what is Spring Roll ?

Spring rolls is an umbrella term used in Western culture to describe disparate varieties of filled, rolled appetizers similar to the Chinese chūn juǎn (春卷), from which the term was derived. East and Southeast Asian cuisine foods referred to by the term have different names depending on their country of origin, as well as the type of wrapper, fillings, and cooking techniques used.

They are commonly eaten in certain Asian countries, most notably China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines.

In Taiwan, spring rolls also come in a number of varieties, such as:

Fried vs. non-fried

Fried spring rolls are generally smaller and crisper. They can be sweet or savory; the latter are typically prepared with vegetables. This version is fully wrapped before being pan fried ordeep fried.

Non-fried spring rolls are typically bigger and more savory. In contrast, non-fried spring rolls typically fill the wrapping with pre-cooked ingredients. The most commonly eaten style of non-fried Taiwanese spring rolls is called rùn bǐng (润饼) in Mandarin (or po̍h-piá (薄餅) in Taiwanese. Traditionally, non-fried spring rolls are a festive food eaten during the Cold Food Day festival and the Tomb Sweeping Day festival in spring to remember and pay respect to ancestors. The Hakka population sometimes also eat spring rolls on the 3rd day of the 3rd month of the lunar calendar.The wrappings can be a flour based mix or batter.

Northern vs. southern Taiwan

In northern Taiwan, the ingredients are generally flavored with herbs, stir-fried and sometimes topped with a finely ground peanut powder before being wrapped. The northern-Taiwanese style spring roll is usually lightly topped with or accompanied by a soy sauce.

In southern Taiwan, the ingredients are generally boiled or blanched in plain water. Sometimes caster or superfine sugar is added along with the peanut powder before all the ingredients are wrapped.

Hong Kong

The fried version with minced pork is called chả giò (southern Vietnam), nem, or Nem rán (northern Vietnam); it has been mistakenly referred to as an egg roll or spring roll on some restaurant menus. Central Vietnam has its own version of a "fried roll" called "Ram." "Ram" is always made from whole shell-on shrimp or chopped deshelved shrimps and some green onion, wrapped in rice paper and deep fried. "Ram", like most food items from central Vietnam, are not widely available in Vietnamese restaurant overseas. The collective Vietnamese "egg rolls" are different from the Chinese egg roll in that it is typically smaller and contains ground or chopped protein such as pork, crab, shrimp (but rarely) chicken, taro, glass noodle, wood-ear mushrooms and shredded carrots. It would be more correctly referred to as a "Vietnamese fried Roll". It is sometimes called eggrolls even though no eggs are used in the making. Rice papers are always used as the wrappers in Vietnam. Vietnamese restaurants in western countries tend to use the Chinese eggroll wrappers due to the inavailability of rice papers initially. However, some restaurants have slowly reverted back to using rice papers now that they are widely available.

Spring roll is usually available as a dim sum dish.

Vietnam

In some restaurants, gỏi cuốn, a Vietnamese salad roll, is translated as "spring roll", while some others use the term "summer roll". Ingredients include slivers of boiled pork, shrimp, rarely chicken or tofu, fresh herbs, lettuce, sometimes fresh garlic chives, rice vermicelli, all wrapped in moistened rice paper, served at room temperature with fermented soybean sauce (tương xào) or hoisin sauce. The salad roll is easily distinguished from a "minced pork roll" by the fact that it is not fried, the ingredients used are different. Spring roll refer to the freshness of the spring season with all the fresh ingredients, therefore frying takes away that feeling.

To create a dipping sauce nước mắm pha (nước chấm) renowned in central Vietnam, add fish sauce, lime, garlic, sugar, small red and green peppers and water. Mince the garlic and peppers. Add the sugar into a bowl of hot water to help dissolve it quickly. Add fish sauce, lime, and the minced garlic and peppers into the sugar water.

It can also be found at some Grocery Retail stores in the U.S., such as Trader Joe's.

Australia

In Australia, a diverse range of authentic Asian cuisine is available due to immigration, multiculturalism, and the abundant fresh local produce. Both Dim Sims and chiko rolls were inspired by spring rolls.

Australians also have their own version of spring roll, made by Marathon that can be found in just about any takeaway fish and chip shop in Australia, and rather than using pastry with a rolling technique they have a more doughy texture.

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Spring roll are served everyday in "The Spoon" (a famous buffet restaurant) as it's the signature dish of the restaurant.