Cha Giò - Vietnamese Crispy Spring Rolls

Cha giò are the rolls that always disappear first from the table. Unlike fresh summer rolls, these are deep-fried, so the rice paper bubbles up and becomes golden and glass-like crispy. Inside, there's a juicy filling of minced pork, glass noodles, finely grated vegetables, and wood ear mushrooms. The Vietnamese trick is to eat them wrapped in a lettuce leaf with a generous handful of fresh herbs and dip them in nuoc cham - this gives you crispy, fresh, and tangy all in one bite.

• Cuisine: Vietnamese
• Prep time: 45-60 minutes
• Servings: 4 people
• Difficulty: Medium

Instructions

1. Soak glass noodles and dried wood ear mushrooms in hot water until soft. Snip the noodles into short pieces and finely chop the mushrooms.
2. Mix minced pork with glass noodles, mushrooms, finely grated carrot, chopped shallots, an egg, fish sauce, and a pinch of pepper to form a cohesive filling.
3. Lightly moisten a sheet of rice paper with water until it's pliable but not wet.
4. Place a tablespoon of filling at the bottom, fold in the sides, and roll into a tight, compact roll. Do not overfill.
5. Let the rolled rolls rest for a few minutes on a clean kitchen towel so the surface dries slightly - this helps them become crispy.
6. Heat the oil to 160-170 degrees Celsius in a high-sided pot.
7. Deep-fry the rolls a few at a time until they are golden and crispy all around, turning them occasionally.
8. Drain them on absorbent paper and serve immediately in lettuce leaves with fresh herbs and a bowl of nuoc cham.

Tips

• Do not roll too tightly or overfill - the filling expands slightly, and the roll can burst in the oil.
• Maintain the oil temperature between 160 and 170 degrees Celsius. Oil that is too hot will burn the surface before the filling is cooked through; oil that is too cold will make them greasy.
• You can roll them in advance and freeze them raw - then deep-fry them directly from frozen when guests arrive.
• A small splash of vinegar in the deep-frying oil makes for extra crispy and glass-clear rolls that stay crispy longer.