Colorful Filipino Veggie Rolls with Annatto-infused Sauce

Fresh Vegetable Lumpia 🌯

Description: This Fresh Vegetable Lumpia recipe is a delightful fusion of flavors, showcasing the vibrant and diverse culinary heritage of Filipino cuisine. Bursting with fresh vegetables, succulent shrimp, and savory pork, these lumpia are wrapped in delicate lumpia skins and served with a delectable sauce, making them perfect for any occasion, from casual gatherings to festive feasts.

Cook Time: 30 minutes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Lumpia Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon annatto seeds
• 2 teaspoons ground annatto seed
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 cup carrot, julienned
• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup pork, diced
• 1/2 cup shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 1/2 cups tofu, cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 20 lumpia skins
• 1 potato, diced
• 3 cups cabbage, shredded
• 2 cups string beans, cut into pieces
• 1 cup garbanzo beans
• 1/2 cup fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Lettuce leaves, for serving

Lumpia Sauce Instructions:

1. Prepare Lumpia Sauce: Begin by heating vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add annatto seeds and allow them to infuse the oil for a few minutes, imparting a rich color and flavor.

2. Infuse with Flavor: Saute minced garlic in the annatto-infused oil until golden brown, releasing its aromatic essence.

3. Enhance with Aromatics: Stir in finely chopped onions, diced pork, and peeled shrimp, allowing them to cook until the pork is tender and the shrimp turn pink and opaque.

4. Add Vegetables: Pour in water or soup stock, ensuring that all ingredients are submerged. Cover the pan and allow the mixture to simmer over moderate heat until the flavors meld beautifully.

5. Incorporate Potatoes: Introduce diced potatoes and other assorted vegetables to the simmering pot, allowing them to cook until tender yet crisp, infusing the dish with their natural sweetness and texture.

6. Infuse with Annatto Oil: Strain the annatto seeds from the oil, adding the vibrant oil to the vegetable mixture, enriching it with its earthy flavor and russet hue.

7. Season to Perfection: Season the vegetable medley with fish sauce, adjusting the seasoning to taste, and allowing the flavors to harmonize into a symphony of taste sensations.

8. Achieve Balance: Sprinkle in a dash of soy sauce and sugar, balancing the flavors with a hint of saltiness and sweetness, elevating the dish to culinary perfection.

9. Thicken and Bind: In a separate bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water to create a slurry, ensuring a smooth and velvety texture when incorporated into the sauce.

10. Bind and Thicken: Gradually add the cornstarch slurry to the simmering mixture, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming, until the sauce reaches the desired consistency, glossy and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

11. Serve with Finesse: Once the sauce has reached its full potential, remove it from the heat and set it aside, ready to accompany the freshly made lumpia with its tantalizing flavors and vibrant colors.

Fresh Lumpia Instructions:

1. Prepare Lumpia Wrappers: Begin by soaking annatto seeds in vegetable oil, infusing it with their distinctive color and flavor, imparting a subtle richness to the lumpia wrappers.

2. Sauté Aromatics: In a separate pan, sauté minced garlic in the annatto-infused oil until it turns golden brown, releasing its irresistible aroma and enhancing the overall flavor profile of the dish.

3. Introduce Proteins: Add finely chopped onions, diced pork, and peeled shrimp to the pan, allowing them to cook until the pork is tender and the shrimp are cooked through, infusing the filling with their savory essence.

4. Add Liquids: Pour in water or soup stock, ensuring that all ingredients are submerged, and cover the pan, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify as they simmer gently.

5. Incorporate Vegetables: Add diced potatoes and a colorful assortment of vegetables to the pan, including shredded cabbage, chopped string beans, and tender garbanzo beans, infusing the filling with their vibrant hues and fresh flavors.

6. Infuse with Annatto Oil: Strain the annatto seeds from the oil, adding the infused oil to the vegetable mixture, enriching it with its distinctive earthy flavor and russet color.

7. Season to Taste: Season the vegetable filling with fish sauce, adjusting the seasoning as needed to achieve the perfect balance of flavors, ensuring a dish that is both satisfying and harmonious.

8. Cook to Perfection: Allow the vegetable mixture to cook until all the ingredients are tender yet still crisp, taking care not to overcook them and preserving their natural textures and flavors.

9. Cool and Drain: Once cooked, allow the vegetable filling to cool slightly before draining it in a colander, removing any excess moisture and ensuring that the lumpia wrappers remain crisp and delicious.

10. Assemble with Care: To assemble the lumpia, place a lettuce leaf on top of each lumpia wrapper, adding a refreshing crunch and vibrant green color to the dish.

11. Fill and Roll: Spoon the vegetable filling onto each wrapper, then carefully roll them up, tucking in the sides to encase the filling securely, with the lettuce leaves peeking out at the ends, adding a decorative flourish to the presentation.

12. Serve with Style: Once assembled, serve the fresh lumpia with the prepared sauce on the side, allowing guests to drizzle it over their lumpia, enhancing each bite with its irresistible flavor and visual appeal.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: 186.9
• Fat Content: 2g
• Saturated Fat Content: 0.5g
• Cholesterol Content: 29.9mg
• Sodium Content: 940.6mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 31.5g
• Fiber Content: 2.2g
• Sugar Content: 6.1g
• Protein Content: 10.6g

Enjoy your culinary adventure with these Fresh Vegetable Lumpia, a delightful dish that celebrates the vibrant flavors of Filipino cuisine! 🎉