Two ways with Wontons

Wontons are one of our favourite snacks, and we enjoy them in all their glorious avtaars, potstickers (Gyoza), Red(Chili) Oil wontons, boiled and doused with fiery chili dressing and the simple but nourishing Wonton Soup. Here is a picture of chili oil wonton that I found on a Chinese Restaurant menu. I have never tried these ones outside home as I have yet to find a vegetarian version, but it is one of the most popular dishes in Sichuan Restaurants in Singapore.

Wonton in Chili Oil

Wonton soup was available only in a few chinese restaurants in India, during my childhood days. I still remember the fun I had with my cousins competing to see who could manage the whole wonton in a go. A delicately flavoured,clear soup makes a light accompanient to these little beauties .


Wonton in Soup
For both the above, the first step is to make wontons. If you cannot find readymade wonton wrappers, make a smooth dough with plain flour and cornflour in the ratio of 4:1, using water, roll into thin rotis and cut using a square cookie cutter.

Vegetarian Wontons

18 to 20 wonton wrappers
1/2 cup each carrots, cabbage, French beans,
1 tsp each ginger & garlic
1 tsp oil
salt & pepper to taste

Heat oil, fry ginger and garlic till fragrant. Add all the other vegetables. Cook for a few minutes. All salt at the end to avoid it becoming a watery mess. Let cool before using.

Wrapping the Wonton

Wontons can be folded in many different ways. The one below works well for soup and the chili oil version below. It's original name in Chinese is chāo shǒu , which literally translates to folded hands. Poetic, isn't it ?


1. Put around one heaped teaspoon of filling in the center of a thawed wonton wrapper. Dip your finger in some water and lightly wet the edges to help them seal.


2. Fold it in half , by joining the opposite corners to form a triangle

3. Now, pick it up holding one corner in each hand and in one swift motion bring the two corners together and stick them by pressing firmly. Use a dab of water if the wontons are dry and cannot stick properly.


4. Make all of them similarly. You can freeze them at this stage if you like. Don't they look so cute with their folded hands? And like ultaa nurse caps!


Chili Oil Wonton
To make 2 servings, we need:
Wontons 9 to 10, wrapped as described above, with your choice of filling
For the sauce, mix together the following
Light Soy Sauce 2 tbsp
Chili Paste, 1 tsp
Chili oil ,3 tsp
To make chili oil at home , heat 1/4 cup oil, (preferably peanut) to smoking, switch off the gas and add 5 broken dried red chillies. Strain after two hours and use. Keeps for a month

Method:
Bring some water to a boil, drop the wontons a few at a time and cook till they float up on their own.

Scoop a few wonton a bowl.Pour half the sauce over them, top with chopped green onions, a little crushed peanut and (optional) fried onions.
Eat!
Wonton Soup
For wonton soup, first make vegetable stock, by simmering 1/2 cup of any or all of your favourite vegetables, 2 cloves of garlic, one onion, whole sichuan pepper (or 2 cloves and a few peppercorns) in around 4 cups of water. Strain and use when the water is reduced to about 3 cups.
Some vegetables I like to use for stock are:
Carrot, Potato, Asparagus, Leeks, Shitake Mushroom

Bring the stock to boil, season to taste with salt, pepper and light soya sauce.Divide the wontons between the serving bowls, and top with the hot stock. You can add a few leaves of spinach too, they taste lovely in this soup, and can add cubed tofu/paneer as well. Top with green onions. Slurppp!
Update:
If you do not have light soya sauce, then this might work:
dark soy sauce: 3/4 tsp
salt: 1/4 tsp
water: 3 Tbsp
Mix all the above and use instead of 4 tbsp of light soy.
Barbara of Tigers and Strawberries has a soy sauce primer , describing the various types of soy sauce and how they differ.


These are my second entry to
AWED Chinese hosted by DK. The first was Chili Garlic noodles.

45 comments:

  1. The ones in chilli oil are just dazzling - ought to try them. Thanks for the tip on how to get those cute shapes.. like little raviolis.

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  2. Want to reach out and scoop one of them in my mouth.....and the wontons do look cute with their folded hands

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  3. Absolutely delish! Your Asian fare is very mouthwatering. BTW, I'm visiting my bro in law and he grew up in Singapore, so he just loves this stuff, like it's his native food.

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  4. Tempting pictures.Never tried making these at home.Thanks for step by step pictures.I use wonton wrappers for samosas...

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  5. wow, my favorite Chinese Appetizers! I love wontons and I always thought it was difficult to make, not anymore..:) Your step by step photos are so helpful!

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  6. yummmmm pics looks very tempting ,yummmmmmm

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  7. they look so well done....I like the fact that you showed us how to shape them..Thanks...

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  8. this is a really lovely post! To do something from scratch like this is truly remarkable! thanks for the step by step procedure and pics :)

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  9. both dishes looks delicious & tempting..nice photos

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  10. Yummy pictures and easy recipe! Thanks for sharing!

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  11. How delicious-looking these are! I am definitely bookmarking this, Delhibelle.

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  12. thanks a lot for the instructions and the pictures and tips DB!! I am really tempted to try making these at home! Bookmarked!

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  13. very new to me. Looking perfectttt.

    Yummy

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  14. Hi Rashmi
    thanks for your comment on my blog.. You really have nice collection of recipes...
    the wonton soup look delicious.

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  15. WOW....Pics are drooling..Both recipies sounds delicious.Its new for me.....Thanks for sharing...

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  16. Hi!!!!
    The wontons are lovely!!!!!! I dont know whether i will get ready made wontons in chennai.. thanks for the tips for making wontons at home...

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  17. wontons in chilli oil looks terrific .. very mouth watering

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  18. I love wonton soup. Very light huhhh. This looks awesome and mouth-drooling. Great entry for the event!!!

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  19. wontons are such darlings. This looks yummy! Thanks for sending me these for AWED. Round up coming soon :)

    DK
    culinarybazaar.blogspot.com

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  20. Love wontons.Love your pics.Love your recipe. :-)

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  21. You made wantons? I am impressed...

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  22. I just found your blog and I love it, I can't wait to look around more... The Wontons all look so good!

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  23. Thanks for sharing the Chilli wontons reciepe.
    However I guess you have missed out on wat to do once the wontons are removed from the boling water.

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  24. Nidhi, thanks for pointing that out, I have fixed it.

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  25. I wish I could just dig in and scoop one out....Amazing preparation..

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  26. They look most tempting and I love them. If only I could find wonton wrappers here.:(

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  27. Dear DB, I made the wontons in chili oil yesterday and it was awesome!!! drooooling already!! mine wasnt light soy sauce so i felt that it was a little salty. i also didnt ahve red chilli paste, but i felt that the chilli oil was enuff!! :-) fantastic recipe!!

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  28. hey di kaise ho ... hamari to baat hi nai ho rahi na... 1st week was good....
    wontons look amazing especially doosra wala .... aur mujhe momo ke liye bolte ho ....
    pata maine poora bangalore chaan maara tha and mujhe yahan wonton sheets nai mile the.... anyways ... baat karte hain jaldi....

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  29. OMG! Wontons look so tempting..need to try your chillis oil ones soon :)

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  30. Hi jz
    Thanks so much for trying it & ya..dark soy can make it too salty,I have updated the post on substituting light with dark soy.
    Thrilled to know that you enjoyed it!

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  31. ur photos of vegeee wontons is "mouth watering"...have added to my to try reciepes...list..

    do visit my blog when u find time.. and leave ur comments and suggestions...
    http://envittuvirundhusamayal.blogspot.com

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  32. yum!! those look delicious!! unfortunately the wonton wrappers here have egg in them :(..should get the japanese round wrappers that are egg free and try ur recipe...

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  33. FABULOUS! Love the detailed steps and all the variations:)

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  34. These look so good, so yummy and cute. Not only that, they are good for you too. They look easy to make.

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  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  36. Hi rashmi
    thanks for your comment
    I usually post English version for the recipe on the same day.. so check out after sometime for English version of Paneer Hariyali.

    thanks

    chakali

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  37. hi db,..hve posted the link of bhatura in the post...hppy bloggin,..ceeya

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  38. That looks so yummy!! The picture is just awesome. Great job, Rashmi.

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  39. Nice recipe..The wontons look great..

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  40. very nice recipe-- would love to try it soon.

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  41. you've inspired me to try these at home...they look THAT delicious! thanks!

    trupti
    the spice who loved me

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  42. Hi, where can I buy wonton wrappers in Delhi? Please, please answer me as I have looked everywhere. Thanks in advance.

    - Nami

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