Sichuan Spicy Wontons Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is spicy wonton made of? ›

Spicy wonton in chili oil, also known as Hong You Chao Shou (红油抄手) in Chinese, is a traditional dim sum from Sichuan. It features small wontons with a simple pork filling, served with a rich and thick sauce that uses chili oil as the main ingredient.

When comparing Chinese dumplings vs wontons, some key differences are: Wrappers: Wonton wrappers are thinner, are usually square, and may contain egg. Dumpling wrappers are thicker, are usually round, and don't require egg. Filling: Dumplings can be filled or unfilled.

The words 红油 or “hong you” translates to “red oil” in reference to chili oil. These wontons are typically filled with a simple ground pork mixture (and shrimp as well, in this version), boiled, drained and tossed in a spicy chili sauce with that signature red colour.

If you've never had wontons, they're basically juicy, chewy balls of minced meat folded inside thin sheet of doughs. Wontons are a quintessential Chinese dish with a ton of variations, both in folding techniques and fillings, throughout the different regions of China.

Wonton filling

There are many types of wonton fillings, but I'd say that pork and shrimp/prawns are the most common. Then there are all sorts of additions, including mushrooms, water chestnuts, chopped up Asian greens and even carrots.

Wontons may provide some protein, but they may also be high in sodium and fat, depending on how they are prepared. Enjoyed in moderation, these steamed dumplings or wonton soup can add variety to a balanced diet.

What is the difference between crab wonton and crab rangoon? Crab rangoon is a type of fried wonton, so they are really very similar. The difference is all in the filling. Traditional wontons are not ever filled with cream cheese (which is one of the main components in crab rangoon recipes).

Wontons are basically fried dumplings that are filled with a mix of vegetables and meat, typically ground beef or pork. Wontons wrappers are typically thinner and made with wheat flour, whereas dumplings can be made from potato or wheat flour. Both can be boiled, steamed, or fried.

I like to use either peanut oil or vegetable oil for deep frying. Both are neutral flavored and have a high smoke point. They can handle the amount of heat needed to make sure that your wonton strips fry up crispy without absorbing too much oil.

A little water acts as the “glue” to keep the wontons sealed tight so they don't fall apart as they cook. Remember to buy square wrappers (round wrappers don't work with this folding technique) and press as much air out of the wontons as you can while sealing them.

Are wontons Thai or Chinese? ›

A wonton (traditional Chinese: 餛飩; simplified Chinese: 馄饨; pinyin: húntun; Jyutping: wan4 tan1) is a type of Chinese dumpling commonly found across regional styles of Chinese cuisine.

Hong-Kong-style wonton wrappers are also square-shaped, but they're thinner than the Shanghai-style ones and yellow colored. These are used for Cantonese or Hong-Kong-style wontons, like in our Wonton Noodle Soup recipe.

Often they burst during cooking because they have too much filling for the amount of dough. Some doughs are too dry, so the dumplings won't stay sealed. Others can be too wet and sticky and end up tearing. If the filling isn't cohesive enough, it will tumble out when you bite into it.

Most dumplings are usually served with a thicker wrap. Wontons originate from China, with evidence of its existence going as far back as the Qing Dynasty (1644). Wonton soup was enjoyed by the rich, upper class families but after World War II, it became more widespread.

Wontons are made by spreading a square wrapper (a dough skin made of flour, egg, water, and salt) flat in the palm of one's hand, placing a small amount of filling in the center and sealing the wonton into the desired shape by compressing the wrapper's edges together with the fingers.

Make the Pork and Shrimp Wonton Filling

In a large mixing bowl, add the shrimp paste with the ground pork. To the pork and shrimp, add chopped scallions, minced garlic & ginger, then season with light soy sauce, shaoxing wine, sesame oil, salt, white pepper, sugar, and msg.

Fried wonton filling with pop

My recipe below has a classic authentic Chinese wonton filling – pork, shrimp, and fresh aromatics with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and sesame oil. The ingredients combine for a deep and satisfying umami with a pop of bright flavor from the ginger and a hint of nuttiness from the sesame oil.

Chinese dumpling dipping sauce is typically made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, scallions, and Sichuan chili oil. The savory, tangy, nutty, and spicy flavors create a balanced dipping sauce.