Spring Rolls

Yield: 20 to 24 rolls
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes
Ease of preparation: difficult

Hot Chinese Mustard Sauce

4 tablespoons Chinese dry mustard
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
4 tablespoons pickled ginger liquid
1 lemon, juiced
Pinch turmeric
1 tablespoon sugar
1 egg yolk*
1 tablespoon chili oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 cup peanut oil

Aromatics

One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
3 large cloves garlic
2 green onions
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 cup peanut oil
Pinch salt
Pinch black pepper
Pinch sugar

Filling

1 large onion, julienned
1 medium carrot, julienned
1/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, discard stems, julienned
1 large red bell pepper, julienned
1 large yellow bell pepper, julienned
1 small green cabbage, julienned
Peanut oil, for stir-frying
Salt and pepper
1/4 pound glass noodles, soaked in water for 10 minutes, chopped into smaller strands
1/4 cup mushroom soy sauce
2 tablespoons chili paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped
Cooked aromatic mixture

Spring Rolls:

Spring roll wrappers
1 egg with 1 tablespoon each water and cornstarch, beaten together for egg wash
Peanut oil, for deep-frying

Prepare the Hot Chinese Mustard Sauce. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients except the oil. Stir until well blended. Slowly whisk in the peanut oil until emulsified. Refrigerate, covered until needed.

Prepare the aromatic mixture. In a food processor, combine the ginger, garlic, green onions and red pepper flakes. Turn on machine, slowly add oil and process mixture to a puree. Sauté mixture for 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Set aside.

Prepare the filling. In a wok, stir-fry each vegetable separately in peanut oil. Season with salt and pepper. Drain and transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir in noodles, mushroom soy sauce, chili paste, sesame oil, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool completely. When cool, blend the filling mixture with the aromatic mixture. When ready to form the spring rolls, squeeze out all the excess liquid.

Make the spring rolls. Place about 1/2 cup of prepared filling per spring roll wrapper. Roll and seal edges with the egg wash. Repeat the process until all filling is used.

In a deep pot, with about 4 cups peanut oil heated to 350 degrees F, deep-fry in batches of 4 until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Trim off the ends and slice diagonally. Drizzle top with Hot Chinese Mustard Sauce. Serve immediately.

*RAW EGG WARNING

FINE LIVING suggests caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.