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One of my favorite appetizers are smoked jalapeno poppers. Wanted to give the original recipe a little bit of a twist and made Jalapeno Popper Lumpia instead which were inspired by my BBQ buddy TFTI. You get the crunch from the fried wrappers, heat from the jalapeno and creaminess from the filling. Added a little surprise inside that made this recipe even better! You have to try this!
Table of Contents
- What are Lumpia?
- What are jalapeno poppers?
- Ingredient list for Jalapeno Popper Lumpia
- Step 1: Make the jalapeno popper filling.
- Recipe Tip
- Step 2: How to fold a Jalapeno PopperLumpia
- Step 3: How to deep fry the jalapeno popper lumpia
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Similar easy grilled side dish recipes:
- Jalapeno Popper Lumpia Recipe
What are Lumpia?
Lumpia are deep fried spring rolls. A traditional Filipino recipe, these rolls are made of paper thin wrappers filled with a mixture of pork and vegetables. Usually served as an appetizer with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.
What are jalapeno poppers?
Traditional jalapeno poppers are pitted half sliced jalapenos stuffed with a cheesy filling all wrapped in bacon. Grilled or fried, these little bites are perfect as appetizers especially for tailgating.
I have made different versions of a jalapeno popper over the years. Take a look at my Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breast, Jalapeno Popper Dip and Jalapeno Popper Hashbrowns. From stuffing to wrapping, there are a lot of fun ways to experiment with this dish. You can also use sweet peppers instead, if you’re sensitive to heat.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
Ingredient list for Jalapeno Popper Lumpia
- Jalapenos: this small hot pepper is the perfect vessel for the savory cream cheese filling. Thick skin gives the nice bite to the snack along with some heat.
- Cream Cheese: the smooth texture of a cream cheese is the perfect soft filling for a crunchy pepper. Helps sooth the heat from the pepper and adds flavor to the recipe.
- Pulled Pork: this is an optional filling. Great way to use up leftover BBQ pulled pork.
- Spring Roll Sheets: these thin rice paper wrappers are ideal for deep frying. A delicate bite, these sheets add crunch without overpowering the recipe.
- Peanut Oil: a high temperature point of this oil allows allows you to fry food quickly resulting in a crispy coating with very little oil absorption.
Step 1: Make the jalapeno popper filling.
For this recipe, I had leftover pulled pork that I decided to include in the filling. If you want a vegetarian option, exclude the meat from the recipe.
In a large mixing bowl, add a block of room temperature cream cheese, shredded cheese, bbq sauce, a handful of the pulled pork and season with Dad’s All Purpose rub for flavor. Make sure to mix the ingredients together.
Slice the jalapeno peppers in half and remove the seeds. Most of the heat is in the seeds and membrane so this way you get the jalapeno flavor without too much heat. This will become the vessel for the stuffing.
Recipe Tip
If you like spice, dice a few jalapeno’s and mix them into the stuffing
Add a generous spoonful of the cheesy stuffing into each half and close the pepper.
Step 2: How to fold a Jalapeno PopperLumpia
The paper thin spring roll wrappers are perfect for frying. Durable enough to wrap without tearing, and thin enough for the perfect translucent and crispy finish.
- Place the wrapper on a flat surface and fold one edge.
- Place the stuffed jalapeno popper on the folded end.
- Wrap the right side of the wrapper over the stuffed jalapeno popper.
- Pull the bottom piece of the wrapper on top of the jalapeno popper and roll the remaining close.
The jalapeno popper lumpia should look like a stuffed spring roll.
Step 3: How to deep fry the jalapeno popper lumpia
This is the perfect dish to make at home on the stove top, deep fryer or air fryer. However, in true GWD fashion, I made this recipe on the grill.
Preheat the grill to a high heat. In a cast iron skillet add 1 cup of peanut oil and allow it to heat up to 350 degrees. The temperature is very important. If it fluctuates or goes down, you risk getting soft and greasy lumpia.
Gently place the jalapeno popper lumpia in the hot oil and let it fry for 3-4 minutes per side until all sides are golden brown.
Rest them on a wire rack to cool off and drain the oil. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Lumpia’s are the Filipino version of a spring roll which are filled with ground pork, carrots and onions, cabbage, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce.
Jalapeno poppers originated in Texas as an alternative variation of chiles rellenos.
Yes, my entire jalapeno popper lumpia recipe can be replicated on the stove top or deep fryer.
Similar easy grilled side dish recipes:
Side Dish
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Side Dish
Garlic Bread
Side Dish
Cream Corn Casserole
Side Dish
Balsamic Tomato Salad
If you tried this Jalapeno Popper Lumpia or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the📝 comments. I love hearing from you!
Jalapeno Popper Lumpia
Ingredients
- 4 Large jalapenos
- 4 Spring roll sheets
- 1 cup Peanut oil
- 1 block Cream cheese
- 1 cup Shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup Shredded pulled pork (optional)
- 1 tbsp Dad's All Purpose rub
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add a block of room temperature cream cheese, shredded cheese, bbq sauce, pulled pork and season with Dad's All Purpose rub for flavor. Make sure to mix the ingredients together.
- Slice the jalapeno peppers in half and remove the seeds.
- Add a generous spoonful of the cheesy filling into each half and close the peppers.
- Place the wrapper on a flat surface and fold one edge. Place the stuffed jalapeno on the folded end and wrap the right side of the wrapper over.
- Next, pull the bottom piece of the wrapper on top of the jalapeno popper and roll the the remaining close. The jalapeno popper lumpia should look like a stuffed spring roll.
- Preheat the grill to a high heat. In a cast iron skillet add 1 cup of peanut oil and allow it to heat up to 350 degrees.
- Gently place the jalapeno popper lumpia in the hot oil and let it cook for 3-4 minutes per side. Flip them over and continue to cook until all sides are golden brown.
- Rest them over a wire rack to cool them off and drain the oil. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- When purchasing jalapenos, select medium sized peppers. If too big, they are not easy to eat, too small, they are not east to stuff.
- Remove all the seeds on the side to manage heat levels.
- Use plain cream cheese and season with your favorite BBQ seasoning
- Dice up an extra jalapeno and add to the mixture
- Use a flavored cream cheese or cheese dip for extra flavor.
- Best oil for deep frying because of the high temperature point.
- Wait until the oil reaches 350 degrees F. If you put the jalapeno poppers in too soon, the wrappers will soak up the oil and not get crispy.
