Cheese Lumpia is a fun twist on the traditional Filipino spring roll, filled with gooey, melted cheese in a crispy shell. They are incredibly easy to make, perfect for a quick afternoon snack or appetizer for your next party!
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Ingredients you'll need
Notes and substitutions
- Cheese: From my experience, it's best to use Filipino cheese brands like Eden or Quickmelt because they hold their shape well and don't leak much when fried. You can also try gooey and stretchy cheeses like Mozzarella, Cheddar, or Colby Jack. Just remember, these natural cheeses have a higher fat content, so they melt faster and might leak if they're not wrapped securely.
- Spring Roll or Lumpia Wrappers: You can use any size or cut them to fit. Just check for holes to prevent leaks when frying. The trick is to wrap the cheese well without making it too thick, so it crisps up evenly all around.
- Dipping Sauce: Any combination of mayonnaise, sriracha or ketchup, and sweet chili sauce will work. Just tweak the amounts to get the flavor just right for you.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Cut the cheese
Cut the cheese into thin sticks, making sure they fit the size of your wrappers. Aim to leave enough room at the edges of the wrapper for sealing, typically about 1-2 inches on each side.
Step 2: Cut the wrappers (optional)
I used 8-inch wrappers, which I then cut in half to create two triangles. You can adjust how you cut the wrappeds depending on the size and thickness of your wrappers.
Step 3: Wrap the lumpia
Lay a wrapper flat on a clean surface with the point facing away from you. Position the cheese on the lower part of the wrapper, near the straight edge.
In a small bowl, prepare an egg wash or a cornstarch-water mixture for sealing. Brush the edges with this mixture so everything sticks together when you roll it up.
Fold the straight edge closest to you over the cheese, then fold in the sides to secure the filling. Roll it up tightly.
You can also freeze the wrapped Cheese Lumpia and fry them later straight from the freezer, no thawing needed.
Step 4: Fry the lumpia
In a saucepan or small skillet, pour enough oil to completely sumbmerge the lumpia. Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C) over medium-high heat. Fry the lumpia in batches until they're golden brown and crispy, making sure not to crowd the pan.
Step 5: Drain excess oil
After frying, drain the Cheese Lumpia on a wire rack or paper towels to get rid of any excess oil.
Serve the Cheese Lumpia hot and crispy with your favorite dipping sauce. For a delicious combination, mix up some mayonnaise, sriracha or ketchup, and sweet chili sauce.
Recipe FAQs
Cheese Lumpia is a Filipino appetizer or snack, a variation on the classic lumpia or spring roll. Instead of the usual meat or veggies, these are stuffed with gooey cheese. They're crispy on the outside and melted on the inside, making them a real treat for snack time or as an appetizer.
Deep frying gives Cheese Lumpia its signature crispy texture. Just heat your oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry until golden brown. If you're looking for a lighter option, you can air-fry them at 400°F (200°C) for about 10-15 minutes until they're crispy and golden, flipping them halfway through. Air frying not only cuts down on grease but also makes cleanup easier.
More lumpia recipes
- Lumpiang Gulay: Lumpia filled with vegetables, served with a spiced vinegar dipping sauce. Lumpiang Labong is a variation with bamboo shoots.
- Lumpiang Shanghai: The most popular Filipino spring roll filled with a ground meat mixture.
- Lumpiang Sariwa: Fresh lumpia with a mix of sautéed vegetables, wrapped in a soft, crepe-like wrapper.
- Dynamite Lumpia: Fried lumpia filled with green chili peppers and a mixture of cream cheese and crab meat.
- Turon: Sliced saba bananas and jackfruit wrapped in lumpia wrappers and fried unntil crisp. Ube Turon is a variation with Ube Halaya.
- Turones de Mani: Fried lumpia with crushed peanuts and sugar.
Other appetizers and sides recipes you may like
Did you make this recipe? I would love to know! Your feedback helps me make better recipes. Please rate, review, or comment below. Questions about this recipe are welcome, too!
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📖 Recipe
Cheese Lumpia
Equipment
- Small skillet or saucepan
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cheese cut into thin sticks; see note
- 8 large lumpia or spring roll wrappers see note
- 1 beaten egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water; for sealing
- High-heat neutral oil (like avocado or canola oil) for frying
Instructions
- Cut the cheese into thin strips, making sure they fit the size of your wrappers. Leave about 1-2 inches on each side for sealing.
- Adjust how you cut the wrappers based on their size and thickness. I used 8-inch wrappers, which I cut in half to create two triangles.
- Lay a wrapper on a flat working surface. Place a triangular wrapper flat on a clean surface with the point facing away from you. Place cheese on the lower part of the wrapper, near the straight edge. Brush the edges with egg wash or cornstrach mixture to make sure everything sticks together when you roll it up. Fold the bottom edge over the cheese, then fold in the sides to create a neat roll.
- In a saucepan or small skillet, pour enough oil to completely sumbmerge the lumpia. Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C) over medium-high heat. Fry the lumpia in batches until they're golden brown and crispy, making sure not to crowd the pan.
- After frying, drain them on a wire rack or paper towels to get rid of any excess oil. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Cheese: It's best to use Filipino brands like Quickmelt or Eden cheese since they hold shape well and don't leak much when fried. You can also use other types of cheeses like Mozzarella, Colby Jack, Cheddar cheese; keep in mind that since they are natural cheeses with higher fat content, they tend to melt faster and potentially leak out if not wrapped securely.
- Spring Roll or Lumpia Wrappers: You can use any size or cut them to fit as needed. Just make sure there are no holes in the wrappers to avoid leaks when frying. The key is to wrap the cheese securely, but avoid making them too thick so they crisp up evenly throughout.
- Dipping Sauce: Any combination of mayonnaise, sriracha or ketchup, and sweet chili sauce will work. Feel free to adjust the proportions to suit your taste.
Lee says
Yummm
Nora Reyes says
Thanks, Lee!