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Egg roll bowls are all the flavors of an egg roll in a bowl without the fried wrappers. Perfectly low carb and Whole30 friendly.

egg-roll-bowls

Iโ€™m not entirely sure how I first heard about โ€˜egg roll bowlsโ€™ but I never saw it as a healthy option. While it was marketed as low carb and/or gluten free, all I saw was a way to cram the goodness of an egg roll into my mouth faster.

Sure, the crispy fried wonton skin of an egg roll is delicious, but I am here for the filling packed with ginger and garlic.

I actually put a version of this recipe in my upcoming 4th cookbook (Dinner Just for Two), and I love it so much. In that version, I was not concerned about Whole30 or gluten, so I included a handful of chow mein noodles to replicate the fried egg roll skin. You know the chow mein noodles Iโ€™m talking about, right? Sometimes salad bars have chow mein noodles for a crunchy topping, and Asian chicken salad recipes usually have it, too. Side note: thereโ€™s also a recipe for that in Dinner Just for Two, because I tried to ensure no leftovers when cooking for two.

Naturally, we left out the crunchy gluten-filled noodles with this recipe because weโ€™re focusing on Whole30 recipes. But honestly, nothing is amiss. The flavors sing so loudly, you just keep going back for another forkful.

egg-roll-bowls-recipe

Egg Roll Bowls recipe method:

I used 4 cups of coleslaw mix (about half a bag) to make this recipe super simple, and stay tuned for a recipe that uses the rest of the bag. We here at Dessert for Two truly detest leftovers; itโ€™s just in our nature. I would never let a half-used bag of coleslaw mix sit in my fridge and wilt!

Ok, hereโ€™s a hint: the recipe that uses the rest of the bag is for killer Fish Taco Bowls, but youโ€™ll have to wait a day or two while I perfect the Whole30 compliant dressing.ย 

Another important point for this recipe is the scallions, or green onions as you might call them. Weโ€™re using 4 green onions for this recipe, and weโ€™re going to chop and separate the white part from the green tops. The white part goes into the pan with the garlic and ginger to perfume the dish, while the green portion is used for a garnish at the end. I love when we get 2 flavors from the same ingredient!

My recipe for egg roll bowls makes 3-4 servings, because it happens to double as an excellent lunch the next day. But know that if you have half a pound of ground pork languishing in your fridge or freezer, this recipe is easily scaled down to serve just two people!

egg-roll-bowls

Other ways to serve this pork egg roll bowl:

This flavorful pork filling would even be delicious spooned atop some Bibb lettuce leaves to make the most amazing lettuce wraps. Use any vehicle necessary to get this spicy, punchy pork into your mouth.

I really recommend using a stainless steel or other pan thatย isnโ€™tย nonstick. I have a deep love for pans that allow meat to caramelize and form โ€˜fondโ€™ on the bottom of the pan. Nonstick pans donโ€™t really allow for the caramelization of ingredients, which contributes so much flavor to a recipe.

I use stainless steel pans, and while they have a reputation for food sticking, I have one tip to help prevent it. Let your pans heat up fully before adding ingredients. Heat the pan without ingredients, add your oil and allow it to heat for another few minutes,ย then add your ingredients. When ingredients hit the pan, you should hear a sizzle. When you cook this way, after 30 seconds, garlic sizzling in a pan contributes its flavor to the cooking oil, perfuming the whole dish. I apologize for being so bossy, but I just want your food to have the most flavor possible.

egg-roll-bowls

Other Whole30 recipes from me:

Sweet Potato Toast

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Whole30 Turkey Meatballs

Whole30 Salmon Cakes

Yield: 3-4 bowls

Egg Roll Bowls

egg-roll-bowls

Egg roll bowls have all the flavors of egg rolls, but without gluten or dairy. Totally Whole30 compliant dinner!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil*
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 scallions, sliced and separated
  • 2" fresh ginger stem, grated
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 4 cups coleslaw mix from a bag
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons coconut aminos**
  • handful fresh cilantro, chopped
  • sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the avocado oil and heat for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic, white part of the scallions, and ginger to the pan, and cook until fragrant while stirring continuously, about 1 minute.
  3. Next, add the pork to the pan and cook while breaking up with a wooden spoon until no longer pink.
  4. Add the coleslaw mix to the pan and cook until it starts to wilt down and disappear into the pork, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Finally, turn off the heat and stir in the green part of the scallions, sesame oil, coconut aminos and stir very well.
  6. Divide the mixture between two bowls and top with fresh cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve with extra coconut aminos.

Notes

**Avocado oil is just one of the many oils approved for use on the Whole30 program. Use whichever oil you prefer.

**Coconut aminos are the Whole30 version of soy sauce. Use soy sauce if you're not doing Whole30

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 805Total Fat: 60gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 42gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 711mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 6gSugar: 23gProtein: 33g

Did you make this recipe?

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About Christina Lane

Christina Lane is the author of 5 cookbooks all about cooking and baking for two. She has scaled down hundreds of recipes into smaller servings so you can enjoy your favorite dishes without the leftovers! Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday.

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10 Comments

  1. Katie says:

    This looks delicious! Canโ€™t wait to try.

  2. Courtney says:

    This sounds so good. I have a half a head of cabbage lingering in my fridge, do you think this with a grated carrot would be a good substitute for the 4 cups of coleslaw mix?

    1. Christina Lane says:

      YES, absolutely! Use it :)

      1. Valerie says:

        Making it now. Mmmm! Added ginger to the pork, garlic, and 1/2 a chopped onion. Also, added Thai spice blend 1/2 teaspoon. Adding bean sprouts at the end to lightly steam them and keep them crisp. Delicious.

  3. Reagan says:

    I canโ€™t wait to try this! Just a side not, I canโ€™t imagine that 1 serving has 805 calories.

    1. Christina Lane says:

      Right? I think my nutrition calculator is off. Iโ€™m sorry! Itโ€™s not exactly within my control. Itโ€™s part of my recipe card that displays the recipe. Iโ€™ll look into it, though. Itโ€™s probably half that amount!

  4. Katie says:

    Made this tonight, it was pretty good! I added some white pepper and several cracks of black pepper after tasting it, and that really made it perfect. I ate it with a bit of sweet and sour dipping sauce. Next time I think I will try some bean sprouts and chow mein for a bit of extra crunch!

  5. Victoria says:

    Um, YUM! I LOVE seasame oil! It makes everything taste 1000% better. I got mince for meatballs/meatloaf but now Iโ€™m tempted to make this instead! I guess weโ€™ll have to see which side of my cravings wins out on this one ;)

    Also, thank you for including the part about coconut aminos! I have a few recipes that call for them and I was wondering what it was about!

    xo, Victoria

  6. Cindy V says:

    This has become one of our favorite dinners, and is definitely my favorite fast dinner to prepare. The recipe is delicious as written, but I also like it even more with broccoli slaw. To save a few calories, I only put half a tablespoon of sesame oil โ€“ I canโ€™t taste the difference. And the last shortcut I discovered one time when I opened my fridge and the green onions I had were not usable โ€“ I substitute about a quarter cup of dried onion flakes, and just toss them in the skillet at the same time I start the pork.