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ngohiong

My Cebuano Ngohiong (Cebu's Lumpia) Recipe

Cebuano ngohiong is a crispy spring roll filled with julienned heart of palm, jicama, and ground pork seasoned with Chinese five-spice powder, coated in cornstarch batter and deep-fried to golden perfection.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Filipino

Ingredients
  

For the Filling:
  • 3-4 cups ubod heart of palm, julienned
  • 1 medium singkamas jicama, julienned
  • 1 lb 450g ground pork
  • 5 cloves garlic crushed and minced
  • 1 medium onion minced
  • 1 bundle green onion chopped
  • 3 tablespoons ngohiong powder Chinese five-spice powder
  • Cooking oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
For the Batter:
  • 2 cups cornstarch corn flour
  • cups water
  • 3 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper powder
  • 1 package lumpia wrappers 20-24 pieces
For the Signature Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon five-spice powder
  • 5 tablespoons water
  • ½ teaspoon corn flour
  • 1 egg white lightly beaten

Method
 

  1. First, I prepare my ingredients. I julienne the heart of palm (ubod) and jicama (singkamas) into thin strips. I mince the garlic and onion, and chop the green onions.
  2. I heat oil in a wok over medium heat. I saute minced garlic and onion. I add ground pork and cook for about 2 minutes. I pour in ¼ cup water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. I stir in the five-spice powder, julienned ubod, singkamas, and chopped green onions. I continue sauteing for 3 minutes. I season with salt and pepper to taste. I drain excess oil from the filling and let it cool completely.
  4. While waiting, I prepare the batter by combining cornstarch, water, paprika, and white pepper in a bowl. I whisk until completely smooth.
  5. For assembly, I place a lumpia wrapper diamond-style on a clean surface. I put 2 tablespoons of filling near the bottom corner. I fold the bottom corner over the filling, then fold both side corners toward the center. I roll tightly upward and seal the final edge with water.
  6. I heat fresh oil to 350°F for frying. I dip each prepared roll in the cornstarch batter. I fry the rolls in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until they turn golden brown. I remove and drain on paper towels.
  7. For my signature sauce, I combine soy sauce, brown sugar, five-spice powder, water, and corn flour in a small saucepan. I simmer over low heat for 2 minutes while stirring constantly. I slowly drizzle in the beaten egg white while continuing to stir. I remove from heat and let cool before serving.
  8. I serve hot and crispy with the prepared sauce. Enjoy your ngohiong!

Notes

  • I always use fresh lumpia wrappers because not frozen wrappers provide the best texture and are easier to work with.
  • I drain my filling thoroughly because excess moisture will make wrappers tear and cause oil splatters when frying.
  • I make the filling a day in advance to allow the five-spice flavor to fully penetrate the ingredients.
  • I roll tightly because loose rolls will absorb more oil and potentially fall apart when frying. I work in small batches because overcrowding the pot lowers oil temperature and results in soggy ngohiong.
  • If my wrappers are particularly thin or tear easily, I use two layers for extra durability.
  • I judge doneness by color because perfect ngohiong should be golden brown, not pale (undercooked) or dark brown (overcooked).
  • If my wrapper tears during rolling, my filling might be too wet, so I drain thoroughly before rolling. I also check if wrappers are too dry (cover with damp cloth) or if I'm overfilling.
  • If my ngohiong bursts while frying, oil temperature might be too high, or rolls aren't sealed properly. I make sure all edges are securely closed.
  • For storing, I can store unfried rolls in refrigerator for up to 2 days. I place in airtight container with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. For fried ngohiong, I store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
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