Anybody know about egg rolls?!
Answers: I used to get egg rolls that tasted like the cabbage was almost a little sour, like sour kraut but i'm sure it wasnt, and there was some kind of spice in it that was a little bit cinnimon-ey, but not cinnimon. They were so delicious and I order egg rolls from every chinese place I see, but nothing comes close. Anybody know what I mean, or where I can find a recipie for egg rolls like I described?
The best chinese egg rolls I have ever eaten were at a Chinese Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin in 1972. I have never had any as good since.
I came to work there for many months and learned the secret to their egg rolls. I spent as much time in the kitchen as I could and learned lots of their secrets. For egg rolls, I paid strict attention. 5 spice is one ingredient that is a must, but in small quantities because it can overpower. The other will be a surprise to you but it rounds out the flavor like nothing else. It's smooth peanut butter. Again, just a small amount. Mix it in with a small amount of Mirin so it will distribute among other ingredients for the filling.
Egg rolls are very easy to make. You can even use almost 100% cabbage with a small amount of grated carrot and minced red pepper for color. Meat is optional. But for all practical purposes, it is the 5 spice and peanut butter that are the mystery ingredients.
Good oil for frying is a must too. Peanut oil is the only oil for deep frying that they or I ever use. It makes a good donut too. But if you ever fry chicken or fish in it, that pretty much is the end of it's delicate flavor. Use separate oils for meats/fish and another for pastries, which I would consider egg rolls to be, because of their delicate flavor.
Chinese 5 spice. That is the seasoning you are missing.
http://thaifood.about.com/od/thaisnacks/...
they some times add meat some times put lil cinamon sugar just like the rice its usually different every where you go
the sprice that you tasted is probably Piment, its one of the components of chinese 5 spice. its a cinnamon-tasting spice, that can be quite sharp. the chinese name is Long-Ton
as for the sour vegetable, my guess is taugé that was put to vinegar, but your guess is as good as mine.
i'm not sure, but i love my eggrolls dipped in either duck sauce or soy sauce yum!!