“Chinese New Year” 5:2 Diet Fast Day Recipe: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps (225 calories)
“Chinese New Year” 5:2 Diet Fast Day Recipe:
Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps
(225 calories)
“Chinese New Year” 5:2 Diet Fast Day Recipe: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps (225 calories)
I remember cordite filled humid air, dragons and lions dancing through streets, little red packets filled with money, flowers and firecrackers, hot fried food eaten on the side of the road, red, the rattle of Mah Jong pieces, the “Beggar’s Market” at night, snakes in baskets, mosquito coils and the pungent smell of coriander with garlic, red, marbled eggs in bottles, air-dried red sausages (which we used to call willies as children!) hanging outside butcher’ shops, sweetmeats and wontons, paper lanterns swaying in the wind, flickering candles, paper-cut decorations, red, oranges, travelling on the Star Ferry, dumplings, Gods, Buddha and sticky cakes……I remember Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, where I lived until I was twelve years old.
Chinese Dragon
It was a typical post-war colonial lifestyle – dinner parties, curry lunches around the “Club” pool, days at the beach, meals out most evenings, fish and chips at The China Fleet Club, The Noonday Gun, walks in the New Territories, club sandwiches at The Repulse Bay Hotel, sipping Green Spot on the roof garden at the YMCA in Kowloon, window shopping at The Ocean Terminal…….a life that is now lost, and a childhood that was rich with Oriental culture and excitement. I never understood that I was “British” until my early teens and hankered after my home of Hong Kong in the dampness of Hampshire, Lincolnshire and Berkshire, where we lived “between” postings abroad. I remember my parents listening to BBC World Service on an old Philips radio, wondering and worrying how their parents were faring during the snow of 1963; we had our own worries however, Typhoon Wanda was on her way out and the havoc she wreaked remains with me as a vivid and horrifying memory. (Typhoon Wanda: international designation: 6216, was the most intense tropical cyclone on record in Hong Kong)
The view of Hong Kong Island from the roof of the YMCA Kowloon
For those readers who remember the heady days of the late 50’s and 60’s, there is a fabulous website I have discovered called Gwulo: Old Hong Kong. But back to the present, and Chinese New Year for 2013, which is on Sunday the 10th February is the year of the snake; in the Chinese zodiac, the Snake is listed after the Dragon, but its place and its significance as a symbol of worship is far less than that of the Dragon. It carries the meanings of malevolence, cattiness and mystery, as well as acumen, divination and the ability to understand herbs. In some places, people believe that a snake found in their court can bring delight. During Spring Festival, people like to paste onto their doors and windows the paper-cut ‘Fu’ character (happiness), combined with a snake twisting around a rabbit onto their doors and windows as a popular pattern indicating wealth. I am a dog, no really, so the year of the snake is of little importance to me! However, Chinese food is of GREAT importance as I love it, and it makes fabulous diet food, as I posted last week here: Getting Ready for Chinese New Year: Steamed Asian Fish Parcels Recipe for 5:2 Diet Fast Day.
Memories of Hong Kong and Chinese New Year: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps Recipe
The reason that Chinese food makes such great diet food is mainly due to lots of vegetables, very little meat, clever spicing and use of herbs and rapid cooking that keeps all the flavours and textures fresh and crunchy. I LOVE Spring Rolls/Egg Rolls, but, they are deep-fried and very fattening, so I set out to replicate all the flavours of a good egg roll with ingredients I had to hand, more of an egg roll “thought” than an actual authentic recipe! If the Trilogy in Cajun cooking is celery, onions and peppers, than the Chinese Trilogy has to be garlic, ginger and spring onions for me; if you have those three ingredients in any Asian inspired dish, then you have almost cracked the flavour code. So, for my second fast day this week, today, I gathered together my ingredients, as found in the pantry and the fridge, and there were the makings of another LOVELY Chinese meal looking at me. (I say another, I enjoyed some steamed Asian fish parcels the other day)
Memories of Hong Kong and Chinese New Year: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps Recipe
I was pretty pleased with my Asian fish parcels, but, I am even more delighted with this recipe – the “wraps” are made with and egg, NO flour, and the whole meal including all of the stir fried vegetables and chicken you see in the photos is ONLY 225 calories! (Add on 45 calories for a tablespoon of Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce) The Chinese trilogy was there, spring onions, fresh ginger and garlic, as well as some cooked chicken, a red chilli, some Chinese leaves, a large free-range egg and of course a carrot and some Chinese five spice. I felt very greedy as I scoffed the lot, but, it was filling and packed full of Asian flavours. Basically, the pancakes or wraps are just thin omelettes, but, I did allow a LARGE egg of them, so you should get two large thin pancakes (omelettes) out of a large egg. Malcolm, my husband, was enjoying his stew and dumplings until he saw and smelt my lunch, and then wished he had participated in a fast day recipe!
Memories of Hong Kong and Chinese New Year: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps Recipe
So, with memories of Chinese New Year and Hong Kong, I present to you my : Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps Recipe, an easy and filling meal, that is redolent of happy childhood memories and carefree days. These would be perfect for a family meal to celebrate Chinese New Year, whether you are on a diet or not……I hope you enjoy the recipe if you make it, and do pop back tomorrow for a new Fish on Friday recipe as well as a new Giveaway! See you later, Karen
Memories of Hong Kong and Chinese New Year: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps Recipe
Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps (225 calories)
Print recipe
| Serves | 1 |
| Prep time | 10 minutes |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Total time | 20 minutes |
| Allergy | Egg |
| Meal type | Lunch, Main Dish, Side Dish, Snack, Starter |
| Misc | Pre-preparable, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Casual Party, Formal Party, Valentines day |
| Region | Chinese |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- Sesame oil, 1 tsp (40 cals)
- Chicken Breast, Meat Only, Cooked., 50 g (shredded, 65 cals)
- Carrot - Raw, 1 small (5-1/2" long) (peeled and cut into small matchsticks, 20 cals)
- Spring or scallions (includes tops and bulb), raw, 4 small (3" long) (trimmed and cut into strips, 6 cals)
- Ginger Root - Fresh/Raw, 1 Teaspoon (peeled and finely diced or grated, 2 cals)
- Garlic (Fresh), 2 cloves (6 g) (peeled and finely diced, 10 cals)
- Pak Choy - Chinese Cabbage, 2 leaves (25 g) (3 cals)
- Red Chilli (Fresh), finely diced - 10 g (4 cals)
- Chinese Five Spice - 1 teaspoon (4 cals)
- Free-Range Egg, Fresh, 1 large (beaten with 1 tablespoon water, 71 cals )
Note
A fabulous Chinese inspired meal with stir-fry chicken and crunchy vegetables; instead of wheat pancakes, thin egg omelettes are made as wraps for the filling, making a tasty low-calorie meal with bags of flavours and just a little heat! 225 calories for the whole recipe means that this is perfect for those following the 5:2 diet for fast days, as well as those on the Weight Watchers diet too.
Directions
| Step 1 | Heat up a wok or frying pan and add the sesame oil, allow the oil to get hot and then add all of the ingredients except the egg. Stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes, check seasoning and then set to one side in a warm place. |
| Step 2 | Heat up a small omelette pan and add half the whisked egg, allow to run over the base of the pan and cook a thin omelette, turning over after 2 minutes and cooking for a further 1 minute on the other side. Pour the rest of the egg in and cook as before. |
| Step 3 | Spoon stir-fry chicken mixture into a bowl or onto a plate with the egg rolls (thin omelettes) and add the mixture to the omelettes and roll up. There will be excess stir-fry mixture to enjoy after rolling and wrapping! |
| Step 4 | The whole meal is only 225 calories; add on 45 calories for 1 tablespoon of sweet chilli dipping sauce. (215 calories if using a medium egg and 195 calories if using a small egg) |
Memories of Hong Kong and Chinese New Year: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps Recipe
Memories of Hong Kong and Chinese New Year: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps Recipe
Hong Kong Gallery:
Shatin Heights Hotel, Hong Kong
Star Ferry
Hong Kong Harbour from the Peak 1960’s
China Fleet Club Hong Kong
Repulse Bay Hotel
Peak Tram, Hong Kong
torviewtoronto says
beautiful pictures and post Egg rolls look fabulous
Karen Booth says
Thanks so much! Karen 🙂
Alicia (foodycat) says
How absolutely fascinating! My husband and I love watching old movies set in Hong Kong because it has changed so much – your memories are so interesting. And the dish looks delicious.
Karen Booth says
I am so pleased you enjoyed this post, I had fun writing it too…..all those memories flooding back!
Jane Willis says
Kung hei fat choi! My life in Hong Kong was from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s but sounds so much like yours. I lived in the New Territories so to me Chinese New Year was fields full of plum blossom being brought to perfection under strings of artificial lights, days when the markets were closed and instead the streets were lined with ladies opening oysters from huge baskets, and village tennis courts transformed into open air opera stages. Every minute of it magical. Oh and the Repulse Bay hotel was where I tasted my first ever artichoke. Thanks for some wonderful memories.
Karen Booth says
Thanks Jane and Kung Hei Fat Choi to you too! We lived on the New Territories too, Shatin, Castle Peak Road and finally at Hong Lok Yeun. I also remember the plum blossom and mum taking me to a farm to buy a small tree for the patio! It’s a place that gets into your blood and once you have lived there for any length of time, the memories never leave you! I visited my parents during the 70’s and 80’s when they still lived there and I had left home, so, we may have been at that same market or on the beach! Karen
Janice says
Looks amazing and delicious.
Karen Booth says
It was my home for many years Janice! Karen
Karen@Coast says
Hi Karen,
I have only just discovered the 5:2 diet (god only know’s where I’ve been for the last year!!).
It looks to me as though you are the guru of 5:2 recipes which is amazing news for me as I was really doubting whether I could do the Fast days – feel very encouraged now looking over your masterpieces:)
Can I please ask if you have any “decent” breakfast ideas?? That’s the only thing I’m struggling with now.
Thanks so much in advance,
Karen
Karen Booth says
Hi Karen, I am delighted that you have found me, and yes I do have some breakfast ideas here:
5:2 Diet Fast Day: Pancakes for Breakfast – Blueberry & Oat Pancakes with Cinnamon Recipe
Weekly Meal Plan and a New 5:2 Diet Recipe for Fast Days – Creamy Garlic Mushrooms on Toast (190 Calories)
5:2 Diet – Fast Days & Feast Days, Weekly Meal Plan and a LOW CALORIE Breakfast Omelette Recipe
5:2 Diet, Fresh Fruit Salad Recipe, Meal Plan Ideas and Calorie Counters
And a boiled egg is: 51 cals for small, 61 cals for medium and 71 cals for large egg.
I have many more breakfast recipes to post for 5:2, so do keep popping back!
Thanks, Karen
Jude A Trifle Rushed says
What a great post Karen, wonderful to read and your recipe is fabulous too:-)
Jude x
Karen Booth says
Thanks Jude, it did bring a tear to my eye once or twice as I was typing this! Karen
Peggy says
What a great and healthy rendition of a Chinese classic =)
Karen Booth says
These really do not lack in flavour what they don’t have in calories!
Anneli (Delicieux) says
Hi Karen, I love the look of this (even more as it’s low fat!). This looks right up my street. Bookmarked to make asap xx
Karen Booth says
Thanks Anneli! I need to email you re. guest post too, will do once I get back from Somerset on Tuesday! Karen
Sarah Bosher says
Oh Karen, what lovely memories. I’d forgotten about some of those things. My mum and I were just talking about the china fleet club the other day, we used to have lunch there, consommé soup was my treat! And Shatin Heights Hotel-omg and I remember you and your parents visiting us there and telling us about a villa at Castle Peak, and then we moved there ……. What lovely memories, you write so beautifully 🙂 xxxxx than you
Karen Booth says
THANKS Sarah! It is lovely that you left a comment as there are not many people who understand how it feels to have lived the life we did on Hong Kong during the 60’s and later…..it was a privilege and what great times we all had too. I used to love the melba toast at the Shatin Heights Hotel…..the waiters used to bring me extra! Happy days eh? Karen
Kavey says
Fascinating to read about your childhood in Hong Kong! Sounds like such an exciting and privileged experience, I can well imagine how you missed it when back in the UK!
Diana @ Appetite for China says
The site with old Hong Kong pics is so great; such a nostalgia trip! I definitely miss spending Chinese New Year in Hong Kong too, especially the dim sum and banquet-style dinners. Happy early Chinese New Year to you!
Jacqueline @How to be a Gourmand says
Saw this wonderful post before and meant to comment on it Karen. Such fantastic memories and tales of a marvellous childhood. How the landscape of Hong Kong has changed quite significantly from the 1960’s. Have you been back recently? Even today, the lifestyle of an ex-pat living in Hong Kong can be quite surreal 🙂
Love the Chinese Chicken egg roll wraps – healthy and delicious.
shuhan says
oh what wonderful memories! And the egg roll wraps look gorgeous! really love all those vibrant colours and textures! And I LOVE YOUR PLATES!!! happy chinese new year karen 🙂
Gretchen Peterson says
I have just discovered the 5:2 and plan on starting it next Monday. What a wonderful surprise to find your recipe on P. I enjoyed your Hong Kong pictures. It looks like we may have lived there the same time. I look forward to trying your recipes. I also wonder what your thoughts are on the 5:2 “way of life”
Karen says
Hello Gretchen and welcome! I love the 5:2 diet and my main tips for a 5:2 diet way of life is to plan your fast days ahead of time and the enjoy your non fast days, but do not go too mad on non fast days – we also watch our calorie count on normal days and still try to eat low-fat and low-carb, but, with treats now and then to keep the soul going! When did you live in Hong Kong? I was there between 1960 and 1980, on and off. Did you live on Hong Kong side, Kowloon or the New Territories? Good luck on the 5:2 diet and do ask if you need some support and help! Karen
Gretchen Peterson says
I lived on the Hong Kong side in 1968-1970? I was about 8yrs old. My dad was the field treasurer for the United Methodist church and also the Presbyterians. I grew up in Taiwan and Indonesia. And now I live in Alaska. I can remember getting an ice cream every time we would get on the Star Fairy.
Today is my first day on 5:2. I’m very excited.
Danielle says
Loved this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Karen says
So pleased you like it Danielle!