Best substitute for egg roll wrappers | What you can use instead
Egg rolls are a popular Chinese dish that can be made with a variety of different fillings.
The most common type of egg roll is made with pork, but they can also be made with chicken, shrimp, or vegetables.
Egg rolls are usually served with a dipping sauce, such as soy sauce or sweet and sour sauce.
But you can’t make egg rolls without traditional egg roll wrappers! So what do you do if you’re out of egg roll wrappers and can’t find any at the store?
Don’t worry, there are plenty of substitutes that you can use in a pinch.
Chinese spring roll wrappers are similar to egg roll wrappers but they’re made with wheat flour, water, and salt. The texture is similar but their flavor is blander.
There are some other Asian wrappers that can be used as substitutes, such as wonton wrappers and gyoza wrappers.
But I’ll share all kinds of wrappers you can use so you can choose whatever you like more!
Here’s a quick overview table of the best egg roll wrapper substitutes:
If you love egg rolls you will love this Filipino Lumpiang Sariwa recipe (with peanut and sauce)
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What to look for in an egg roll wrapper substitute
The egg roll wrapper is a round wrapper made from wheat flour and eggs.
When fried, the wrapper bubbles up and becomes crunchy. This gives the egg roll its distinctive crunchy texture.
If you are looking for an egg roll wrapper substitute, you should look for a wrapper that will also bubble up and become crispy when fried.
Some good substitutes for egg roll wrappers include spring roll wrappers, rice paper, wonton wrappers, and tortillas.
The thing about egg roll skins is that they bubble up and become like crunchy pockets.
Most other substitutes, except the wonton wrappers and the phyllo pastry, won’t do this.
So your egg rolls won’t be quite like the real thing but honestly, these still taste very good!
Each of these substitutes has its own unique flavors and textures that will enhance your egg rolls in different ways.
Best substitutes for egg roll wrappers
If homemade egg roll wrappers aren’t your thing, you can use other types of wrappers which will be somewhat similar.
Here are the top substitutes to use:
Spring roll wrappers
Chinese spring roll wrappers are made from a mixture of wheat flour, water, and salt.
These thin flour wrappers are used for a variety of Chinese dishes, such as egg rolls, spring rolls, and wontons.
The texture of spring roll wrappers is similar to that of egg roll wrappers, but they have a blander flavor.
Spring roll wrappers can be found in the frozen section of most Asian supermarkets.
Some other spring roll wrappers are made of rice flour, corn starch, or tapioca starch. Vietnamese spring rolls have rice wrappers but I’ll discuss those soon.
The Chinese spring roll skins wrappers are usually square or rectangular, and they are much thinner than egg roll wrappers.
When fried, spring roll wrappers become crispy and bubbly, just like egg roll wrappers.
Spring roll wrappers are a good substitute for egg roll wrappers because they have a similar texture.
The flavor of spring roll wrappers is more neutral than egg roll wrappers, so they won’t affect the flavor of your filling as much.
They are available in both square and round shapes. You can definitely use them as eggroll wrappers and the wrapping process is pretty much identical.
Check out these Chinese-style spring roll wrappers – these are not the translucent Vietnamese spring roll wrappers.
Wonton wrappers
Wonton wrappers are actually made of the same dough as egg roll wrappers. They even look like egg roll skins.
The dough is made from wheat flour, water, salt, and eggs.
Wonton wrappers are smaller than egg roll wrappers, and they are usually square or triangular.
The wonton wrapper is much thinner than dumpling dough and even thinner than egg roll skins.
When fried, wonton wrappers become crispy and bubbly just like egg roll wrappers.
You can substitute wonton wrappers for egg roll wrappers because they have a similar texture and flavor.
However, since the wonton wrappers are much smaller, you’ll struggle to fit a lot of filling inside.
You can combine two wrappers together to make a larger one, or you can use wonton wrappers as a garnish instead of a wrapper.
They are available in a square shape. Wonton wrappers can be found in the international aisle of most supermarkets.
The taste of a wonton wrapper is quite neutral, so it won’t interfere with the flavors of your filling.
Check the prices of Wonton wrappers here
Rice paper wrappers – best for vegans & best gluten-free
Rice paper wrappers are made from rice flour dough, tapioca starch, or tapioca flour, water, and salt. They are thinner and more delicate than spring roll wrappers.
You probably know rice paper wrappers as Vietnamese spring roll wrappers. They are translucent and round.
Rice paper wrappers are used for a variety of Vietnamese dishes, such as spring rolls, summer rolls, and banh mi.
If you use homemade egg roll wrappers, they’ll have a noticeably crispier wrapper texture than rice paper but still, the rice wrapper is pretty good for the task.
Rice paper wrappers must be soaked in water before they can be used.
They are available in round or square shapes and can be found in the international aisle of most supermarkets.
Their flavor is neutral, so they will not affect the taste of your egg rolls.
Rice paper is translucent and has a chewy texture. The rice wrappers will make the egg roll fillings visible.
Also, rice paper is safe for vegans to eat and you can make a vegan type of egg roll without the egg.
The rice paper wrapper is also gluten-free so it’s a healthier alternative for egg roll skins.
You can check the latest rice paper prices here.
Gyoza wrapper
Gyoza is a Japanese dumpling that is similar to a pot sticker. The wrapper is made from wheat flour, water, and salt.
You can substitute egg roll wrappers with gyoza wrappers because they have a similar texture.
There’s a thickness difference since the gyoza dough is thicker than the egg roll wrapper.
Gyoza dough tastes like a wonton wrapper, so it’s quite neutral and won’t affect the taste of your filling.
Gyoza wrappers are available in both square and round shapes. You can find them in the frozen section of most Asian supermarkets.
You can make gyoza skins at home from flour and oil, check out our recipe here.
Lettuce leaves – best healthy
Lettuce leaves make a good substitute for egg roll wrappers because they are thin and pliable.
They will not get as crispy as egg roll wrappers, but they will add a fresh crunch to your egg rolls.
Use iceberg lettuce or Boston lettuce for the best results since these lettuce varieties are crunchy.
You can use either whole leaves or cut them into smaller pieces. If you use whole leaves, make sure to remove the thick stem in the center.
Soak the lettuce leaves in ice water for 10 minutes to make them more pliable.
This is a good substitute for people who don’t really like fried dough wrappers anyway.
Sure, you can’t make real egg rolls but you’ll still end up with a similar spring roll type of food.
You can keep the same egg roll fillings though.
Tortillas
Tortillas are a type of flatbread made from wheat flour or cornmeal. They are soft and pliable, but they will become crispy when fried.
The texture is obviously different because tortilla wraps are much softer than egg roll wrappers. You can still work with them and shape them.
A flour tortilla is a good size for egg rolls, and it will become crispy when fried.
The only thing you might struggle with is getting the tortilla to stick when you’re folding the egg rolls. You can use a little water to help seal the edges.
Tortillas are available in most supermarkets. You can find them in the international aisle or in the Mexican food section.
There are many types of tortillas you can use. Flour tortillas are the most popular but you can also get healthier spinach tortilla wraps.
Siu Mai dumpling wrappers
Siu Mai wrappers are made from wheat flour and tapioca starch. They are square-shaped and have a pleated edge.
The shape of shumai wrappers is similar to an egg roll, and you can use them as a substitute.
The main difference is that Siu Mai wrappers are not as thin as egg roll skins.
They are also not as pliable, so you might have to work a little harder to get them to fold around the fillings.
Also, these wrappers are more delicate and prone to ripping.
But they’re also used in a similar way to wrap fillings before frying or steaming. You can find them in the refrigerated section of Asian markets or online here.
In case you are confused now, I explain the differences between gyoza and siu mai (or shumai) dumplings here.
Crepes
Crepes are thin pancakes made from wheat flour, milk, and eggs. They are light and delicate, and they will become crispy when fried.
However, they’re not as crispy as egg rolls and the dough is thicker.
Crepes are a good substitute for egg roll wrappers if you are looking for a lighter option. They are also less likely to tear when you’re wrapping the egg rolls.
The main downside is that crepes are not as easy to work with and are soft, so you might have to be careful when folding them.
You can find crepes in the refrigerated section of most supermarkets or easily make your own with wheat flour, milk, and eggs.
You can also buy them ready made here
Phyllo dough – best for baking
Phyllo dough is a type of pastry dough that is made from layers of thin sheets of flour and water. It is used in many Greek and Middle Eastern dishes.
Phyllo dough is a good substitute for egg roll wrappers if you are looking for a flakier texture.
When fried, the phyllo dough becomes extra crispy, perhaps even crispier than egg roll wrappers!
Prepare to feel the crunch when biting into deep-fried phyllo pastry dough!
The dough is also very thin and pliable, so you can easily shape it around your egg roll fillings.
The phyllo has a flavor that is not as neutral as egg roll wrappers, so it might change the flavor of your dish slightly.
FAQs
Is rice paper the same as egg roll wrappers?
No, rice paper is not the same as egg roll wrappers.
Egg roll wrappers are made from wheat flour and water, while rice paper is made from rice flour and water.
Rice paper is also thinner and more delicate than egg roll wrappers. It’s used in Vietnamese spring rolls and is not as easy to work with.
Are egg roll skins the same as egg roll wrappers?
Yes, egg roll skins and egg roll wrappers are the same things. They are made from wheat flour and water and are used to wrap fillings before frying or steaming.
They are just two different names for the same thing!
What are vegan egg roll wrappers?
You can use any type of wrapper that is dairy-free and free from eggs. This includes rice paper, wonton wrappers, spring roll wrappers, and even lettuce leaves!
Can you make egg roll wrappers at home?
Yes, you can make egg roll wrappers at home with just wheat flour and water. The dough is easy to make and only requires a few ingredients.
However, the wrappers might not be as thin or as easy to work with as store-bought egg roll wrappers.
Takeaway
Egg roll wrappers can be replaced with other ingredients to create similar dishes.
There are many different substitutes that can be used, such as spring roll wrappers, lettuce leaves, tortillas, and crepes.
My personal favorite substitute is the Chinese spring roll wrapper because it’s so similar to the authentic egg roll ones.
But each of these substitutes has its own unique flavors and textures that will enhance your egg rolls in different ways.
Now you can experiment with textures, flavors, fillings, AND wrappers!
Next, learn how to make this delicious turon recipe (sweet bananas wrapped in rice paper rolls)
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.
