East Africa · Street food
Nem (Sino-Malagasy fried crisp spring rolls)
Crisp golden rice-paper rolls bursting with seasoned minced pork, crunchy cabbage, and fragrant wood ear mushrooms.
The story
Introduced by Cantonese migrants who settled along the eastern port of Toamasina and in Antananarivo, Nem has become a beloved national afternoon street food. Sold ubiquitously at roadside hotelys and vibrant open-air markets, they are enjoyed with piquant chili-garlic vinegar. An authentic technical hallmark of Sino-Malagasy nem is wrapping the filling tightly in dipped dry rice paper rather than wheat sheets, followed by a double-frying technique that ensures a blistered, stay-crisp exterior in humid island weather.
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