Egg rolls are wrapped in thick wheat or rice wrappers and then deep-fried, while spring rolls are wrapped in thin flour or rice wrappers.
One thing Chinese cuisine is known for is its appetizers. The list is extensive, from dim sum to fish balls and from pào cài to rolls. Among the numerous varieties of rolls, spring and egg rolls are the top-selling ones with loads of customization options.
Table of Contents
What is an Egg Roll?
An egg roll is a popular Chinese delicacy consisting of thick wheat/rice flour spring roll wrappers coated with eggs.
The additional egg wash before deep-frying gives egg rolls a different texture, which you’ll notice in the first bite. After coating with eggs, the roll is deep-fried until it turns golden brown, making it crunchy and chewy, thanks to the tiny oil bubbles or blisters on the outside.
Egg rolls are mainly stuffed with shredded cabbage and chopped pork (or meat) and served warm with a dipping sauce, such as soy sauce, fish sauce, duck sauce, plum sauce, hoisin sauce, peanut sauce, hot sauce, or hot mustard.
Note that there are tons of regional variations in fillings that do exist.
Egg Roll Origins
Egg rolls are so widely consumed across the US that Chinese restaurants often serve them free additions to American Chinese Combination Platters, fried rice, and fortune cookies. Egg rolls were first invented in the 1930s by a chef in New York City who worked at a renowned Chinese restaurant.
Egg Roll Ingredients and Nutritional Facts
The egg roll derived its roots from American-Chinese cooking in the 20th century. Its key ingredients include:
- Wheat flour
- Egg
- Cabbage
- Meat
Egg roll provides you with some specific nutrients as well.
| Nutrients | Quantity |
| Calories | 196 cal. |
| Fat | 4.5g |
| Carbohydrates | 29g |
| Protein | 10g |
| Sugar | 6g |
| Calcium | 38mg |
What is a Spring Roll?
The spring roll is another popular roll type in most Asian countries.
Spring rolls consist of fresh spring vegetables like carrots, bamboo shoots, bell pepper, and cabbage stuffed in crisp pan-fried or baked pastry/spring roll sheets. You can make these paper-thin spring roll sheets with either wheat or rice flour.
The stuffing in meat-based spring rolls features chicken, ground pork, or shrimp with or without the veggies above.
One unique aspect of a spring roll is that it uses fewer ingredients, making it lighter than an egg roll. You can eat spring rolls without deep-frying them.
Fun Fact: Spring rolls are trendy during the Spring Festival in China.
Spring Roll: Ingredients And Nutritional Facts
The key ingredients of a spring roll include:
- Wheat or rice flour
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Bamboo shoots
- Bell pepper
| Nutrients | Quantity |
| Calories | 154 cal. |
| Fat | 8g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.3g |
| Protein | 16g |
| Sugar | 0.8g |
| Calcium | 40mg |
You also get iron (27%), sodium (452 mg), and potassium (412 mg) from your spring roll.
Spring Roll Vs. Egg Roll – The Key Differences
The following table summarizes the differences between egg and spring rolls.
| Spring Roll | vs. | Egg Roll |
| China | Origin | New York City |
| Cylindrical and smooth | Appearance | Cylindrical with air bubbles or blisters |
| Small Diameter | Size | Large Diameter |
| Fried, baked or steamed | Cooking Method | Deep-fried |
| Spring vegetables | Fillings | Meat or savory vegetables |
| Thin | Wrapper | Thick |
| Sweet and spicy sauces | Dipping Sauce | Dark sauce, plum sauce, hot sauce, hoisin sauce, peanut sauce, etc. |
Let’s now look at broad differences between egg rolls and spring rolls to help you choose which one to order.
Origin
Spring rolls originated in China. Meanwhile, egg rolls were invented in New York City. That’s why egg rolls are a sort of American-Chinese appetizer.
Appearance
Both the appetizers are cylindrical but have different wrapping textures. The outside of egg rolls has tiny oil blisters, making them crunchy and chewy. This is due to the egg wash before deep-frying.
On the other hand, spring rolls have smooth and translucent surfaces, making them flaky. Spring rolls don’t require an egg wash.
Size
In terms of size, an egg roll has a larger diameter because of its thicker wrapper and dense filling. On the other hand, a spring roll has a smaller diameter due to relatively more minor filling.
Method Of Cooking
Another main difference between the two is the method of cooking. While spring rolls can be fried and non-fried (i.e., baked), egg rolls are always deep-fried. It’s just to cook the egg’s layer.
Fillings
Spring rolls are packed with freshly cooked spring vegetables, while egg rolls are filled with cooked savory meat and vegetables.
Dipping Sauce
Rolls are incomplete without dipping sauces. Right? Spring rolls are served with sweet, savory, and spicy sauces. On the other hand, the egg rolls are filled with dark sauce, plum sauce, hot mustard, or sour sauce.