Stir-Fry

Jade Chicken Spring Rolls with Lemongrass,Scallions, Ginger and Coconut

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April 25, 2012
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Jade Chicken Spring Rolls with Lemongrass,Scallions, Ginger and Coconut
  • Makes 7-8 spring rolls
Author Notes

The chicken is cooked with a piquant aromatic lemongrass paste and coconut milk, which makes for a very moist filling, complemented by the freshness of the slivered scallion greens and the sweet crunch of the coconut and taro.There's so much flavor, you won't even be thinking about a dipping sauce! —LeBec Fin

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Lemongrass Scallion Paste 3/4 cup*
  • Puree lemongrass through salt:
  • 1 large stalk lemongrass, edible part, sliced thinly
  • 1 piece Fresh Ginger 2x1" piece, peeled and minced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 3 scallions or shallots, sliced thin
  • 1 teaspoon dried Red Chili flakes(no seeds)or 1 seeded dry red chile, chopped
  • 3 medium Jalapeno Peppers, seeded chopped
  • 3 Cilantro Stems(leaves and stems), 8“long, washed, dried and chopped
  • ½ -1 tablespoons kosher Salt
  • 1/8 cup Canola Oil
  • Spring Roll Filling Preparation and Assembly
  • 1/2 cup sweetened coconut, carefully dry pan-roasted to medium brown
  • 2-3 scallion green tops, sliced lengthwise into quarters, 4" long
  • 1-2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 7 ounces chicken breast, boneless, skinless, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup Lemongrass scallion paste from above
  • 1/8 cup thick coconut milk (Chaukoh is excellent - see photo)
  • 1 tablespoon bacon or duck fat
  • 7 ounces optional- purple taro, peeled and cut into 1/16" x 3" long julienne
  • 2-3 tablespoons water
  • 4 scallion tops, green stems halved and cut into 6" lengths, steamed a few minutes til limp
  • 7-8 spring roll wrappers, 8" square
  • canola oil for deep frying
Directions
  1. In hot canola oil, stir fry chicken one minute, add lemongrass paste and continue stirring a few minutes just until firm. Transfer to bowl, add coconut milk and stir well. Cool and pulse briefly 2-3 times in processor. You do not want a pureed paste. You want pieces a little bigger than ground chicken. Place in bowl on counter, next to the bowls of coconut and sliced scallion tops.
  2. Optional taro- Wipe out pan, heat fat til hot, add taro and stir fry a minute, add water and top with lid, turning down heat, til taro is tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer to bowl and place next to bowl of coconut.
  3. Just before assembly, combine coconut with chicken (so coconut stays crunchy.) Keeping package of spring roll wrappers covered with a damp towel,separately lay out two spring rolls like diamonds, on the counter. Form 1 ounce of chicken mixture into a 4" long cigar shape and place horizontally, just south of the middle of the diamond.Place a scallion slice on either long side of the chicken. Place the optional taro on top of the chicken.
  4. Fold up the botton point and tuck it tightly over and under the chicken. Fold in the left and right points and continue rolling the diamond til you have a tight roll. Set aside under a well dampened cloth.
  5. In canola oil, deep fry the rolls at 375 degrees F until light brown. Do not crowd the pan. Drain on doubled paper towels over newspaper. For special presentation, tie a steamed scallion piece into a double knot around the middle of each roll before serving.
  6. Note: I designed these so that the filling flavor is robust enough to not need a dipping sauce.
  7. Note: I keep wrapped lemongrass, ginger root and jalapenos in the freezer. Surprisingly, they last forever without losing their potency.
  8. Note: Purple taro, found in Asian and SouthEast Asian stores (and often Latin) tastes like a sweet nutty potato. I like the flavor and texture the taro julienne adds to these rolls, but it is optional. Though completely different, you could instead add chopped roasted cashews to the filling.
  9. *Note: This paste freezes very well. Because of the oil, it freezes soft and a small amount can be removed frozen as needed. Thus, it makes for a handy instant poultry or meat marinade and coating for roasting or grilling.
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LeBec Fin
My eating passions are Japanese, Indian, Mexican; with Italian and French following close behind. Turkish/Arabic/Mediterranean cuisines are my latest culinary fascination. My desert island ABCs are actually 4 Cs: citrus, cumin, cilantro, cardamom, and GARLIC! I am so excited by the level of sophistication that I see on Food52 and hope to contribute recipes that will inspire you like yours do me. I would like to ask a favor of all who do try a recipe of mine > Would you plse review it and tell me truthfully how it worked for you and/or how you think it would be better? I know many times we feel that we don't want to hurt someone's feelings, but. i really do want your honest feedback because it can only help me improve the recipe.Thanks so much.

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