Egg rolls are a traditional carryout comfort food layering tasty, flavorful filling in a yummy egg wrapper that is usually deep-fried until crispy. But if you need a healthier, just-as-good alternative, egg roll in a bowl is the way to go. So here you have a deconstructed egg roll, packed with all the flavors of your favorite spicy (or sweet) Chinese filling but low-carb and easy-to-make and you can customize to your new food habits. This guide will describe how to make the best egg roll in a bowl, including its ingredients, tips, and method and how to customize this dish to suit your taste.
What is Egg Roll in a Bowl?
This egg roll in a bowl, which is an easier, healthier spin on the traditional egg roll. No crispy, fried shell to encase the filling and turn it into a potsticker here; instead all the ingredients are stir-fried in a skillet and served up in a bowl instead. It is usually made from ground meat (pork, chicken, or beef), shredded cabbage, carrots, and seasonings reminiscent of an egg roll mix. Super easy to make, hearty and ideal for anyone who craves the flavour of an egg roll without all of the carbs or the frying.
Egg roll in a bowl essentially consists of a protein (savory or sweet), a crunchy vegetable, and a dressing or sauce to provide flavor that cannot be beat. What I love about this recipe is its simplicity and versatility as you can easily change the ingredients to your taste.
Ingredients for Egg Roll in a Bowl
These ingredients are not only bold but super easy to swap based on what you have in your pantry or what works with your palette. Here are the simple egg roll in a bowl ingredients:
For the Base:
- 1 pound of ground pork — or ground chicken, turkey, beef or plant-based ground meat
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups shredded cabbage: green cabbage or a combo of cabbage and napa cabbage also nice
- 1 large carrot, shredded
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (or gluten-free tamari)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1tsp of ginger ground (or fresh grated ginger if you want to take it up a notch)
- spicy (optional; 2 tbsp sriracha or hot sauce)
- Chopped for garnish: 2 green onions
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional to sprinkle over)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Add-ins (for taste and texture):
- 1/2 cup mushrooms (shiitake, button or any you like, sliced)
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (adds sweetness and depth)
- 1 egg (this is for you to mix into the skillet, for some extra protein and a more traditional egg roll vibe)
Method: How to Make Egg Roll in a Bowl
With all of your ingredients gather around, it is time to go through the method for preparing this beautifully hearty dish.
Step 1: Brown the Meat
1. Heat a Skillet: Over medium-high heat, preheat a large skillet or wok on the stove. Add the sesame oil and heat just until shimmering.
2. Cook the Ground Meat: Add the ground pork (or whatever protein you are using) to the skillet and use a spatula or wooden spoon to break it up as it cooks, browning it all over. You can pour off any excess fat if there is any.
3. When the meat has browned: adding chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook until the onion is soft and translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Step 2: Add the Vegetables
4.While the meat is cooking: shred the cabbage and carrot. You can use a mandolin slicer, food processor, or just go the old-fashioned route and cut them by hand with a sharp knife into matchsticks.
5.Mix in the Cabbage and Carrot: After the onion and garlic are softened, stir in the cabbage and carrot. Stir occasionally for another 3-5 minutes, until the cabbage starts to soften and lose some crunch, but still has a bit crunch left in it.
6.Flavor the Mix: Drizzle some soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and sriracha (if using) over the skillet. Toss until the vegetables and meat (or seafood) is coated with the seasoning. The soy sauce gives saltiness, the rice vinegar imparts sourness, and the ginger lends warmth to the dish.
Step 3: Optional Egg (for extra richness)
7.Egg (Optional): If you want a more classic egg roll experience, you can add an egg to the batter. Move the pork and veggies to one side of the skillet, crack the egg into the other side and scramble it. Whenever the egg is expanded and intermixed, include the mix.
Step 4: Final Touches and Garnish
8.Taste and Adjust Seasoning: Sample the dish and add more seasonings, if needed. Additional soy sauce for more salty goodness, rice vinegar for more acidity, or sriracha for more heat. Want a little sweetness—add a dash of hoisin sauce.
9.Garnish: Once everything was cooked nicely and well combined, turn off the heat of your skillet. To serve, mound the egg roll in a bowl and top with green onions, sesame seeds, or a little extra sesame oil (or all of the above).
10.Now your egg roll in a bowl is ready to serve: Again, this dish can be a main by itself or with steamed rice (if your not avoiding carbs). The dish is protein and veggie packed to be a one dish meal bursting with umami flavors.
Tips for Customizing Your Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Ground Meat: Egg rolls are traditionally made with ground pork, but taste, try other ground meats, such as chicken, turkey, or beef. To make this a vegetarian or vegan dish substitute plant-based ground meat (ie soy or tempeh) or leave the protein out entirely and add more vegetables.
- Veggies: Feel free to add any veggies you like to your egg roll in a bowl. You can add mushrooms, bell peppers, or even zucchini to boot! Just make sure to cut it into thin pieces so that it cooks quickly.
- Kick it Up a Notch: For so much heat you can just start sweating, use more sriracha, or substitute in chili paste, red pepper flakes, or even fresh chopped chilies if you really wanna go there.
- Low-Carb or Keto: No Optional Wrappers — Another reason why this is such a great dish is that this is naturally low in carbs with no wrappers to speak of, so this also works great for a keto or low-carb diet as well. For the ultimate low-carb meal, you can even have it with cauliflower rice.
- EXTRA TIP: Use a Different Oil – I love the taste of sesame oil for this recipe, but you can use other oils if you don’t have sesame oil on hand, such as avocado oil or olive oil.
Why Egg Roll in a Bowl is a Great Option
Egg roll in a bowl is simple and filling. You lose the deep-fried shell, but keep all the flavor–so you cut calories and fats while still getting all the savory goodness of an egg roll. You can make the dish gluten-free simply by swapping the soy sauce for tamari, and with a few simple alterations, it can be made dairy-free as well.
The protein, veggies, and seasonings work together to make egg roll in a bowl a balanced meal that gives you nutrients and satiety. Its a great go-to whether you want something healthier, meal prepping for the week, or looking for something yummy.
Conclusion
This egg roll in a bowl is a delicious quick & healthy option to egg rolls. Made with the whole spices you mix in with the ground meat, crunchy vegetables, and a rich flavor that handles the best of your bundle paper, it is a hare meal for recovered not arranged. This recipe is so easy to customize & make yours, which makes this a great option for meal prep or a fast weeknight dinner! It’s a straightforward process and the dish can be adaptable with different protein options, vegetables, and seasonings to make this meal your own.
The next time that you wantegg roll in a bowl, try it! Guaranteed to become an easy-to-make, go-to family favorite. Enjoy!
