You might only be familiar with the plump cylinders offered to you by your favorite Chinese takeout place, but then you wouldn’t be exposed to the full spectrum of these Asian delicacies.
Much like dumplings, there is a worldwide tradition of preparing something similar to the iconic egg roll. You might only be familiar with the plump cylinders offered to you by your favorite Chinese takeout place, but then you wouldn’t be exposed to the full spectrum of these Asian delicacies. Amaze your tastebuds, and as this past year ends and new one dawns, commit yourself to explore a style of cuisine you’ve always wanted to master. After all, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step!
Cha Gio from Vietnam
We begin our culinary journey by traveling to Vietnam. If you enjoy going to pho restaurants then you are probably well-acquainted with these wonderful treats. Cha gio typically contains seafood, mushrooms, pork, and cellophane noodles. Keep an eye out for nuoc cham – a dipping sauce loaded with flavors such as fish sauce, lime juice, and even sugar.
Popia Thot from Thailand
From Vietnam, we go to Thailand. The kingdom of Pad Thai has more to offer than that classic dish. Popia thot greatly resemble cha gio and Cantonese-style spring rolls but include their own unique fillings, such as glass noodles, bean sprouts, and wood ear mushrooms. A sweet chili garlic sauce also pumps the flavor up a notch.
Spring Rolls from Hong Kong
Speaking of Cantonese-style spring rolls, let’s hop on over to HK. Here, Asian delicacies achieve another level of spectacular fireworks for your mouth. Pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, and cabbage all come together to make something greater than the sum of their parts. They are cut in half right before they land on your table filled with other dim sum goodies – and even though a sweet-and-sour sauce is the most common condiment, you’ll notice that native Hong Kongers adore dipping their spring rolls into Worcestershire sauce!
Eggrolls from the USA
And now we finish our latest tour of Asian delicacies a little closer to home. American-style eggrolls are prepared according to American tastes. For one thing, the wrappers are noticeably thicker, denser, and made of deep-fried dough that clearly breaks with traditions found all over Asia itself. Wildly delicious fillings such as Philly cheesesteak, “Southwest” style, and even Chicago-style peanut butter eggrolls are virtually unheard of back east – but it goes to show how many disparate international flavors have influenced common American notions of cuisine from around the globe. Plus, you’ll enjoy these beauties more when pairing them with duck sauce, plum sauce, sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, or hot mustard.
Get All Your Asian Groceries at Lotte Plaza Market
Lotte Plaza Market is your one-stop-shop for all of your Korean and Asian grocery needs. With more than 10 locations in Maryland and Virginia, this growing market is always expanding and opening new markets to serve our customers better. Since we opened in 1976, our goal has always been to provide the best customer service and groceries to our customers. For answers to all of your questions, please email us at LottePlaza.com.