Tinis Mac and Cheese Lumpia (Printable version)

Air-fried lumpia wrappers enclose rich, cheesy macaroni for a tasty and crispy fusion snack.

# What you need:

→ Mac and Cheese Filling

01 - 7 oz elbow macaroni
02 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
09 - ¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional)

→ Lumpia Rolls

10 - 16 lumpia wrappers (or spring roll wrappers)
11 - 1 egg, beaten (for sealing)
12 - Cooking spray or neutral oil as needed (for air-frying)

# Steps to follow:

01 - Boil elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
03 - Gradually whisk in whole milk and cook until slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in cheddar and mozzarella until melted and smooth. Season with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika if desired.
05 - Fold cooked macaroni into cheese sauce until well coated. Allow mixture to cool for 10 to 15 minutes until thick enough to handle.
06 - Place a lumpia wrapper on a clean surface and spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of mac and cheese near the bottom edge. Fold sides over filling and roll tightly. Seal edges with beaten egg. Repeat with remaining wrappers.
07 - Set air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 3 minutes.
08 - Lightly spray or brush rolls with oil and arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
09 - Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crisp.
10 - Serve warm. Optionally accompany with ketchup, sriracha, or cheese dipping sauce.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Creamy mac and cheese meets the addictive crunch of a fried wrapper, giving you two comfort foods in one bite.
  • Air frying keeps them light and crispy without the mess or guilt of deep frying.
  • They vanish at parties faster than you can make them, and everyone asks for the recipe.
02 -
  • Let the mac and cheese cool completely before rolling or it will be too runny and leak everywhere, I ruined four wrappers before I figured that out.
  • Don't overfill the rolls or they'll split open in the air fryer, two to three tablespoons is the sweet spot.
  • Brush the edges with egg wash generously, a dry edge won't seal and you'll end up with cheese oozing out.
03 -
  • Use a clean, damp kitchen towel to cover the lumpia wrappers while you work so they don't dry out and crack.
  • Don't skip the flip halfway through air frying, it ensures both sides get golden and crispy instead of one side staying pale.
  • If you're making a big batch, work in batches in the air fryer to avoid overcrowding, crowded rolls steam instead of crisp.
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