Spring Roll vs Egg Roll: What is the Delicious Difference? (2024)

bySammy Jackson

Published May 31, 2024

I am fond of discovering different dishes in Asia and what makes them unique. Spring rolls and egg rolls are two Chinese favorites that may look the same but actually have many differences. These variations include their history, ingredients, and preparation methods. But always remember it’s the dipping sauces that really make either option!

Spring Roll vs Egg Roll: What is the Delicious Difference? (2)

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The Origins: Tracing the Cultural Roots

Spring rolls come from China where they originated in Shanghai during the Jin Dynasty many years ago. These early versions resembled thin pancakes filled with various fresh produce associated with springs hence the name ‘spring’ while on the other hand egg rolls were invented by Chinese chefs who moved to America settling at New York City’s Chinatown .From around 1930s they adjusted this dish to suit the American palate, so despite having deep Asian roots the story differs greatly between Spring and Egg rolls in terms or Origin.

What’s Inside?

Spring Roll vs Egg Roll: What is the Delicious Difference? (3)

The contents of spring rolls and egg rolls are not the same. Usually, spring rolls are filled with fresh vegetables like cabbage, scallions, mushroom or carrot while on the other hand eggrolls have a more meaty stuffing; shrimp/prawn being most common but can also include pork. This is why egg roll wrappers tend to be thicker than those used for making spring rolls. You need a stronger outer casing to hold heavier ingredients! Spring rolls work well with light veggies.

However, this filling may vary depending on who cooks it and where you find yourself so don’t be surprised if some spring rolls contain some kind of animal/ fish protein inside and visa versa.

The Outer layer

Spring Roll vs Egg Roll: What is the Delicious Difference? (4)

The initial big distinction between spring rolls and egg rolls? Their outer layer. Spring roll wraps are thin and small. On the other hand, egg roll wraps are large and thick because they’re made from a dough which closely resembles wonton; this makes them feel heavier as well as doughier than light springrolls. Oddly enough, while eggrolls are usually egg free (both fillings & wrappers), this isn’t always true.

Cooking Techniques

When you compare spring rolls with eggrolls there are many differences including how they’re cooked but one thing stands out among all others – deep frying which gives egg rolls their signature crispy look. Eggrolls may either be fresh served , baked or even fried using a wok depending on the recipe.

The Vietnamese Twist: Gỏi Cuốn Rolls

Spring Roll vs Egg Roll: What is the Delicious Difference? (5)

The Vietnamese style called gỏi cuốn or “salad rolls” is worth mentioning. They are different from fried spring rolls because they contain fresh components only. In other words, they are not cooked; just wrapped in soft rice paper.

Vietnamese spring rolls, known as gỏi cuốn, are not at all like their fried Chinese cousins. Instead of being filled with vegetables that have been cooked by frying them in oil until crispy like Chinese spring rolls, Vietnamese rolls have raw veggies inside. Some herbs such as mint leaves or coriander can be added too along with seafood like shrimps/prawns or meat fillings if desired so that they become light yet tasty snacks allowing natural flavors to come out better.

The use of rice paper is what makes gỏi cuốn special among all other types of spring roll wrappers around the world . This paper is made from a mixture consisting mainly of rice flour mixed with water . It is very thin and almost transparent thus making whatever fillings put into it appear lively and very enticing .

Even though this type isn’t the usually deep-fried kind , gỏi cuốn still offers an interesting twist. It shows how diverse this dish can get depending on where you are in Asia . This method involves rolling them fresh so that they remain unfried which results into a healthy snack option for anytime enjoyment..

Sauces and Condiments

Being a lover of Asian food, I find the real charm in spring rolls and egg rolls is their dipping sauces.These sauces, like sweet chili or tangy soy, are key in making meals great. They add a lot to the taste.

When we look at the facts, spring rolls and egg rolls come with many sauces. These can be sweet, spicy, or mix the two.Dipping them lets you enjoy food your own way. For a bold taste, go for soy sauce. For something fresh, try sweet chili or creamy peanut sauce.

No matter what you like, dipping sauces make eating spring and egg rolls better.They let you try new things, making each bite more interesting. Enjoy these appetizers with the sauces and find new flavors. Check out my full review on Dipping sauces for egg rolls here.

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About the author

Sammy recently graduated with a Degree in English literature, she works part time for Kapnos Dining Club, reviewing the latest products both food and drink in the Grocery stores, as well as helping Noel edit and photograph the latest recipes.

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Spring Roll vs Egg Roll: What is the Delicious Difference? (2024)

FAQs

Spring Roll vs Egg Roll: What is the Delicious Difference? ›

Thus, egg rolls can feel more heavy and almost dough-forward, whereas spring rolls are a little lighter, crispier, and flakier. Incidentally, despite their name, egg rolls do not typically contain eggs. The wrapper is egg free, and generally the ingredients inside don't contain egg either, though that can vary.

What is the difference between egg roll and spring roll? ›

Spring rolls are wrapped in thin flour wrappers or rice wrappers, while egg rolls are wrapped in a thicker, noticeably crispier wrapper that's been dipped in egg for richness.

What is a Chinese spring roll? ›

In Chinese cuisine, spring rolls are savoury rolls with cabbage and other vegetable fillings inside a thinly wrapped cylindrical pastry. They are usually eaten during the Spring Festival in mainland China, hence the name. Meat varieties, particularly pork, are also popular.

Why are spring rolls so tasty? ›

It is very good in taste and in nutrition by its nature. Its recipe has: meat (pork or beef) shrimp, raw vegetable, herbs, and wrapping sheet made of rice flour. Eating them, you have protein, starch, fiber, and vitamin in proportion. There are 2 types of Spring Rolls: Raw and Fried.

Are egg rolls Chinese or Japanese? ›

Foodtimeline.org says, “egg rolls (and their lighter counterpart, spring rolls) date back to ancient China. It is quite likely that egg-roll type foods were made and consumed in the USA by the first Chinese settlers in the mid 1800's.” Okay, now we are getting somewhere.

Are egg rolls healthy for you? ›

Worst: Egg Rolls

Sure, there are veggies in the filling. But egg rolls are anything but healthy. They're wrapped in dough and deep-fried. The result is an appetizer that packs more than 220 calories and 10 grams of fat in each one.

Is spring roll good for you? ›

Spring roll fits perfectly into a varied and balanced diet as fairly a complete food. The main benefits are: Rich in proteins. High fiber content.

Why do Americans call spring rolls egg rolls? ›

A 1979 article in The Washington Post speculated two possible theories: 1) that the word for "egg" in the Cantonese spoken Chinese language, (蛋 ceon), sounds similar to the word for "spring", (春 ceon), and 2) that Chinese chefs in the South relied on using actual eggs when trying to make the thin noodle skin from flour ...

Why do people eat spring rolls? ›

These golden cylindrical-shaped rolls symbolize wealth and represent gold bars. Spring rolls are a must-have dish during Spring Festivals in China because it is believed that it will attract wealth and prosperity.

What are egg roll wrappers made of? ›

Unlike spring rolls, egg rolls are made with thick, doughy wrappers made with wheat flour and eggs. They blister up and become pocketed with delightful, oil-filled bubbles when deep-fried, making them simultaneously crunchy and chewy.

What are the disadvantages of spring rolls? ›

Fat. Most vegetable spring rolls contain 3.5 to 4 grams of total fat and 0.5 to 1.0 grams of saturated fat. High intakes of fat and saturated fat can increase your risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.

Do Chinese restaurants make their own spring rolls? ›

They buy the skins and fillings, then they roll them in house. Having owned a Chinese restaurant before, I know at least 95% of the places do that.

Do you eat spring rolls hot or cold? ›

We always serve the rolls with a sweet chilli dipping sauce from the Asian store (Pantai is my favorite), but any sauce that makes you happy will work. They are best served hot right after being fried, but I like them enough that we stick them in the fridge and either warm them up or eat them cold.

What is an egg roll vs spring roll? ›

Origin: Egg rolls were created in the U.S. while spring rolls were invented in China. Wrapper: Egg rolls have a thicker skin and utilize a wonton or thick, yeast dough wrapper. Spring rolls have a more delicate, thin skin and use a spring roll wrapper.

Why are egg rolls so good? ›

Once you bite past the crispy wrapper and taste the savory flavor of mixed vegetables and meat, you are simply hooked on its flavorful goodness. Egg rolls have long been a quintessential part of Chinese restaurants.

What ingredients are in an eggroll? ›

This egg roll recipe calls for a ginger- and garlic-packed filling of pork, cabbage, and carrots. The filling is stuffed in a store-bought egg roll wrapper, which is sealed with a flour paste and fried to crispy perfection in hot peanut oil.

What is spring roll filling made of? ›

In the US, spring rolls are usually filled with cabbage, carrots, glass noodles, and pork, and wrapped in either a thin crisp wrapper (spring roll) or a thicker crunchy wrapper (egg roll).

What is a spring roll wrapper made of? ›

Spring roll wrappers are the traditional choice for Vietnamese and Thai spring rolls. Made from a paste of rice flour and water that is stamped into bamboo mats and dried, rice paper wrappers are translucent, brittle, and delicate—meaning they can be difficult to work with.

Do egg rolls have dairy? ›

Egg roles usually have pork in them. And if they have no meat usually the veggies are made with a meat based broth(really depends). But then again the shell may have been made with milk or eggs in the mix. So usually no.

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