Air-Fried Vietnamese Egg Rolls: A Healthy, Tasty Treat

Vietnamese egg rolls, or Chả Giò, are a delicious deep-fried dish commonly made with ground meat and sliced vegetables rolled in a pastry sheet. They can be served as an appetiser or a meal. Traditionally, they are deep-fried, but you can also cook them in an air fryer. Air-fried egg rolls are healthier, faster, and easier to make than their deep-fried counterparts. You can use frozen or homemade egg rolls, and the air fryer will give you a crispy, golden brown crunch without the greasy mess of deep-frying.

How to make Vietnamese egg rolls

Vietnamese egg rolls, or Chả giò, are a delicious dish that can be easily made at home and cooked in an air fryer. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make them:

Ingredients

For the filling, you can use ground meat, such as chicken or pork, and sliced vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, and jicama. You will also need pastry sheets, egg yolks, and various seasonings like oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Other common ingredients include garlic, ginger, celery, and green onions.

Preparation

Start by preparing the filling. In a pan, cook the garlic, ginger, and celery with some oil until fragrant. Then, add the vegetables and cook until soft. Next, add your choice of meat and season with salt. Cook until the meat is browned and fully cooked. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool slightly.

Assembling the Egg Rolls

Place an egg roll wrapper on a clean surface with one corner pointing towards you. Add a tablespoon of the filling to the lower part of the wrapper. Fold the bottom corner over the filling, then fold in the sides, and continue rolling away from you until it's completely sealed. Repeat this process until all your filling is used up.

Cooking in the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to between 350°F and 400°F. Lightly coat the egg rolls with vegetable, canola, or olive oil, or use a cooking spray. Place the egg rolls in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overcrowded. Cook for about 6 minutes, then flip the egg rolls and cook for an additional 6 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.

Serving

Vietnamese egg rolls can be served as an appetizer or a meal. They are often served with a dipping sauce, such as fish sauce, and can be accompanied by lettuce leaves, tomatoes, and cucumber slices.

Storage

You can make a large batch of egg rolls and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze them for later. To freeze, wrap the egg rolls individually and place them in an airtight container or bag. They can be reheated in the air fryer directly from frozen, but you may need to adjust the cooking time to prevent burning.

Air fryer temperature and timing

The temperature and timing for cooking Vietnamese egg rolls in an air fryer depend on whether they are fresh or frozen, and whether they are cooked with or without oil.

For fresh egg rolls, preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Then, cook for 6 minutes, flip the egg rolls, and cook for another 6 minutes.

For frozen egg rolls, some sources suggest preheating the air fryer to 400°F and cooking for 12 minutes in total, flipping the egg rolls after 6 minutes. Other sources suggest cooking at 390°F for 8 minutes, flipping the egg rolls halfway through. If you are cooking from frozen, it is recommended to spray the egg rolls with cooking spray or oil before placing them in the air fryer.

If you are cooking egg rolls without oil, it is recommended to cook at 400°F for 10 minutes.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size and model of the air fryer, as well as the size and number of egg rolls being cooked. It is always a good idea to keep an eye on the egg rolls while they are cooking to ensure they don't burn or overcook.

Filling options

Vietnamese egg rolls typically include ground pork, shrimp, and vegetables like jicama, shredded carrots, and mushrooms. The mushrooms used are usually wood ear mushrooms, which are sometimes labelled as black fungus. They add a chewy and crunchy texture to the filling. You can also add mung bean thread noodles or vermicelli noodles to the filling.

If you want to make chicken egg rolls, you can stir-fry garlic, ginger, and celery in oil. Then, add the coleslaw mix and cook until the cabbage is wilted. Finally, add the ground chicken, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sriracha.

For a vegetarian option, you can fill the egg rolls with just the vegetables and noodles. You can also add tofu for some protein.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can try more unique fillings like Philly cheesesteak, cheeseburger, buffalo chicken, or Southwestern flavours.

Wrapping and sealing the rolls

Next, you will need to add your filling. For Vietnamese egg rolls, this could be ground pork, shrimp, and vegetables. Place around one tablespoon of filling in the centre of the wrapper, towards the bottom where the corner is. Spread the filling out, leaving some space around the edges.

Now you are ready to start rolling. First, fold the corner of the wrapper over the filling, then repeat with the sides, and finally, roll the wrapper away from you, as if you were rolling a burrito. You should end up with a sealed roll, with the filling completely enclosed. To ensure the roll is secure, you can use a little water or beaten egg to seal the final edge.

If you are making the egg rolls ahead of time, they can be stored in the fridge for up to four days, or in the freezer for up to two months. If you are freezing the rolls, it is a good idea to wrap them individually in plastic or aluminium foil, and then place them all in an airtight container.

Storing and reheating egg rolls

Air fryers are a great way to reheat egg rolls, but they are also perfect for cooking them. If you have leftover egg rolls, the air fryer is a great option to get that crispy, crunchy texture back. It is best to preheat your air fryer for a few minutes before reheating the egg rolls. Set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and arrange the egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Reheat for 1-3 minutes, depending on the size of the egg rolls.

If you want to freeze your egg rolls, it is best to do so before cooking them. Freeze them assembled but uncooked, and then when you are ready to cook them, spray them with cooking spray and put them in the air fryer. The cook time will be around 10 minutes.

You can also store leftover cooked egg rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

The air fryer is a great alternative to the oven or microwave when reheating egg rolls. The oven takes a lot longer to preheat, and the microwave can make the egg rolls soggy. With an air fryer, you get crispy results on the outside and a perfectly heated center in just a few minutes.

Frequently asked questions