Fresh Lumpia Ubod is a favorite Filipino appetizer. It usually uses Ubod or Coconut Heart as an ingredient. Although traditionally served on special occasions, I thought this would be perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I also added a How to Make Fresh Lumpia Wrapper video to make it easier.
What is Fresh Lumpia
Fresh Lumpia Ubod resembles Spring Rolls, but its wrapper resembles a crepe. This appetizer got its name because part of its ingredient is Ubod. You can customize the filling as much as you want and make it vegan or vegetarian. I prefer a little bit of ground chicken in it, and if you are vegetarian, you can substitute chicken with tofu.
Fresh lumpia, also known as lumpiang sariwa, is a beloved Filipino dish that features a unique combination of crunchy vegetables, tender meat or seafood, and a savory, creamy garlic-peanut sauce, all wrapped in a soft, thin crepe-like wrapper. Unlike its fried counterpart, lumpiang shanghai, fresh lumpia is a light, healthy, and delicious option that bursts with fresh flavors. Fresh lumpia is always satisfying whether you’re looking for a nutritious lunch, a dinner treat, or a party appetizer.
In this guide, we’ll take you through preparing fresh lumpia at home, from assembling the filling to making the signature garlic-peanut sauce. Whether a beginner or an experienced cook, this step-by-step recipe will help you master this Filipino classic.
What is Fresh Lumpia Filling Made Made of?
To fill fresh lumpia, you’ll need the following ingredients: Note that the below is the most essential ingredient, and the image left out onion, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Vegetable oil
- Onion, thinly sliced
- Ground chicken
- Carrots, julienned
- Green beans, thinly sliced
- Cabbage, finely shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooked shrimp (optional), chopped
- Soy sauce
How to Make Lumpiang Sariwa Filing
- Heat cooking oil and saute the onion.
- Add and cook the ground chicken until it changes color. Add the beans and cook until soft. Add the carrots, ubod/coconut heart, and cabbage until they are wilted—season with salt and pepper.
- Make sure that the liquid is completely evaporated and the filling is dry. This is why I didn’t use liquid seasoning. Add the shrimp and turn off the heat. Let the filling cool and assemble.
What is a Fresh Lumpia Wrapper Made of
The fresh lumpia wrapper is soft, thin, and slightly chewy—similar to crepes. You can purchase pre-made wrappers from an Asian grocery store, offering a fresher, more authentic flavor. Here’s how you can prepare your own:
Ingredients for the Wrapper:
- All-purpose flour
- Water
- Eggs
- Salt
- Vegetable oil
How to Make Fresh Lumpia Wrapper From Scratch
I think the most challenging part of making Fresh Lumpia is the wrapper. Whenever I make the wrapper, I want it to look perfect, but I can’t make an ideal round Fresh Lumpia wrapper. I even threw a batch when making this because it was not a perfect circle. So, I changed my perspective that there is no way a circle Fresh Lumpia wrapper could be possible, and it made my cooking more accessible. The secret of making a Fresh Lumpia wrapper as lovely as possible is not using too much oil; you can brush the pan with minimal oil and use a non-stick pan.
- Make the batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, water, eggs, salt, and oil until smooth. The consistency should be like pancake batter—thin enough to spread easily but thick enough to hold together in the pan.
- Cook the wrappers: Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Brush the pan with oil.
- Pour a slight batter into the pan, swirling it evenly into a thin layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the edges lift, then flip and cook for another 20-30 seconds. Repeat with the remaining batter, placing parchment paper between each wrapper to prevent sticking. Let the wrappers cool.
How to Wrap Fresh Lumpia
Wrapping fresh lumpia must be a “Zen” moment, as you must be extra gentle handling the wrapper. It is also crucial to drain extra liquid and keep the filling cold so that excess liquid will not rip the wrapper. Here’s a photo of how to wrap the filling.
Fresh Lumpia Sauce Ingredients
Let’s talk about this fresh lumpia sauce. This sauce is made of a small amount of brown sugar, soy sauce, and cornstarch. Though simple, I love its taste balance—a bit sweet and salty. When the peanut is sprinkled on top of it, it just makes the taste come together.
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce
- Minced garlic
- Cornstarch
- Water
How to Make Fresh Lumpia Sauce
- Combine the ingredients: Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until smooth.
- Simmer: Let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes while stirring. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Once ready, remove from heat and set aside.
How to Store Fresh Lumpia?
Fresh lumpia is best enjoyed immediately, but if you have leftovers, here’s how to store them.
- Unassembled Wrappers and Filling: Store the filling and wrappers separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The filling will last 2 to 3 days, while the wrappers should be consumed within a day for optimal texture.
- Assembled Lumpia: If you need to store assembled lumpia, wrap them in parchment paper and place them in an airtight container. To enjoy them again, briefly reheat the wrappers before serving.
FRESH LUMPIA UBOD AND VIDEO ON HOW TO MAKE WRAPPER
Ingredients
FRESH LUMPIA FILLING
- 1/2 lb shredded ubod or Coconut Heart squeeze out excess juice
- 10 pieces string beans cut into 1/4 inch thickness
- 5 oz carrot about 6 inch length,shredded
- 1/2 lb ground chicken
- 1/4 lb shrimp cooked and then chopped into 1/4 inch thickness
- 1/4 lb cabbage shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
FRESH LUMPIA WRAPPER
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/4 cup cooking oil FOR BRUSHING PAN
FRESH LUMPIA SAUCE
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
GARNISH
- Lettuce leave washed,cleaned and thoroughly air dry ( or you can wipe water with paper towel)
- 1 cup of roasted peanut chopped.
Instructions
FRESH LUMPIA FILLING
- Heat cooking oil and cook ground chicken until it changes its color. Add the beans and cook until soft. Add the carrots and ubod/coconut heart, and cabbage until they are wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Make sure that the liquid is completely evaporated and the filling is dry. This is why I didn't use liquid seasoning. Add the shrimp and turn off heat. Let the filling cool and assemble.
FRESH LUMPIA WRAPPER
- In a medium sized bowl, mix all of the Fresh Lumpia wrapper ingredient and mix until there are no lumps. Sift mixture into a bowl and cook wrapper.
- TO cook wrapper, IT IS A MUST THAT YOU USE A NON STICK PAN.
- Heat non stick pan in a low heat and brush pan with oil. MAKE SURE THAT THE PAN has no excess oil in it. If it does, wipe the oil with paper towel. GOAL HERE IS THAT PAN HAS JUST very SMALL AMOUNT OF COOKING OIL. If you have excess oil, the wrapper will turn dark. SO I RECOMMEND WIPING PAN WITH PAPER TOWEL AFTER EACH OIL ADDITION.
- When oil is hot, pour in 1/3 cup of wrapper mixture and very gently distribute mixture throughout the pan surface. OR, YOU CAN JUST LET THE MIXTURE NATURALLY SPREAD IN THE PAN. Cook until mixture is dry and just shake pan to release the wrapper and slide wrapper in a flat plate. Do the same to the rest of the mixture and let wrapper cool.
FOR THE SAUCE
- in a small size saucepan mix the water and cornstarch until there are no lumps. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook in low heat until sticky cnsistency. Let the sauce cool down.
TO ASSEMBLE FRESH LUMPIA
- Put wrapper in a flat surface and put a lettuce leaf on the middle of the wrapper. Add 2- 3 tablespoons filling. Seal the Fresh Lumpia by folding the lower part of the wrapper covering the filling and fold the side to cover the filling. Do the same to the rest of the filling and place in a flat large plate.
- SERVE WITH SAUCE and sprinkle with chopped roasted peanut.
Video
Notes
Welcome!
Hi, my name is Shobee. Welcome to The Skinny Pot, where we cook Easy Recipes from the available ingredients from our pantry and fridge! We’re your go-to source for simple and delicious recipes that make the most of what you already have at home. Talk about the pantry challenge. Read more...
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