If you’re a fan of soul food, you’ll love this easy soul rolls recipe. They’re filled with a blend of Southwestern-style ingredients, and they’re crispy on the outside and deliciously cheesy on the inside!
Leftover chicken, turnip greens, yams and cabbage work great in this filling. Try adding leftover ham or turkey as well for more flavor!
Chicken
In this Southwest chicken egg roll recipe, the chicken is minced up very finely. This is a great way to keep the filling delicate, but if you prefer, you can also use chicken tenders or ground chicken for a heftier texture.
The chicken filling is seasoned well, and the slaw and cabbage add to the flavor. The cheese is a nice touch too, and it’s a perfect pairing with the garlicky flavors in these soul rolls.
This is a great appetizer for when you have friends and family over! Just warm them up in the oven, or microwave for about 10 minutes or so. You can even reheat them in the air fryer, which is another popular method for preparing these egg rolls.
Once the egg rolls are fried, you can let them cool on paper towels, or serve them right away. This way, they will stay fresher for longer.
Before frying, heat enough oil to cover the bottom of a large pot or deep-fat fryer. This is essential if you want to get the best results from this recipe. Make sure to check the oil temperature using a thermometer.
While the oil is heating up, start to make the filling. You can start with one tablespoon of macaroni and cheese on a corner of the wrapper. Then, add a scoop of collard greens and a few sweet potatoes on top.
You can also add some rice to the mixture. This will make the egg rolls more tender and help them hold together better, but you may need to add a bit more water.
If you want to add some savory flavors, you can also sprinkle some gouda on top of the egg rolls. It’s a mild, creamy cheese that pairs really well with this dish, but you can also use mozzarella or white cheddar, if you prefer.
This is a delicious and satisfying meal that everyone will love. If you’re looking for a quick, easy meal that can be made with the ingredients that are always in your refrigerator or pantry, you can’t go wrong with these Southwest chicken egg rolls.
Vegetables
The traditional Chinese egg roll is filled with a mix of cabbage, mushrooms, and celery. This medley is then wrapped in a wonton wrapper and deep fried. While it can be enjoyed on its own, these rolls can also be served with a variety of sauces and other toppings.
To make these vegetable spring rolls, simply prep your veggies and seasonings and then roll up the filling. Aside from carrots, cabbage, and mushrooms, you can add bell peppers, snow peas, and bamboo shoots to the mix. You can even try using extra-firm tofu for added meatiness.
This is a great way to use up vegetables you might have a surplus of or that are in the refrigerator. If you are making these for a crowd, consider setting up a summer roll bar to let everyone choose what they want in their rolls.
In my kitchen, I like to serve these with a simple soy sauce and rice vinegar sauce. You can also try adding some hot chili oil or sriracha to the mixture to kick things up a notch.
Regardless of which flavors you like, these vegetable spring rolls are a tasty and healthy option for an appetizer or a light lunch or dinner. They are a great way to use up all those leftover summer vegetables and are a delicious treat for the whole family!
While the soul roll is a staple in many black eateries, home cooks have taken the concept to new heights with their own iterations. Some, like Rena and Deborah Shead of Two Sistah’s Catering in Aurora, Colorado, serve a collard green wonton that honors the African-American tradition by wrapping a collard green leaf before frying it.
Others, such as food truck Soul Fresh Spring Rolls in Durham, North Carolina, are grilling lumpia instead of frying them to give them a healthier vibe. Whatever the version, it all showcases a playful, soul-invoking culinary fusion at its best.
The key to making these rolls is to keep the fillings light and flavorful. To do this, a lot of the prep is done for you by using store-bought coleslaw mix and then using leftover veggies or other leftovers for the fillings. If you want to save time, you can also buy pre-cut vegetables from your local grocer. This way you don’t have to worry about chopping up the veggies yourself and it will save you from spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
Seasonings
The best part about this soul rolls recipe is that it requires a minimal amount of prep time and involves ingredients that are often found in your fridge. This is a great way to spruce up a weeknight dinner or impress your guests for brunch.
Besides the obvious main ingredient, there are plenty of side dishes to choose from including mac and cheese, collard greens with smoked turkey and sweet potatoes. It should be noted that while this isn’t a vegan or vegetarian friendly recipe, you can make your own version by swapping out the chicken for some deliciously fatty pork, beef or turkey.
To get the most out of this soul rolls recipe, you should preheat your oil to 375 degrees. Place about 2 or 3 egg roll wrappers into the hot oil and gently flip them over after a couple minutes for best results. The most important thing to remember is to be sure not to overcrowd the pan, as they will likely cook unevenly.
This was a fun recipe to make, and I even managed to get my husband involved! I was proud to come up with this trifecta of tasty treats, and it was a win for the entire family. I hope you’ll give it a try and let me know what you think!
Wrappers
Egg rolls are a staple in Chinese takeout, but they’re also a fun and easy appetizer to make at home. They are filled with a mixture of cabbage, green onions and chopped meat or shrimp, then fried in oil. They’re a great option for using leftover vegetables and are sure to be a hit with your family.
To start, preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees. Place the rolls in the basket of the air fryer and cook for 5-8 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. Then, flip them over and cook for another 3-5 minutes until they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Once cooked, remove the rolls from the air fryer and drain on paper towels to soak up excess oil. Serve with ketchup or mustard as a delicious and satisfying snack.
If you’re making the filling ahead of time, be sure to refrigerate it or freeze it until you’re ready to use it. Alternatively, you can partially make the filling ahead and just warm it up when you’re ready to assemble the rolls.
Prepare the egg roll wrappers according to package instructions. Typically, they are sold in the refrigerator section of a grocery store. You should get at least a dozen egg roll wrappers out of this recipe.
To assemble the roll, spread out one egg roll wrapper on a clean surface. Lay a tablespoon of Palmetto Cheese in the center of the wrapper. Top it with a heaping tablespoon of the cabbage mixture. Fold the near corner over the mixture, then fold in the left and right corners to roll up.
Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. To seal the roll, moisten the top corner with water and press firmly to seal it.
The filling is great as is, but you can add a variety of other vegetables, such as sweet potatoes or collard greens. You can also add shredded chicken or pork, or even shrimp. You can even use a mild cheese, such as Monterey Jack, to give the egg rolls more of a Tex Mex flavor.