Chinese fooddinnersoup
Comfort is what a bowl of wonton soup can bring.
Wonton soup has been a favorite of mine for a long time.
As a small child, it was the only thing I ate. I have fond memories of sitting at a round table with my mother and wrapping wontons carefully for dinner. I would make the wonton even smaller.
I loved wonton wrappers more than the filling. My wonton would have 10 percent meat and 90% wrapper. These wontons looked different from the wontons we used to order at the local wonton congee noodles restaurant on weekends, but I loved creating those wonky wontons.
What is wonton?
Wonton is a Chinese dumpling stuffed with meat. They are usually served in a clear broth or topped with sauce. Wonton wrappers, unlike other Chinese dumplings, are squares or trapezoids. The wrappers are thin and slippery. Wontons are often filled with ground pork, shrimp, or aromatics. These are popular snacks, side dishes, or main meals. You can have them at home or in restaurants. They are also available frozen and premade in many grocery stores. You can also buy them online, but the best thing is homemade. This is what we are doing here.
How to make wonton soup
- Prepare the broth. Let the broth cool.
- Make the wonton. Bring a large pot of boiling water to a boil. Once the water has come to a spot, add the wontons and stir to prevent them from sticking to the bottom. The wonton will begin to sink when the water returns to a boil. Once they have risen to the surface, they will start to float once it is cooked. To make sure you get all the wonton, take one and slice it open.
- Add the broth to a bowl. Add the wontons, and garnish with scallions. Enjoy!
How to make wonton-filling
Wonton fillings rule! Every grandma and every person has a secret recipe. The filling for wontons is usually ground pork with shrimp. But there are many filling options available today.
Mix everything in a bowl to make wonton filling. Here are some tips.
- Protein. Wontons consist of a meat-based dumpling. It’s essential to use a protein with some fat, so the filling remains moist and fluffy after cooking. This is why pork is so beloved. Ground pork is low in fat and high in protein. Bouncy shrimp adds textural contrast and is a good idea. You can use any ground meat or tofu, but your wonton will be dense if it’s made with extra lean beef.
- Seasoning and aromatics. Soy sauce, ginger, scallions, and Shaoxing ( Read more about Shaoxing HERE) are my tools of choice to make these wontons irresistible.
- Cornstarch. Combine a little cornstarch and water, then mix it with the ground pork. Your wonton will become super tender by adding a little cornstarch to the water. This is the key to tender, juicy wonton. Mix the water and cornstarch until you get a homogenous paste.
How to fold a wonton
The easiest way, and the one I used to do when I was little, is to put two teaspoons of filling in the middle of a wonton wrapper. Wrap the wrapper around it. This is what I did in these photos. They look cute and chubby. This is the Hong Kong-style wrap. You can add a little more pizzazz to your wrap by trying this:
- Place the wonton wrapper as a diamond. Add some filling to the corner nearest you.
- Fold the wrapper in half and place the filling inside a triangle.
- Seal the sides by pressing down.
- Use water to seal the wrapper by bringing the ends together.
What wonton wrappers should I buy?
You can find square Wonton wrappers in the fridge section. You want them to be thin, so choose the package with the most delicate wrappers. Your local Asian grocery shop will have a more comprehensive selection of dumpling wrappers. Although wonton wrappers are sold in major grocery stores, they tend to be thicker.
How to freeze wonton
Making a large batch of wontons is a great way to have ready-to-eat wontons when you need them. You can freeze the wonton by placing it in one layer on a baking sheet or tray. Next, gather the wontons and put them in a freezer-safe container or bag. You can cook from frozen by adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
What does wonton mean?
I have always loved wonton. Not only because they taste great but also because it means swallowing clouds in Chinese (Yun Tun). They do look like little fluffy, delicious clouds floating in the broth.
How many wontons per person?
Generally, 8-10 is a good snack/starter, and 12-16 is a main.
How much soup should you eat per person?
1 1/4 cups of soup per person would be a good serving size.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
- I am allergic to shrimp. Do I need shrimp in wonton or bread?
- You can omit shrimp and add the same amount of pork if you don’t like shrimp. The dried shrimp would be left out of the soup. You can add dried shiitakes to the soup as you would dry shrimp.
- I don’t eat pork. What can I use to make wonton?
- Both chicken wonton and turkey wonton are delicious. Because I love how tender ground turkey and chicken are, I don’t eat beef wonton as much.
