Let me just say a disclaimer: these Shrimp Wontons are positively addictive. As in, you’ll wonder how you’ve lived life without them for this long. Dramatic? Possibly, but these wontons are kind of life-changing like that. The recipe for Shrimp Wontons below comes from my mom. We used to only eat them on special occasions, but now we enjoy them at all of our family gatherings. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family and I have.
With fresh ginger, garlic, and sesame oil, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, and water chestnuts are mixed together. Soft wonton wrappers are then used to wrap and cook the food. Spread and dip them in the sour and spicy sesame dressing, and enjoy! Each bite will feel like a cloud as the flavors melt in your mouth.
These Shrimp Spring Rolls are another great shrimp recipe for spring. They have crispy vegetables and seared shrimp in a rice wrapper, and you can dip them in a creamy peanut butter sauce. Fresh, healthy, and oh-so delicious!.
Wontons are a classic Chinese dumpling that are commonly filled with pork or shrimp When filled with juicy shrimp, they make a delicious appetizer or main course that is sure to impress your family or guests While you can certainly buy pre-made wontons at the grocery store, learning how to make shrimp wontons from scratch at home is surprisingly easy, customizable, and so rewarding. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through my tips and tricks for how to make the most flavorful shrimp wontons ever with two different cooking methods – pan fried or boiled. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you’ll have restaurant-quality wontons ready in no time!
Overview on Shrimp Wontons
Wontons are small square dumplings made from thin wonton wrappers filled with meat or vegetable fillings. Unlike other Chinese dumplings, wontons have a distinctive triangular shape formed when the square wonton skin is folded into a triangle. The word “wonton” comes from the Cantonese word meaning “swallowing clouds”, describing the light and puffy texture of a properly made wonton.
While wontons can be filled with different proteins like pork, chicken or vegetables, shrimp wontons are one of the most popular varieties Plump, diced shrimp combined with aromatic herbs, spices, and binders makes for an incredibly flavorful filling encased in a delicate wrapper A quick fry or boil yields pillowy soft wontons that are light yet filling. Served with a punchy chili oil or soy dipping sauce, shrimp wontons make the perfect party appetizer or weeknight dinner.
So if you’re looking for an impressive and crowd-pleasing recipe to add to your repertoire, learning how to DIY shrimp wontons is a must! Keep reading for my complete guide to making foolproof shrimp wontons at home with whichever cooking method you prefer.
Ingredients Needed for Shrimp Wontons
Part of what makes wontons so easy to recreate at home is that they require just a handful of simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to make around 40-50 medium shrimp wontons:
Filling:
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined and diced
- 2-3 green onions, finely chopped
- 1-2 tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 egg white
- 1-2 tsp sesame oil
- 1-2 tsp soy sauce
- Salt and white pepper to taste
Assembly:
- Wonton wrappers (around 50-60 small squares)
- Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water)
Cooking:
- Vegetable or canola oil for frying OR water for boiling
- Dipping sauce ingredients (soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili oil etc.)
The filling for shrimp wontons is simple but packed with flavor. Diced shrimp, aromatics like garlic, ginger and green onion, and a binder like egg white or cornstarch come together beautifully. Sesame oil, soy sauce, salt, and white pepper add crucial seasoning.
For assembling the wontons, all you need is the wonton skins and egg wash to seal them. I recommend looking for square wonton wrappers about 3-4 inches wide, which are the perfect size to make nice medium wontons.
And for cooking, you can either pan fry them in oil for crispy texture or boil them in water for soft, pillowy dumplings. Either way, serve them immediately with store bought or homemade dipping sauces.
With such minimal ingredients needed, making shrimp wontons really is an easy weeknight or party appetizer option!
Step-By-Step Instructions for Making Shrimp Wontons
Now that you have an overview of the components, let’s get into the step-by-step process! Here is my tried and true method for how to make foolproof shrimp wontons at home:
1. Prepare the Filling
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In a bowl, combine the diced shrimp, chopped green onions, grated ginger, minced garlic, egg white, sesame oil, soy sauce and seasoning. Mix thoroughly until fully incorporated.
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You want the texture of the filling to be thick enough to stay neatly inside the wonton wrapper without falling apart. Test the consistency by microwaving a small bit of the mixture for 30 seconds – it should hold its shape. If it seems too loose, mix in 1-2 tsp of cornstarch.
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Taste the filling and adjust seasoning if needed. It should taste quite strong since the flavors will mellow out once cooked.
2. Assemble the Wontons
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Fill a small bowl with water to use as your egg wash. Beat 1 egg with 1 tbsp water until fully blended.
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Take 1 wonton wrapper and place 1 tbsp of filling into the center. Using your finger, wet two adjacent edges with the egg wash.
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Fold the wrapper diagonally to form a triangle, pressing along the edges to seal. Make sure to push out any air bubbles.
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Dab a bit more egg wash along the sealed edges for extra security.
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Place the filled and sealed wonton on a parchment lined baking sheet or plate, making sure they aren’t touching each other.
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Repeat the filling and folding process until you run out of filling or wrappers.
Assembling the wontons does take some practice getting the folding motion down. Don’t worry if they look a little wonky at first – they will still taste amazing! The egg wash ensures a good seal so the filling stays neatly packed inside once cooked.
3. Cook the Wontons
Here is where you can choose your preferred cooking method based on the texture you desire: pan-fried or boiled.
To Pan Fry:
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Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a large skillet or wok to 350°F. Use a thermometer to accurately gauge temperature.
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Once oil is hot, fry wontons in batches without overcrowding, for 1-2 minutes per side until crispy and golden brown.
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Transfer fried wontons to a paper towel lined plate to drain any excess oil.
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Serve shrimp wontons immediately while still warm and crispy, with dipping sauces on the side.
To Boil:
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Salt the water liberally.
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Gently drop wontons into the boiling water in batches, without overcrowding.
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Cook for 2-3 minutes until they float to the top, then cook 1 minute more.
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Use a slotted spoon to transfer boiled wontons to a bowl. Toss with sauce and serve immediately.
No matter which cooking method you choose, the result will be tender, flavor-packed shrimp wontons that are an impressive appetizer or meal! Just be sure not to overcrowd them during cooking to ensure even cooking.
Serving Suggestions and Dipping Sauces
Now that you’ve mastered the shrimp wonton filling and folding process, let’s talk about serving suggestions and sauce pairings!
Shrimp wontons make a fantastic starter served as finger food. Arrange them on a platter with small bowls of dipping sauce for easy serving at parties or gatherings. You can also incorporate them into soup, stir fries or noodle dishes.
Some classic shrimp wonton sauce ideas include:
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Soy sauce – Simple, salty, and lets the flavor of the shrimp shine. Mix with some chili oil or paste for a kick.
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Sweet and sour sauce – Tangy, fruity and thick. Easily purchased ready-made.
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Hot mustard – Spicy, tangy and compliments the shrimp beautifully. Also readily available prepared.
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Vinegar dip – Black or rice vinegar mixed with soy sauce, garlic, chili and sesame oil.
Whatever sauce you choose, having a flavorful dip really helps balance and enhance the shrimp wontons. Part of the fun is testing out different sauce combinations to find your favorite!
Tips for Shrimp Wonton Success
Making shrimp wontons for the first time? Here are my top troubleshooting tips for ensuring wonton success:
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Chill the filling for 30 minutes before assembling wontons for easiest folding.
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Wet wrapper edges thoroughly before sealing to prevent openings.
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Don’t overfill wontons which can cause bursting and leaks. About 1 tbsp filling is perfect.
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Ensure oil is hot enough before frying wontons for even cooking and color.
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Don’t overcrowd wontons when boiling or frying so they cook properly. Work in batches.
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Serve shrimp wontons immediately after cooking for optimum texture.
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Store any extra uncooked wontons in the freezer, separating layers with parchment paper.
Follow these tips and you’ll be a shrimp wonton master in no time! Play around with different fillings like pork or veggie too once you get the hang of it.
Full Shrimp Wonton Recipe
Now that you have all the tips, tricks and instructions for achieving wonton greatness, here is a full recipe to reference:
Ingredients:
Filling:
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveine
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How to Make Shrimp Wontons
- Start by preparing the filling for your shrimp wontons. Put small pieces of shrimp into a large mixing bowl. Stir until evenly combined.
- Put the second egg and 2 teaspoons of water in a small bowl. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together. Set aside. You will use this to help seal the wontons.
- Put about 1 tablespoon of the shrimp filling in the middle of one of the wonton skins. Roll it up. Whisk the egg and water together and wet two edges. Then, bring the opposite corners together (wet edges to dry edges) to make a triangle. Press the edges together, being careful to get rid of any air bubbles.
- Place the wontons on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper so that they don’t touch each other. Keep doing this until all the filling is gone. You can store extra wonton wrappers in the freezer by wrapping them in Saran wrap.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Put 10 to 12 filled wontons at a time into boiling water. Let them cook for three to four minutes; they will float to the top. Remove cooked wontons to drain in a colander. Once all the wontons are done, move the drained ones to the bowl you want to use for serving.
- Soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, hot sauce, fresh garlic, and ginger should all be mixed together in a whisk to make the dipping sauce.
- Add scallions, cilantro, and crispy chili oil to cooked wontons after you dip them in the sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy!.
Ingredients in Shrimp Wontons
Shrimp: Look for them or get them ready to peel. It will be easier to put the filling inside the wonton wrappers if you cut them up small.
Ginger – Fresh is best for the most potent flavor & fragrance. I like to peel the ginger using the side of a spoon, and then chop. Fresh ginger is very strong, so make sure you either grate or dice it very small so there are no big chunks in the filling.
Mushrooms – Shiitake mushrooms are my favorite for their “meaty” texture and nutty, umami flavor. Remove the chewy stems and finely dice the mushroom caps only.
Water Chestnuts – Contrary to the name, water chestnuts are not “nuts,” they are actually a sea vegetable! I love them for their crisp texture and the nutty, subtly sweet flavor. I use canned water chestnuts which can be found in the Asian section of most grocery stores.
Egg – The egg helps bind the shrimp mixture together and works as a seal for the wontons.
Cornstarch – Helps thicken and bind the filling together, making it easier to fill the wonton wrappers.
Sesame Oil – The toasty, nutty aroma of sesame oil is perfect for these shrimp wontons. I like this brand the best!
Soy Sauce – Gives a salty, umami flavor to the dipping sauce. For a less salty, slightly sweet sauce, you could substitute it with coconut aminos.
Wontons Wrappers – You’ll likely find these in the refrigerator section of any medium-large sized grocery store. They come in large packs, but store well and you can always freeze any leftovers. I personally like to keep 1-2 packs in my freezer so I can make these Shrimp Wontons whenever the craving strikes!
The Best Shrimp Wontons you will ever make / Trini Shrimp Wontons
How do you cook shrimp wontons?
The first way to enjoy Shrimp Wontons is by boiling them, and you can enjoy them in soup or toss in spicy garlic chili oil. Fill a pot of water with water and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the water is simmering, add in the wontons. Cook the wontons for 4-5 minutes or until they start to float. Once it floats, cook for another 1 minute.
Are wonton wrappers gluten free?
No, wonton wrappers are not gluten-free. In the preparation of wonton wrappers, all-purpose flour or wheat flour is used. Wheat flour and all-purpose flour has gluten in them. Those on a gluten-free diet or having gluten intolerance can replace wheat flour with gluten-free flour; there are plenty available in the market, and to prepare at home can substitute with rice flour and tapioca starch.
What is a shrimp wonton?
One of the most popular dim sum dishes is wonton (馄饨). It is a type of Chinese dumpling loved for its irresistibly chewy wonton wrappers that are loaded with a pillowy filling. Wontons feature a wide array of seasoned fillings, from ground pork to seafood and vegetables. In this recipe, I share my family’s 5-step recipe of shrimp wontons.
How do you make shrimp wonton wrappers?
Use raw shrimp to make the filling and add the seasoning. For the wrapper, you will need wonton wrappers, which are square in shape and pale yellow in color. Assemble the shrimp wontons by adding the filling to the wonton wrapper and then fold to form wontons. Deep fry in hot oil until crispy and serve with mayonnaise.