Wonton soup is a comforting and delicious Chinese dish consisting of delicate wontons filled with seasoned ground meat or seafood, served in a clear and flavorful broth. This recipe guides you through making both the wontons and the broth from scratch, ensuring a delightful bowl of soup that’s perfect as an appetizer or a light meal.
Ingredients
For the Wontons:
- 1/2 pound (about 225g) ground pork or ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 30-40 square wonton wrappers
For the Broth:
- 6 cups chicken broth (homemade or low-sodium store-bought)
- 1 inch piece of ginger, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Salt and white pepper to taste
- Optional: Chopped cilantro and additional green onions for garnish
Instructions
1. Prepare the Wonton Filling:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground pork or chicken with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, grated ginger, minced garlic, chopped green onions, salt, and pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly combined.
2. Assemble the Wontons:
- Place a small spoonful of the filling in the center of each wonton wrapper.
- Moisten the edges of the wrapper with water, then fold one corner over to the opposite corner to form a triangle. Press to seal the edges tightly, making sure there are no air pockets.
- Take the two bottom corners and bring them together, overlapping slightly. Press to seal, creating the classic wonton shape. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
3. Prepare the Broth:
- In a large pot, bring the chicken broth to a simmer over medium heat.
- Add the sliced ginger, smashed garlic cloves, and chopped green onions to the broth.
- Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and white pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning according to your preference.
4. Cook the Wontons:
- Carefully add the wontons to the simmering broth, one at a time, making sure they do not stick together. Stir gently to prevent sticking.
- Cook the wontons for about 5-7 minutes, or until they float to the surface and the filling is cooked through.
5. Serve:
- Ladle the hot wonton soup into bowls, making sure each bowl gets an equal amount of wontons and broth.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and additional green onions if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade wonton soup!
Tips for Perfect Wonton Soup
- Wrapper Handling: Keep the wonton wrappers covered with a damp towel as you work to prevent them from drying out.
- Freezing Wontons: If you have extra wontons, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen wontons to a freezer bag for longer storage. Cook from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Broth Variations: Customize the broth by adding dried shiitake mushrooms, a splash of rice wine vinegar, or a pinch of white sugar for added depth of flavor.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare the wontons and broth separately ahead of time. Store the assembled wontons covered in the refrigerator for up to a day before cooking.
- Serve with Accompaniments: Serve with chili oil, soy sauce, or black vinegar on the side for dipping or drizzling over the wontons.
Homemade wonton soup is a labor of love that rewards you with delicious flavors and comforting warmth. Enjoy the delicate wontons filled with savory goodness in a flavorful broth, perfect for any occasion!
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