spring roll
• noun
A traditional Chinese and Southeast Asian savory snack consisting of a cylindrical pastry wrapper filled with minced vegetables, and sometimes meat or seafood, typically deep-fried until crispy.
"We ordered a platter of crispy vegetable spring rolls as an appetizer before our main courses arrived."
An un-fried Southeast Asian dish, particularly associated with Vietnamese cuisine, consisting of a translucent rice paper wrapper filled with fresh herbs, vegetables, and cooked protein, often served cold.
"She dipped her fresh spring roll into a small bowl of spicy peanut sauce."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the American-Chinese 'egg roll', which typically has a thicker, blistered wrapper made with egg, whereas a traditional spring roll features a thinner, smoother, and crisper wheat or rice wrapper.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.