Lumpia Semarang is commonly filled with which shoot vegetable?

Lumpia Semarang is commonly filled with bamboo shoot.

Known in Indonesian as rebung, bamboo shoot is the defining vegetable in this spring roll from Semarang, Central Java. The filling commonly combines bamboo shoot with egg, dried shrimp, chicken, and/or prawns, all enclosed in a thin lumpia wrapper.

The dish reflects the meeting of Chinese Indonesian and Javanese food traditions. Lumpia was adapted from Fujianese spring-roll traditions brought by Chinese migrants, then reshaped around local ingredients, tastes, and dietary customs. Semarang became especially famous for its version, which is now sold as street food, a snack, and a popular food souvenir.

A common mix-up is confusing bamboo shoot with jicama. Other Indonesian lumpia styles, including versions associated with Jakarta or Bandung, may use jicama or other vegetables, but Semarang’s signature filling is rebung. The prepared filling is already cooked, so Lumpia Semarang can be served either fried or unfried.

It is often accompanied by a sweet or spicy sauce and fresh alliums. The combination of bamboo shoot, dried shrimp, and aromatic seasoning gives the roll a distinctly savory flavor that separates it from simpler vegetable lumpia.