What is the Difference Between a Spring Roll and an Egg Roll?

Asian restaurants often adapt their cuisine to suit American palates – The food you get in China is often different than what you get in America. For example, many American-Asian cuisines offer fried foods, something that is not custom in Asian countries. But don’t be bothered by the authenticity of your Chinese food (because let’s face it, it’s all delicious), you’re probably not going to realize the cultural differences at your local Asian restaurant.

Let’s take a look at spring rolls and egg rolls

Spring rolls

Spring rolls have a thin flour wrapper and are not usually fried. You will find them most likely fried, but there are places, like Pho95, where you can find them boiled. In American cuisine, Spring rolls are filled with julienned vegetables like carrots and bamboo and can have bits of minced meat or be solely vegetarian. They are truer to Chinese cuisine and are smaller in size.

Egg rolls

Egg rolls have a thicker wrapper, are typically deep-fried, and are much larger in size. They are usually filled with meat (commonly pork), cabbage, and bean shoots, and may or may not actually contain egg in the filling (however, egg is used in the dough or has an egg wash before frying, and this is how they got their name). They are Americanized rolls and are not a traditional food in China.

Sauce it up

Either roll tastes great by itself or with dipping sauces. Use soy sauce, chili sauce, hot mustard, sweet and sour, peanut sauce, fish sauce, or any other condiment our restaurant may offer. Explore the differences the sauces make and find your favorite combination.

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By Leslie Radford