When I was a kid eating out was a TREAT! Seamless did not exist, restaurants did not deliver and pick up was far and in between. So when we went out, my parents liked to explore different cuisines. We often ended up at an asian restaurant and ordered egg rolls.
As a kid it was so much fun to dip the crunchy roll into a salty sauce. These remind me of those meals but are much healthier. Using the air fryer really helps cut down the oil and speeds up the cooking time, it’s a win-win. If that isn’t enough, your kitchen and clothes won’t stink of oil.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
I love this in the coconut wrapper with a side of shredded napa cabbage. You can also skip the wrapper and serve this on top of shredded cabbage in a bowl.
AIP Dipping Sauce:
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/3 cup Coconut Aminos
- 3 tsp honey (omit for Whole 30)
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
PARENT HACK
These are a great opportunity to sneak in other veggies too. They also freeze really well. I recommend doubling the batch and putting half in the freezer. Best way is to freeze these flat and then put them in air tight container once frozen.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Napa cabbage belongs to the cruciferous family of vegetables which has some of the most antioxidants, vitamins and mineral-rich vegetables available.
Cabbage in general contains a significant amount of polyphenols that provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Vitamin C: cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C, which can help the body fight infection.
- Antioxidants: napa cabbage is loaded with glucosinolates which are cancer preventive.
- Vitamin K: napa cabbage is rich in vitamin K, which can promote healthy, strong bones.
- Fiber: the vegetable is loaded with soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. It has nearly 4 grams per cup which is more than what can be found in beans, lentils, and dried peas.
- Helps support digestive tract: cabbage helps the proper regulation of bacterial populations inside the stomach.
- Low calories: napa cabbage is extremely low in calories—one cup of raw shredded cabbage contains only 20 calories
For more in depth reading check out this article.
PRO TIP
Shred the cabbage and carrots in a food processor. It will be much faster!
Air Fryer Asian Ground Beef Egg Rolls (Paleo, AIP)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
- 1/2 tbsp honey (omit for Whole30)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/8 cup coconut aminos
- 24 coconut paper wrappers
- 10 napa cabbage leaves, shredded
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 carrots, shredded
- 1/2 cup scallions
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
AIP Dipping Sauce
Instructions
- Heat a large pan over medium high heat.
- Brown the meat with coconut oil, garlic, onion powder and ginger.
- Add honey and coconut aminos.
- Add the shredded carrots, cabbage, cilantro and green onions for 3-4 min. Let the mixture cool.
- Lay out your coconut paper wrap.
- Add two tablespoons of beef mixture in the middle of the wrap.
- Wet the sides with water using your finger. Fold the sides in and wet the folded in sides.
- Lift the bottom corner up and begin rolling until you reach halfway up. Wet the inside corners with a little bit of water. It will help them stick together.
- Fold in the left and right sides towards the center.
- Continue to fold and tuck until it’s completed rolled.
- You can either freeze these on a cookie sheet and then transfer to an air tight container.
- Brush each egg roll with some avocado oil. I like to use a silicone brush like this one.
- Or fry them up in an air fryer at 300, 90 secondes per side. You can also cook them in a skillet with some avocado oil.