Lumpiang Toge (Bean Sprout Spring Roll) is one of the comfort foods I grew up with. Street vendors served them out of baskets of fried food, along with a bottle of spiced vinegar you can use to douse the lumpia to your heart’s content.

Filling: firm tofu, snap peas, mung bean sprouts sauteed in garlic and onion.

I’ve learned to make lumpia using mung bean sprouts and when I can find them, ones simply labeled “crunchy sprouts.” I’m not really sure what beans they originate from, but I sure like the added crunch and coarse texture they give the roll.

The filling is made by sauteing garlic and onions, browning some tofu and adding the sprouts as well as any other vegetables you might want to add (julienned string beans, snap peas, carrots). Stirfry until almost cooked then season with salt, pepper, and if available to you, a drizzle of fish sauce. Drain the vegetables and wrap in spring roll wrapper, then fry until brown. Incidentally, spring rolls are an ingenious way of using leftover vegetable stirfry, as long as the ingredients are chopped well and are dry.

I like serving mine with spiced vinegar, crushed garlic, and soy sauce. Just like home.

Mangia!

(Photos by Kanako Shimura)