Fried bean curd roll with shrimp filling is an easy, delicious Chinese dim sum dish made from basic ingredients such as bean curd, shrimp, carrots, and coriander. The crispy fried bean curd and the savory shrimp filling make this dish a favorite among many dim sum enthusiasts.
Bean Curd Sheets – A Special By-Product of the Tofu-Making Process
Among the many types of beans and peas in the world, the soybean is considered one of the most exceptional due to its high protein content. This protein reacts with a coagulant agent to solidify and become tofu. During the tofu-making process, bean curd, also known as tofu skin, is produced as a special by-product used in cooking.
How is bean curd made?
The first step in making tofu is to prepare fresh soy milk and heat it. Before adding any coagulant agent, the milk must be brought to a boil. If the boiling milk is not stirred continuously but allowed to cool, a film, which is a soy protein-lipid complex, forms on the surface. This film can be gently removed from the soy milk and dried to create bean curd sheets (tofu skin).
Tofu skin is versatile and comes in various forms, such as sticks, knots, rolls, leaves, or flat sheets, and can be found both dried and fresh. While dried tofu skin is popular for its ease of preservation, in China and some Asian countries where they are widely produced, the fresh variety is often preferred.
Ingredients for Fried Bean Curd Roll with Shrimp Filling
In this recipe, we’ll use dried tofu skin as the wrapper for the rolls. They are thin like rice paper, semi-transparent, and have a bold yellow color. Do not confuse them with the fresh bean curd sheets made from compressed tofu. Although you might find the same English name on the packaging (which is “bean curd sheets”), they differ in appearance and texture. The type used for fried bean curd rolls is thinner and quite transparent, whereas the fresh bean curd sheet (also known as “tofu sheet”) is thicker, opaque, and marked with a crosshatch pattern from the tofu pressing process. I was once confused by the naming and accidentally ordered the wrong type, so I ended up using it to make tofu sheet stir fry with bok choy instead.
For the filling, I kept it basic and straightforward, using shrimp, coriander roots and stalks, carrots, egg yolks, and some additional condiments. The coriander roots and stalks are essential for infusing the filling with coriander’s distinctive aroma. They contain less water and are more aromatic than the coriander leaves.
Here is the detailed recipe:
- 120g (4.2 oz) dried bean curd sheets
Fillings
- 400g (14 oz) shrimp
- 50g (1.7 oz) carrot
- 10g (1 tbsp) coriander stalks and roots
- 40g (3 tbsp) cooking oil
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
Instruction
Step 1. Preparing the Filling
The filling consists of chopped shrimp, minced shrimp, finely chopped carrots and coriander, egg yolks, cornstarch, and various seasonings.
- Begin by washing and peeling the shrimp. Peel the carrots and chop them finely. Carefully wash the coriander stalks and roots to remove any dirt, then chop them finely.
- Divide the shrimp into two equal parts. Finely chop one part and mince the other using a grinder or a knife.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, salt, sugar, ground pepper, sesame oil, and cornstarch until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine the chopped shrimp, minced shrimp, chopped coriander, and carrots. Then, incorporate the egg yolk mixture into the shrimp and vegetable mixture. Allow the filling to rest for a while before using.
Step 2. Preparing the Bean Curd Sheets
- For fried bean curd roll, flat bean curd sheets are recommended to achieve the best appearance. Typically, a bean curd sheet is 30-40 cm in diameter, so you will need to cut it into 10×10 cm squares, which are ideal for rolling.
Step 3. Making Bean Curd Rolls
- Wrapping shrimp filling in bean curd sheets is straightforward. First, prepare a small cup of cornstarch and water mixed at a ratio of 1:3 to use as a “glue” for sealing the rolls. Place a portion of the filling in the center of a cut square sheet and brush the edges with the cornstarch mixture. Then, fold the edges over the filling and roll it up, ensuring the edges are sealed with the “glue”.
Step 4. Frying the Rolls
- You can fry the rolls in a saucepan, skillet, wok, or Dutch oven. The Dutch oven is preferable due to its even heat distribution from the cast iron, and it also conserves oil. Pour enough oil into your chosen cookware and heat it over medium heat. Fry the rolls until they are crispy.
- Drain the fried bean curd rolls on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Your fried bean curd rolls are now ready to enjoy! Serve them with ketchup, sriracha, chili sauce, or sweet chili sauce. Pair them with vegetables to balance the richness of the fried rolls.
Storing and Reheating
Although fried rolls are best enjoyed hot, there may be times when you need to save some for later. To do this, store the un-fried rolls in the refrigerator; they will keep for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to enjoy them, fry the rolls until they are crispy.
For longer preservation, you can freeze the rolls for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to cook them, you can add the frozen rolls directly to the frying pan. Just remember to lower the heat and fry them for a longer time to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
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Fried Bean Curd Roll (Tofu Skin Roll) with Shrimp Filling
Ingredients
- 120g (4.2 oz) dried bean curd sheets
Fillings
- 400g (14 oz) shrimp
- 50g (1.7 oz) carrot
- 10g (1 tbsp) coriander stalks and roots
- 40g (3 tbsp) cooking oil
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
Step 1. Preparing the Filling
- The filling consists of chopped shrimp, minced shrimp, finely chopped carrots and coriander, egg yolks, cornstarch, and various seasonings.
- Begin by washing and peeling the shrimp. Peel the carrots and chop them finely. Carefully wash the coriander stalks and roots to remove any dirt, then chop them finely.
- Divide the shrimp into two equal parts. Finely chop one part and mince the other using a grinder or a knife.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, salt, sugar, ground pepper, sesame oil, and cornstarch until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine the chopped shrimp, minced shrimp, chopped coriander, and carrots. Then, incorporate the egg yolk mixture into the shrimp and vegetable mixture. Allow the filling to rest for a while before using.
Step 2. Preparing the Bean Curd Sheets
- For fried bean curd roll, flat bean curd sheets are recommended to achieve the best appearance. Typically, a bean curd sheet is 30-40 cm in diameter, so you will need to cut it into 10×10 cm or 15×15 cm squares, which are ideal for rolling.
Step 3. Making Bean Curd Roll
- Wrapping shrimp filling in bean curd sheets is straightforward. First, prepare a small cup of cornstarch and water mixed at a ratio of 1:3 to use as a “glue” for sealing the rolls. Place a portion of the filling in the center of a cut square sheet and brush the edges with the cornstarch mixture. Then, fold the edges over the filling and roll it up, ensuring the edges are sealed with the “glue”.
Step 4. Frying the Rolls
- You can fry the rolls in a saucepan, skillet, wok, or Dutch oven. The Dutch oven is preferable due to its even heat distribution from the cast iron, and it also conserves oil. Pour enough oil into your chosen cookware and heat it over medium heat. Fry the rolls until they are crispy.
- Drain the fried bean curd rolls on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Your fried bean curd rolls are now ready to enjoy! Serve them with ketchup, sriracha, chili sauce, or sweet chili sauce. Pair them with vegetables to balance the richness of the fried rolls.