Healthy Lumpia with Chili Crisp

Submitted by Kim (Simi Valley, CA)

This healthy lumpia with chili crisp is crispy, savory, lightly spicy, and packed with a lean protein and vegetable filling. Inspired by Filipino lumpia, this version uses ground chicken or turkey, cabbage, carrots, garlic, ginger, and green onion, then gets served with a bold chili crisp dipping sauce. It keeps the crunchy spring roll magic, but makes it lighter with air fryer, oven, or pan-crisp options.

Crispy homemade lumpia with chili crisp dipping sauce, fresh herbs, green onion, and sesame seeds.

Why You’ll Love This Lumpia

Lumpia is already snack royalty, and chili crisp gives it a spicy little crown. The filling is savory and fresh, the wrapper gets golden and crisp, and the dipping sauce brings heat, crunch, and deep flavor. This recipe works as an appetizer, party snack, meal prep freezer stash, or a lighter dinner with cucumber salad, rice, or steamed vegetables.

Ingredients

For 20 to 24 lumpia:

• 20 to 24 lumpia wrappers or spring roll wrappers

• 1 pound lean ground chicken or ground turkey

• 1 ½ cups finely shredded cabbage

• ½ cup shredded carrots

• 3 green onions, thinly sliced

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

• 1 tablespoon coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce

• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

• 1 teaspoon chili crisp

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• 1 egg white or water, for sealing wrappers

• Avocado oil spray or olive oil spray, for cooking

• Sesame seeds, for topping

• Fresh cilantro or green onion, for serving

For the chili crisp dipping sauce:

• 1 tablespoon chili crisp

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

• 1 tablespoon coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce

• 1 teaspoon lime juice

• 1 teaspoon warm water

• ½ teaspoon grated ginger, optional

• Green onion, for topping

Optional add-ins:

• Finely chopped mushrooms

• Water chestnuts

• Napa cabbage

• Shredded zucchini

• Bok choy

• Shrimp

• Tofu

• Cilantro

• Minced jalapeño

• Crushed peanuts

How to Make Healthy Lumpia with Chili Crisp

1. Make the filling.
   In a bowl, mix ground chicken or turkey, cabbage, carrots, green onion, garlic, ginger, coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili crisp, and black pepper.

2. Fill the wrappers.
   Place a wrapper on a clean surface. Add a small line of filling near one corner or edge, depending on the wrapper shape. Keep the filling tight and narrow so the lumpia rolls evenly.

3. Roll the lumpia.
   Fold in the sides, roll tightly, and seal the edge with egg white or water. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.

4. Cook until crispy.
   For the air fryer, spray the lumpia lightly with oil and cook at 390°F for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway. For the oven, bake at 425°F for 14 to 18 minutes, flipping once. For a skillet, pan-crisp with a thin layer of oil until golden on all sides.

5. Make the dipping sauce.
   Stir together chili crisp, rice vinegar, coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce, lime juice, warm water, ginger if using, and green onion.

6. Finish and serve.
   Serve the hot crispy lumpia with chili crisp dipping sauce, sesame seeds, herbs, and extra lime if you want it brighter.

Healthy Upgrade Ideas

For more protein, use lean ground chicken, turkey, shrimp, tofu, or a chicken-and-shrimp mix. For more vegetables, add cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, bok choy, or water chestnuts. For a lighter meal, serve the lumpia with cucumber salad, steamed broccoli, cabbage slaw, or cauliflower rice instead of a heavier side.

Tips for the Best Lumpia with Chili Crisp

Keep the filling finely chopped so the lumpia rolls tightly and cooks evenly. Do not overfill the wrappers or they can burst while cooking. Add only a little chili crisp inside the filling so the wrappers do not get oily, then use more chili crisp in the dipping sauce for crunch and heat. For the crispiest texture, air fry or bake the lumpia in a single layer with space between each roll.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lumpia with chili crisp healthy?

Yes, it can be. Use lean protein, plenty of vegetables, and air fry or bake the lumpia instead of deep frying. A chili crisp made with avocado oil and no added sugar, salt, soy or MSG is a great fit for a cleaner dipping sauce.

What is lumpia?

Lumpia is a Filipino-style spring roll usually filled with savory ingredients like meat, vegetables, garlic, and seasonings, then wrapped and cooked until crisp.

Should I put chili crisp inside lumpia or in the sauce?

Use a small amount inside the filling for flavor, but keep most of the chili crisp in the dipping sauce. That keeps the wrappers crisp and gives every bite more texture.

Can I make lumpia in the air fryer?

Yes. Spray the lumpia lightly with oil and air fry at 390°F for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.

Can I freeze lumpia?

Yes. Roll the lumpia, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. Cook from frozen and add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes. Use crumbled tofu, mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, green onion, garlic, ginger, and chili crisp. Press the tofu first so the filling does not get watery.

Recipe Notes

For the best flavor combo, use lean chicken or turkey, cabbage, carrots, garlic, ginger, green onion, crispy wrappers, and chili crisp dipping sauce. The lumpia brings the crunch, the filling keeps it savory and light, and the chili crisp gives the whole plate a spicy little snap.