The History of Egg Rolls

In honor of National Egg Roll Day, we’re taking a look at the history behind this beloved food. There are many conflicting claims about its origin. Some insist that Southern China is the egg roll’s most likely source, while others credit 1930s New York with its creation. Other sources claim that egg rolls – as well as spring rolls – date all the way back to ancient China. It’s likely that egg roll-type foods were made and consumed in the United States by the first Chinese settlers in the mid-1800s. As for the name, a Chinese-American cookbook published in 1917 included a dish called “Dan Gun,” which means “egg roll.” The recipe called for meat and vegetables to be wrapped in egg, sliced, and served. It’s possible that the name stuck and was later applied to the type of egg roll that we know and love today.