter. Seal the roll by brushing the triangle end flap with sealer for about the last 1-1/2 to 2 inches. Keep finished rolls under a damp towel or a couple of damp paper towels. Can be refrigerated or frozen at the point. For long term storage in freezer, put rolls in plastic bags.
• To make the dipping sauce, combine all ingredients and stir well. To make the alternate dipping sauce, combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring until smooth. Strain and cool.
• Heat 1 quart vegetable oil in wok to about 350 degrees. Add rolls one at a time. Do not crowd. Cook in batches of 8 to 10 until deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Regulate heat as necessary to maintain temperature. Don't let temperature go over 375 degrees. Cut in half diagonally and serve warm with a Chinese mustard for dipping and one of the soy-sauce based dipping sauces listed above. Cutting the rolls in half diagonally facilitates absorption of the sauce into the filling when the roll is dipped. Also, it makes the rolls go farther and be easier for people to handle at a party, etc. Cooled rolls can be reheated at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, wrapped in foil.

CHINESE LAUNDRY

Steps:

• Cook the mushrooms in butter in a non stick pan until tender.
• (if you don't want to do this use 1 can sliced mushrooms) Add the bean sprouts and cook for two minutes (if you don't want to do this used tinned) Mix all the ingredients in a large casserole dish.
• Cover and bake at 350F for at least 45 minutes.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Heat the peanut oil in a wok. When hot, stir fry the carrot for 1 minute. Add the cabbage, mushroom, and chicken and fry for another minute, stirring all of the time.
• Season with a little pepper; add the sugar, both soy sauces and the sesame oil.
• Combine 2 tsp of the cornflour with about 3 tbsp of water and stir into the filling while still on the heat. Any juices will soon thicken. Remove from heat and leave to cool.
• Combine remaining cornflour with enough water to make a thin paste. Lay out a spring roll wrapper and put 1 tbsp of filling across one end. brush the edges of the wrapper with cornflour liquid to help it stick.
• Fold the two opposite edges of the wrapper over part of the filling and roll into a tight cylinder. Pinch the edges together to form a good seal.
• Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a deep fryer, and cook rolls in batches until golden and crisp.

SHANGHAI PORK AND SHRIMP SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Combine sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, soy sauce, pork, and shrimp in a bowl and stir. Set aside.
• In a bowl, rehydrate shitake mushrooms in hot water just enough to cover until softened. Depending on mushrooms used this can take anywhere between 15-30 minutes to soften. Reserve the liquid for dissolving cornstarch. Cut off the stem and cut into very thin match stick pieces.
• In a small cup dissolve 1 1/2 T cornstarch with 3 T of reserved mushroom soaking liquid. This will be used to thicken the filling mixture.
• Heat 1 1/2 T oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and add ginger and garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned and add pork and shrimp mixture. Stir constantly to separate the pork pieces and shrimp into nuggets and cook for about 2 minutes. Do not overcook. Transfer to a dish.
• Add the remaining 1 1/2 T oil to the skillet on medium high heat. Add shitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes stirring constantly. Return the pork and shrimp mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. Lower the heat and give the cornstarch mixture a stir and pour over the filling. Cook for about 30 seconds to bind the mixture. Transfer to a bowl to cool completely.
• In a small cup combine 1 T cornstarch with 1/2 C water to seal spring roll skin.
• Lay a spring roll skin on the work surface making sure one of the pointy corner is facing you. Put about 2 T of filling slightly below the center towards you and form into log shape using your fingers.
• Lift the bottom edge towards you up and over the filling tucking the point under it. Fold in the sides and brush the upper edges with cornstarch and water mixture. Roll away from you (bottom up) to seal. Set the finished rolls seam side down on the baking sheet covered with wax paper or aluminum foil and keep covered with a kitchen towel to prevent drying.
• Heat 1 inch of oil in a deep skillet over medium high to about 350F degrees. Slide in a few spring rolls and fry, turning as needed for about 3 minutes or until golden brown and very crisp.
• Remove from the oil and drain. Continue with the remaining rolls. To serve, cut diagonally in half. Serve with a vinegar or dipping sauce of your choice.

BAKED CHICKEN SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 and prepare baking sheet with parchment paper, sprayed with cooking spray.
• Prep chicken, rice noodles and veggies.
• Combine cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, garlic and ginger. Set aside.
• Heat saucepan over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Add cabbage mixture and cook for 2 minutes, stirring from time to time. Add hoisin sauce, fish sauce and ground coriander. Stir until well combined.
• Remove saucepan from heat, add chicken and noodles, combine. Set aside.
• *Note there are two different types of rice papers - I use the hard rice kind found in the refrigerator section, directions for those wrappers are as follows. I have not tried using the other wrappers, (I can't find them around here!), but feel free to use them as you normally would. I've heard they are easier to use than the crisp ones.
• Working with one rice paper at a time. Dip rice paper in warm water for 12-15 seconds until pliable. Remove rice paper to clean towel. Add about two tablespoons of noodle mixture to rice paper and wrap up tightly. Place seem side down on prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all filling is gone.
• Spray spring rolls with fine layer of cooking spray.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping rolls half way through.
• While rolls are baking, combine dipping sauce ingredients with wire whisk.

LITTLE CHINESE LAUNDRY BUNDLES - SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Mince or finely chop your chicken breasts. (I use a food processor and pulse until it is finely minced; be careful you do NOT over process and puree the chicken!).
• If the broccoli florets in the broccoli slaw are very large, break them down into very small pieces.
• Prepare the fresh cucumber and onion garnish - combine the shredded green onions with the cucumber strips in a serving bowl with a little soy sauce.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the broccoli slaw, peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and cilantro leaves. Mix them together and allow to infuse for about 10 minutes. In another small bowl, add a little soy sauce to the minced chicken breasts.
• Pre-heat the vegetable oil for deep-frying to 180 degrees C or 360 degrees F while preparing the spring rolls.
• Heat a wok over medium high to high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of peanut oil. When the oil is hot, add the minced chicken and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the seasoned vegetable mix, and cook for a further 1 to 2 minutes stirring vigorously all the time to toss the chicken and vegetables around in the wok.
• Lay a spring roll wrapper in front of you so that it forms a diamond shape. Use your index finger to wet all the edges with the beaten egg white. Place approximately 2 tablespoons of filling in the middle. Bring the two of the sides up into the middle then lift up the other two sides to form a bundle, making sure that the wrapper overlaps to make a tight seal. (If the wrappers are too small, use the traditional roll way - Place approximately 2 tablespoons of filling near the bottom. Roll over once, tuck in the sides, and then continue rolling. Seal the top.) At this stage, you can tie the blades of fresh chives around the bundles/rolls if you are using them.
• Deep-fry the bundles/rolls in 3 to 4 batches, cooking until they are golden brown and crispy (about 3 minutes). Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Arrange them on a serving platter, sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve with the cucumber ad green onion garnish.