MENU DESCRIPTION: “Our original ‘eggrolls’ stuffed with Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, green onions and a touch of jalapeño peppers. Served with marinara.”
This variation on the popular fried cheese sticks appetizer conceals spicy jalapeno peppers and green onions in the middle, and then it’s all wrapped up in large spring roll wrapper before frying. The marinara sauce on the side is perfect for dipping the cheesy tidbit, but you might also try your favorite salsa. To save time-and we all like that—use your favorite bottled marinara sauce for dipping so you won’t need to whip up something from scratch.
SERVES: 2 TO 4 AS AN APPETIZER
INGREDIENTS:
- 8 thin slices Monterey Jack cheese
- 8 thin slices Cheddar cheese
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 green onion, diced
- 4 large spring roll wrappers
- 1 beaten egg
- 6 to 10 cups vegetable oil (as required by your fryer)
ON THE SIDE:
- marinara sauce
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Use a sharp knife to make 8 thin slices each from the end of standard-size hunks of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
- Arrange 2 slices of Cheddar and 2 slices of Jack on your hand, then sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of diced jalapeno on top of the cheese. Sprinkle about ¼ teaspoon of diced green onion on next. Sandwich the peppers and green onion between the cheeses and roll it all up. Fold the cheese and squeeze it all together so that the peppers and green onion are sealed into the middle of the cheeses.
- Lay a spring roll wrapper with one corner pointing away from you. Arrange the cheese lengthwise on the center of the wrapper.
- Fold one of the side corners over the cheese filling. Brush a little beaten egg on the tip of the other side corner and fold it over the first corner so that it sticks. Brush some beaten egg on the corner pointing away from you. Fold the bottom corner up and over the filling. Roll the wrapper up, keeping it tight, until it rolls over the top corner with the egg on it. It should stick. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, then cover all the wraps and chill for at least 30 minutes. This will be long enough to heat up the oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees.
- When the oil is hot, fry the rolls for 2½ to 3 minutes or until the outside is golden brown. Drain the rolls on a rack or paper towels for 2 minutes before serving with your favorite marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
