This vegetarian lumpia (spring rolls) recipe is all you need to make delicious, flavourful and crispy lumpia at home. These crunchy spring rolls are packed with a tasty, savoury filling, rolled in up in a spring roll wrapper, and deep fried, baked or air fried to crisp perfection. Plus, you can make a big batch and freeze them for an easy snack, appetizer or dinner on a busy day.
What is Lumpia?
Lumpia is the Filipino version of spring rolls that developed from Chinese spring rolls when migrants from China moved to Philippines in the 17th century. Similarly, they are savoury springs rolls that are stuffed with delicious savoury fillings that are completely customizable including meat, seafood and vegetables. They are rolled and fried until crispy.
Ingredients in Vegetarian Lumpia
To make vegetarian lumpia, you need the following ingredients:
- spring roll wrappers - You need one (25 piece) package of spring roll wrappers or lumpia wrappers.
- dry vermicelli rice noodles
- firm tofu
- cabbage
- carrots
- shiitake mushrooms
- fresh ginger
- all-purpose flour - or you can use cornstarch.
- seasoning - vegetable bouillon powder (or substitute with chicken bouillon powder), brown sugar, ground black pepper, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
- cornstarch water - mix water with cornstarch and use for sealing the egg roll wrappers.
- vegetable oil - for deep frying.
- dipping sauce - you can dip these into a thai sweet chili sauce, peanut dipping sauce, or a vinegar sauce made with rice vinegar, fish sauce, brown sugar, Thai chili pepper, ground black pepper, and cilantro.
TIP: You can easily use different vegetables in the lumpia such as beans sprouts or add in your favourite protein such as shredded chicken or beef. The key is to keep the filling thick like a paste, and not too soupy or runny. If you find it too runny, drain the extra liquid or add cornstarch to thicken it up.
How to Make the Best Vegetarian Lumpia (Spring Rolls)
- Soften the noodles. Place vermicelli noodles into a large mixing bowl with hot water to soften the noodles until tender, about 5-10 minutes. Rinse with cold water to cool and drain well in a colander. Coarsely chop the noodles into 1-inch pieces on a cutting board.
- Make the filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine noodles, tofu, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, ginger, flour, chicken bouillon powder, brown sugar, pepper, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Stir well to mix evenly, and drain off any excess liquid from the bowl. The filling should not be too wet as this can make the spring rolls soggy.
How to Wrap Lumpia
- Place one spring roll wrapper diagonally (diamond shape) on a dry, clean flat surface. Keep the rest of the wrappers inside the package to prevent them from drying out.
- Place up to 1.5 tablespoons of filling in a horizontal line near the centre of the wrapper placed approximately a quarter of the way up from the bottom, leaving about 2-inches uncovered on the side corners.
- Fold up the bottom so that it covers the filling. The bottom corner should approximately touch the centre of the wrapper. Fold in the two side corners into the centre, folding over top.
- Tightly roll the wrapper with your fingers until 1-2 inches remains on top. Lightly brush the remaining corner on top with cornstarch water (mix water with cornstarch in a small bowl) or dip your finger into the bowl and apply it to the top corner.
- Roll up the spring roll tightly to seal like a burrito. Make sure all corners are tightly sealed. Place the top edge side down, and cover with a tea towel to prevent the lumpia from drying out.
- Repeat steps with remaining wrappers.
How to Cook Vegetarian Lumpia
Deep Fry
- Add cooking oil into a shallow saucepan and heat over high heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the oil starts shimmering and sizzling. The oil should be about ½-inch deep or enough to almost submerge the lumpia.
- Add in a batch of 5-6 lumpia and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Turn them over a few times so that both sides turn golden brown and cook evenly. Make sure to leave some space in between the lumpia when deep frying.
- Transfer the lumpia onto a paper towel lined plate (to help soak in the extra oil) and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.
- Repeat steps with remaining lumpia.
Air Fry
Brush or spray some oil over the lumpia and cook in the air fryer at 350 F for 7-8 minutes. Brush more oil on them halfway through. This is to help get that golden colour. It might not turn out as golden as it does when you deep fry, but it will be healthier, as you will be using a lot less oil.
Bake
Brush or spray cooking oil over the lumpia and bake in a preheated 425 F oven for 15 minutes. Flip them over and continue to bake for another 10 minutes until crisp and golden.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
- How to store store lumpia: Transfer cooled lumpia into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, heat in a 350 F preheated oven or air fryer for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
- How to freeze lumpia: These freeze beautifully. I prefer to freeze the lumpia after they have been cooked. Although you can freeze before cooking as well. To store, place the spring rolls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and freeze for one hour. Then, transfer them into a freezer bag or an airtight container, and use as desired.
- How to cook frozen lumpia. You can reheat or cook them directly from the freezer, without thawing. To reheat cooked frozen lumpia, heat in a 350 F preheated oven or air fryer for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. To reheat uncooked frozen egg rolls, follow recipe instructions but add 5 minutes extra time.
More Asian Appetizers
- Fried Vegetarian Spring Rolls
- Shanghai Style Vegan Steamed Buns
- Spicy Chili Oil Wontons
- Savoury Chive Pancakes with Sourdough Starter
- Egg and Chive Vegetarian Dumplings
- Chicken and Cilantro Wontons
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Recipe
Vegetarian Lumpia (Spring Rolls)
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 25 spring rolls
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Vegetarian lumpia recipe are delicious, crispy spring rolls packed with a flavourful savoury filling. They can be fried, baked or air fried.
Ingredients
- 4 oz. dry vermicelli rice noodles, thin or thick
- 1 cup firm tofu, finely chopped
- 3 cups cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, finely chopped
- ½ tablespoon ginger, freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (or cornstarch)
- 1 teaspoon vegetable bouillon powder
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 (25-piece) package spring roll wrappers (or egg roll wrappers)
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2-3 cups vegetable oil (for deep frying)
For the vinegar dipping sauce:
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Thai chili pepper, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Instructions
Prepare the Filling:
- Place vermicelli noodles into a large mixing bowl with hot water to soften the noodles until tender, about 5-10 minutes. Rinse with cold water to cool and drain well in a colander. Coarsely chop the noodles into 1-inch pieces on a cutting board.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine noodles, tofu, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, ginger, flour, vegetable bouillon powder, brown sugar, pepper, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Stir well to mix evenly, and drain off any excess liquid from the bowl. The filling should not be too wet as this can make the spring rolls soggy.
Wrap the Lumpia:
- Place one spring roll wrapper diagonally (diamond shape) on a dry, clean flat surface. Keep the rest of the wrappers inside the package to prevent them from drying out.
- Place up to 1.5 tablespoons of filling in a horizontal line near the centre of the wrapper placed approximately a quarter of the way up from the bottom, leaving about 2-inches uncovered on the side corners.
- Fold up the bottom so that it covers the filling. The bottom corner should approximately touch the centre of the wrapper. Fold in the two side corners into the centre, folding over top.
- Tightly roll the wrapper with your fingers until 1-2 inches remains on top. Lightly brush the remaining corner on top with cornstarch water (mix water with cornstarch in a small bowl) or dip your finger into the bowl and apply it to the top corner.
- Roll up the spring roll tightly to seal like a burrito. Make sure all corners are tightly sealed. Place the top edge side down, and cover with a tea towel to prevent the egg rolls from drying out.
- Repeat steps with remaining wrappers.
Deep Fry the Lumpia:
- Add cooking oil into a shallow saucepan and heat over high heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the oil starts shimmering and sizzling. The oil should be about ½-inch deep or enough to almost submerge the spring rolls.
- Add in a batch of 5-6 lumpia and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Turn them over a few times so that both sides turn golden brown and cook evenly. Make sure to leave some space in between the spring rolls when deep frying.
- Transfer the lumpia onto a paper towel lined plate (to help soak in the extra oil) and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.
- Repeat steps with remaining lumpia.
- Serve warm on a plate with vinegar dipping sauce.
Make the Vinegar Dipping Sauce:
- In a small bowl, combine vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, pepper, chili and cilantro. Stir well with a spoon to combine.
Notes
How to cook lumpia in the air fryer: Brush or spray some oil over the lumpia and cook in the air fryer at 350 F for 7-8 minutes. Brush more oil on them halfway through. This is to help get that golden colour. It might not turn out as golden as it does when you deep fry, but it will be healthier, as you will be using a lot less oil.
How to bake lumpia: Brush or spray cooking oil over the lumpia and bake in a preheated 425 F oven for 15 minutes. Flip them over and continue to bake for another 10 minutes until crisp and golden.
How to store lumpia: Transfer cooled lumpia into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, heat in a 350 F preheated oven or air fryer for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
How to freeze lumpia: These freeze beautifully. I prefer to freeze lumpia after they have been cooked. Although you can freeze before cooking as well. To store, place the spring rolls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and freeze for one hour. Then, transfer them into a freezer bag or an airtight container, and use as desired.
How to cook frozen lumpia: You can reheat or cook them directly from the freezer, without thawing. To reheat cooked frozen luimpia, heat in a 350 F preheated oven or air fryer for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. To reheat uncooked frozen egg rolls, follow recipe instructions but add 5 minutes extra time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Deep Fry
- Cuisine: Filipino
Keywords: vegetarian lumpia, vegetarian spring rolls, how to make spring rolls, how to make lumpia, filipino spring rolls
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Rav says
Looking forward to making these with my Foods class. Thank you!
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks Rav! Enjoy!
Gina says
These are beyond delicious and such a great texture, so crunchy!
★★★★★
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Gina! So happy you liked the recipe!
Katie says
Looks so good! Can't wait to try this one with my family.
★★★★★
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks Katie! Let me know if you try it.