Homemade Crispy Pork Egg Rolls with Ginger Soy Dipping Sauce: The Ultimate Recipe Guide

Forget the wait and cost of takeout; now you can create irresistibly crispy, flavor-packed Pork Egg Rolls right in your own kitchen! These homemade delights feature a savory, veggie-loaded pork filling, vibrant with fresh kale and shredded carrots, all encased in a perfectly fried, golden-brown wrapper. Served with a simple yet exquisite homemade ginger soy dipping sauce, they deliver an authentic Asian restaurant experience from the comfort of your home.

Egg rolls hold a special place in my heart – there’s something truly magical about a perfectly seasoned filling, embraced by a crisp wrapper, and dipped into a savory sauce. This isn’t just any pork egg roll recipe; it’s a labor of love that elevates the classic. My unique twist incorporates nutritious kale and sweet shredded carrots, adding a delightful crunch and an extra layer of flavor that bursts in every bite. This combination not only enhances the taste profile but also brings a beautiful pop of color to your plate.

For years, this recipe has been a celebrated favorite among my friends and family, consistently earning rave reviews. It’s designed to be straightforward, ensuring even novice home cooks can achieve restaurant-quality results. Whether you’re hosting a gathering, looking for an impressive appetizer, or simply craving a delicious meal, these homemade pork and kale egg rolls are guaranteed to be a hit. Dive into the full recipe below, where I share all my essential tips and tricks to help you master this delightful dish.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Pork Egg Rolls Are:

• Irresistibly Crispy: Achieve that signature golden-brown crunch every time, thanks to precise frying techniques that seal in flavor and create a delightful texture.
• Loaded with Flavor: A savory blend of seasoned ground pork, fresh kale, and sweet carrots, perfectly balanced with umami-rich fish sauce and aromatic garlic, ensures every bite is bursting with incredible taste.
• Surprisingly Easy to Make: Don’t be intimidated by homemade egg rolls! This recipe breaks down the process into simple, manageable steps using readily available ingredients found at most grocery stores.
• Paired with a Perfect Dipping Sauce: Elevate your egg roll experience with a quick-fix ginger soy sauce that offers a harmonious balance of salty, sweet, and spicy notes, complementing the rich filling beautifully.
• Freezer-Friendly & Convenient: Prepare a batch ahead of time and freeze them, either cooked or uncooked, for a quick appetizer or snack whenever a craving strikes. Perfect for meal prep!

To create these delectable crispy pork egg rolls and their accompanying vibrant ginger soy dipping sauce, gather these fresh and flavorful ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the authentic taste you crave.

For the Flavorful Pork Egg Rolls:

• Ground Pork: The star of our filling! For the juiciest and most flavorful egg rolls, opt for ground pork with a slightly higher fat content (around 80/20). This fat renders during frying, contributing to the richness and succulence of the filling.
• Kale: This leafy green adds a fantastic nutritious boost, a slightly earthy flavor, and a beautiful vibrant color to the egg roll filling. Ensure it’s finely chopped for even distribution. Swap: If kale isn’t your preference, you can easily substitute it with finely shredded cabbage for a more traditional egg roll texture and milder flavor, or use spinach for a quicker wilt and subtle taste.
• Shredded Carrots: These provide natural sweetness and an appealing crunch that complements the pork and kale. While pre-shredded carrots from the store are convenient, note that freshly shredded carrots tend to be juicier and offer a fresher taste.
• Sugar: Just a small touch of granulated sugar helps to balance the savory and umami flavors in the filling, adding a hint of sweetness that rounds out the taste profile. Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to suit your personal taste preferences.
• Fish Sauce: Do not skip this ingredient! Fish sauce is a powerhouse of umami, adding a distinct depth of savory flavor that truly elevates the entire filling and gives it that authentic Asian-inspired taste.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic provides a pungent, aromatic base that is essential for most Asian dishes. If you’re a garlic lover like me, don’t hesitate to add an extra clove or two for an intensified flavor.
• Egg Roll Wrappers: The vessel for our delicious filling! See the dedicated section below for all my tips on choosing and handling the best egg roll wrappers for perfectly crispy results.
• Egg White: This acts as the “glue” for sealing your wrappers, ensuring the filling stays securely inside during the frying process. This prevents any leakage and helps achieve a beautifully sealed, golden-brown roll. Swap: You can use a cornstarch slurry instead—a simple mixture of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch combined with 1 tablespoon of water, mixed until smooth.

For the Zingy Ginger Soy Sauce:

• Soy Sauce: The foundation of our flavorful dipping sauce, providing a rich, salty, and savory base. I highly recommend opting for low-sodium soy sauce 99% of the time, as it allows you to precisely control the overall saltiness of your dip without overdoing it. Swap: For a gluten-free alternative, Tamari can be used, offering a similar depth of flavor without compromising dietary needs.
• Fresh Ginger: Grated fresh ginger root brings a bright, pungent, and slightly spicy zing to the dipping sauce. Pro Tip: Store your ginger root in the freezer! It lasts much longer and is incredibly easy to grate from its frozen state, making prep a breeze. Swap: While fresh is best, if you’re in a pinch, you can substitute with dry ground ginger. Start with a conservative ⅛ teaspoon, taste the dip, and add more gradually until you reach your desired level of ginger flavor.
• Chili Paste: This adds a customizable kick of heat to your sauce. Begin with a small amount and slowly add more, tasting as you go, to achieve your preferred level of spiciness. Remember, you can always add more heat, but you can’t take it away once it’s incorporated! Swap: Sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes also work wonderfully for introducing heat.
• Scallions: Sliced scallions contribute a mild, fresh onion flavor and a beautiful green garnish to the dipping sauce. Use both the white and green parts for optimal flavor and visual appeal.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

All About Egg Roll Wrappers

Choosing the right egg roll wrapper is crucial for achieving that perfect crispy texture. Most American grocery stores typically carry thicker, more flour-based wrappers. These wrappers tend to fry up to a robust, bubbly roll, providing a satisfying chew. However, they also require slightly longer cooking times, so factor this into your frying process. For those with access to Asian specialty markets, you’ll discover a wider and more authentic variety of wrappers, many of which are notably thinner. These thinner wrappers yield a much lighter and crisper result when fried, often favored for their delicate crunch. Experiment with different types to find what works best for your desired outcome, and always adjust frying times accordingly.

Can I substitute egg roll wrappers with spring roll wrappers?

Yes, you can substitute, but be aware that there are distinct differences in texture and taste that will impact your final egg rolls. Spring roll wrappers are generally much thinner, typically made with a simpler composition of just flour, water, and salt. When fried or steamed, they become delicate and often translucent, offering a very light crispness.

In contrast, egg roll wrappers are noticeably thicker and possess a characteristic yellowish hue, a result of eggs being incorporated into the dough. This makes them significantly sturdier, allowing them to hold up exceptionally well to deep frying, resulting in that classic bubbly, substantial crunch. While some product packaging might confusingly use the terms “spring roll” and “egg roll” interchangeably, they are indeed not the same product.

When you opt to use spring roll wrappers instead of the thicker egg roll wrappers, anticipate that your finished product might not achieve the same robust crispiness and could be more prone to tearing during handling and frying. Adjust your expectations and frying technique accordingly for the best results with spring roll wrappers.

How long do egg roll wrappers last once opened?

Once opened, egg roll wrappers are best used within a few days to prevent them from drying out and becoming brittle. To maintain their freshness and pliability, immediately transfer any unused wrappers to an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator. For longer-term storage, egg roll wrappers are incredibly freezer-friendly; you can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use them, simply thaw the wrappers in the refrigerator overnight to ensure they are pliable and easy to work with.

What size egg roll wrappers Do I need for this recipe?

For this specific recipe, aim to find egg roll wrappers that are approximately 7 to 8 inches in size (square). This dimension is ideal for creating generously sized, perfectly proportioned homemade egg rolls and is a very common size readily available at most major grocery stores. If you find yourself with larger wrappers, you can easily trim them down to the recommended size, or alternatively, adjust the amount of filling you use per wrapper to prevent overstuffing and ensure proper sealing and frying.

Crafting homemade pork egg rolls is a rewarding process that yields incredibly delicious results. Follow these detailed steps to ensure your egg rolls are perfectly filled, sealed, and fried to golden perfection.

1. Prepare the Flavorful Filling and Marinate: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, finely chopped kale, shredded carrots, sugar, fish sauce, and minced garlic. Use your hands to thoroughly mix all the ingredients until they are well combined. This ensures every component is evenly distributed for a balanced flavor in each bite. Once mixed, allow the filling to marinate for at least 20 to 30 minutes. This crucial step allows the flavors to meld and deepen, resulting in a more savory and aromatic filling for your egg rolls.
2. Master the Art of Rolling Egg Rolls: Set up your workstation with the egg roll wrappers, your prepared filling, and a small bowl of egg white (or cornstarch slurry). Place one wrapper at a time on a clean, dry surface, oriented like a diamond (with one corner pointing towards you). Spoon approximately 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of the filling onto the lower one-third of the wrapper, forming a horizontal log shape. Begin rolling from the bottom corner, tucking the filling snugly under the wrapper. Once you’ve made a half-turn, fold in the side corners towards the center, creating an envelope shape. Continue rolling upwards tightly until you reach the top corner. Brush the top corner’s edges with egg white to create a secure seal. This technique prevents the filling from spilling out during frying. Place the finished rolls seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they don’t touch each other, as you continue rolling the remaining egg rolls.

Pro Tip for Rolling: Egg roll wrappers can dry out quickly, becoming brittle and prone to cracking. To prevent this, keep a clean, damp kitchen towel nearby and drape it over the stack of unused wrappers as you work. This simple trick ensures they remain pliable and easy to fold, leading to perfectly sealed and beautiful egg rolls.

3. Fry to Golden, Crispy Perfection in Batches: In a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan or Dutch oven, pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil (or peanut/canola oil) and heat it over medium heat. For perfectly crispy egg rolls that are cooked through without being greasy, using a deep-fry thermometer is absolutely essential. This allows you to monitor and maintain a consistent oil temperature of 360°F (180°C) throughout the entire frying process. Avoid overcrowding the pan; fry the egg rolls in small batches of 3-4 at a time to prevent the oil temperature from dropping too drastically. Fry them for about 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until they achieve a beautiful golden-brown color and are cooked thoroughly.

Pro Tip for Optimal Crispiness: After frying each batch, immediately transfer the cooked egg rolls to a wire rack placed over a baking sheet lined with paper towels. This setup allows excess oil to drain away from all sides, preventing them from becoming soggy and ensuring they maintain their delightful crispiness. Avoid placing them directly on paper towels without a rack, as this can trap steam and lead to a softer texture.

4. Serve Immediately with Zesty Ginger Soy Dip: Just like most deep-fried delicacies, these homemade pork and kale egg rolls are best enjoyed fresh off the fryer, while they are still wonderfully hot and crispy. The contrast of the hot, savory filling with the cool, vibrant dipping sauce is truly unparalleled.

I always serve these crispy delights with my signature homemade ginger soy dip, which perfectly complements their rich flavor. However, don’t limit yourself! A sweet chili sauce would also be a fantastic accompaniment, offering a different but equally delicious flavor profile. For those who enjoy sweet and tangy notes, I highly recommend trying my citrus-soy dipping sauce. This unique dip is crafted with a blend of soy sauce, a touch of sugar, invigorating fresh lime and orange juices, aromatic sesame oil, and fresh cilantro, creating a bright and zesty counterpoint to the savory egg rolls.

The beauty of homemade egg rolls lies in their versatility! Not a fan of pork? No problem at all! You can easily swap in ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter, equally delicious option that fits different dietary preferences. Beyond the main protein, the possibilities are endless for creating unique and exciting egg roll flavors. Explore some of these tasty variations below to inspire your next culinary adventure:

• Easy Sesame Chicken Egg Rolls: A delightful twist featuring savory chicken infused with toasted sesame flavors, often served with a sweet and tangy sesame dipping sauce.
• Air Fryer Egg Rolls: For a healthier, less greasy alternative that still delivers incredible crispiness, try making your egg rolls in an air fryer. They come out beautifully golden with minimal oil.
• Avocado Egg Rolls: A unique and creamy option, often featuring fresh avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, and red onion, typically served with a zesty ranch or cilantro-lime dipping sauce.
• Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls: Packed with a vibrant mix of corn, black beans, bell peppers, and cheese, offering a Tex-Mex inspired flavor profile, perfect with a spicy salsa or avocado cream.
• Apple Pie Egg Rolls: Don’t forget dessert! These sweet egg rolls are filled with spiced apple pie filling, fried until golden, and often served with a dusting of cinnamon sugar or a caramel drizzle.

Common Questions

If you’ve enjoyed making these crispy pork egg rolls and are looking to expand your homemade takeout menu, here are some other beloved Chinese-American classics that are perfect for any occasion. These recipes are designed to be approachable, bringing restaurant-quality flavors into your home kitchen with ease.

• Chinese Garlic Green Beans: A simple yet incredibly flavorful side dish, featuring crisp green beans stir-fried with plenty of aromatic garlic.
• 30-Minute Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry: A quick and healthy weeknight meal, combining tender chicken and vibrant broccoli in a savory, light sauce.
• Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing: A refreshing and satisfying salad featuring shredded chicken, crisp vegetables, and a delectable sesame dressing.
• Easy General Tso’s Chicken: Recreate this iconic sweet, savory, and slightly spicy chicken dish that’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
• Quick Chicken Chow Mein: Enjoy a classic noodle dish packed with chicken and vegetables, perfect for a hearty and comforting meal.
• Crispy Baked Crab Rangoon: Indulge in these creamy, savory, and surprisingly easy-to-make appetizers, offering a healthier baked alternative to the fried classic.

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Appetizer

Crispy Pork Egg Rolls with Ginger Soy Dip

Whip up a Chinese takeout favorite at home with quick and easy Crispy Pork Egg Rolls with Ginger Soy Dip! This recipe provides a detailed guide to creating perfectly crispy, flavorful egg rolls with a fresh, veggie-packed pork filling, complemented by a zesty homemade ginger soy dipping sauce.

Author: Kelly Senyei

4.50 from 2 votes

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Servings 24 rolls

Print Recipe

Ingredients 

• ▢ 1 1/2 lbs ground pork
• ▢ 1/2 pound kale leaves, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• ▢ 3/4 cup shredded carrot
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons fish sauce
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ▢ 2 dozen 7- to 8-inch egg roll wrappers
• ▢ Egg white, for sealing wrappers
• ▢ Vegetable oil, for frying
• ▢ 1/2 cup soy sauce
• ▢ 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root
• ▢ Chili paste, to taste
• ▢ 2 teaspoons sliced scallions

Instructions 

• In a medium bowl, combine the ground pork, finely chopped kale, shredded carrots, sugar, fish sauce, and minced garlic. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined. Set aside to marinate for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to deepen.
• To roll the egg rolls, place one wrapper on your work surface in a diamond orientation. Spoon about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of the filling onto the lower one-third of the wrapper. Begin rolling from the bottom corner, tucking the filling securely. Fold in the side corners towards the center, then continue rolling tightly upwards. Brush the top corner edges with egg white to seal the wrapper completely. Place finished rolls seam-side down on a baking sheet.
• In a large frying pan or Dutch oven, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil over medium heat. Using a deep-fry thermometer, ensure the oil reaches 360°F (180°C). Carefully add egg rolls in batches (3-4 at a time) to avoid overcrowding. Fry, turning occasionally, until they are golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and place on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
• While egg rolls are frying, prepare the ginger soy dip: In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, grated fresh ginger, chili paste (to taste), and sliced scallions. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
• Serve the crispy homemade egg rolls warm and fresh, with the zesty ginger soy dipping sauce on the side for an ultimate flavor experience.

Kelly’s Notes

• Most American grocery stores carry thicker, more flour-based wrappers. These fry up to a nice bubbly roll, but take longer to cook, so take this into account when you’re frying. At Asian specialty markets, you’ll find a greater variety of wrappers, many of which are thinner. These wrappers fry up much lighter and crisper. Select the type that works best for you and, again, take this into account when adjusting frying times.
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Nutrition

Calories: 53kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 338mg, Potassium: 217mg, Vitamin A: 1610IU, Vitamin C: 11.6mg, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 0.5mg

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