Description
Crispy Southwest Egg Rolls deliver a flavor explosion of zesty southwestern spices and creamy textures. Packed with chicken, black beans, and peppers, these handheld delights bring restaurant-quality appetizers right to your kitchen for quick and delicious enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) corn, drained and rinsed
Cheese and Vegetable Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 0.5 cup finely diced red onion
- 0.5 cup finely diced red bell pepper
- 0.25 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 jalapeno minced (optional)
Seasoning and Wrapper Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 20 egg roll wrappers
- Vegetable oil for frying
Dipping Sauce:
- 0.5 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 0.5 teaspoon chili lime seasoning (Trader Joe’s Chile Lime Seasoning or Tajin)
Instructions
- Craft a zesty filling by combining shredded chicken, corn, black beans, cheddar, red onion, bell pepper, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, and spices in a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly blend ingredients to ensure even distribution of flavors.
- Prepare egg roll assembly station with diamond-oriented wrappers. Deposit filling near the center of each wrapper, approximately ⅓ cup. Fold bottom corner over filling, tuck sides inward, and roll tightly. Secure final edge by brushing with water to create a seal.
- Preheat oil to 365°F in a deep heavy pot. Carefully lower egg rolls into hot oil in small batches to prevent overcrowding. Fry for 3-4 minutes, rotating periodically, until achieving a rich golden-brown exterior. Transfer cooked rolls to a wire rack for excess oil drainage.
- Construct lime crema by whisking Mexican crema, lime juice, lime zest, and chili lime seasoning in a small bowl. Blend until smooth and well-integrated, creating a tangy, creamy dipping sauce that complements the crispy egg rolls.
Notes
- Customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of jalapeño or adding cayenne pepper for extra heat.
- Swap chicken with ground turkey, tofu, or black beans for a vegetarian or protein-varied version.
- Prevent soggy egg rolls by ensuring the filling isn’t too wet and draining excess moisture from ingredients like corn and beans.
- Create a make-ahead friendly dish by preparing the filling and assembling egg rolls in advance, then refrigerating or freezing until ready to fry.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 40mg