Uncle Rey's Special Lumpia Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
• Salt and pepper
• 2 (16 ounce) packages frozen French-cut green beans
• 1 pound bean sprouts
• 2 (16 ounce) packages lumpia wrappers
• 1 egg, beaten
• vegetable oil for frying
• Dipping Sauce:
• ¾ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Step 1

Place the chicken in a small pot, cover it with water, and toss in the carrots, celery, and onion. Bring everything to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer gently for about an hour and 15 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and falling off the bone. Take the chicken out and let it cool enough to handle, then shred the meat off the bones. Put the bones and skin back into the pot, turn the heat back up, and boil the liquid until it’s reduced by half—this should take around 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 2

Once the broth has thickened, strain out the bones and veggies, then return the liquid to the pot. Season it with salt and pepper to taste. Add the beans and bean sprouts, letting them simmer until the beans are soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in the shredded chicken, then remove the pot from the heat. Strain the chicken and vegetable mixture, pressing out any excess liquid, and let it cool completely before you start wrapping the lumpia—at least 15 minutes.

Step 3

To assemble, lay one wrapper flat and spoon about 1/4 cup of the filling onto the lower part. Fold the bottom over the filling, then roll it up once. Fold in the sides to seal everything in, then keep rolling until you reach the top of the wrapper. Brush the edge with beaten egg to seal the roll. Keep going until all the filling is used.

Step 4

Heat about 1 1/2 inches of vegetable or canola oil in a medium, deep pan to 350°F. Fry the lumpia in batches, turning them occasionally until they’re golden and crispy. Drain them on paper towels to soak up any extra oil.

Step 5

For the dipping sauce, just mix together soy sauce, vinegar, and minced garlic. Serve the lumpia warm with this tangy sauce on the side. Enjoy!