Cody Casey
Wontons are a type of Chinese dumpling that can be deep-fried to create a crispy, golden-brown appetizer. They are typically filled with meat or other savoury ingredients and served with a dipping sauce. Frying wontons is a quick and easy process that can be done in a deep fryer or on a stove. This article will provide a step-by-step guide to cooking wontons in a deep fryer, including preparing the filling, assembling the wontons, and frying them to perfection.
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What You'll Learn
Filling options: from pork to vegetarian
Wontons are a type of dumpling made with a wonton wrapper and usually filled with ground pork, shrimp, or cheese. However, you can also make a vegetarian version with diced vegetables or rice.
If you want to stick to the traditional filling, you can use ground pork, shrimp, soy sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper. You can also add in mushrooms, green onions, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. If you want to get creative with your filling, you can try other types of ground meat such as chicken or turkey. You can also add flavourings like sriracha, five-spice seasoning, hoisin sauce, or oyster sauce. If you want to add more vegetables, you can use button mushrooms or finely shredded cabbage.
For a vegetarian option, you can use diced vegetables of your choice or rice. You can also add in some vegetarian-friendly flavourings like soy sauce, sesame oil, or hoisin sauce.
No matter which filling you choose, the process of assembling and frying the wontons remains the same. Simply combine all your filling ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Place about 1/2 tablespoon of filling in the middle of a wonton wrapper. Using your finger, trace water around the edges of the wrapper to help seal it up. Fold the wrapper into a triangle, then pull the two corners down so one overlaps the other, creating a purse shape. Get some oil heated up for deep-frying and fry your wontons in batches until they are golden brown and crispy.
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How to fold wontons
Wontons are a type of traditional Chinese dumpling made by filling a thin wrapper with meat or vegetables. They can be cooked in several ways, including boiling, pan-frying, steaming, or deep-frying. Before you start folding your wontons, you should set up your workstation. This should include a small bowl of water, a bowl of wonton filling, a plate of square wonton wrappers, and a large sheet pan lined with parchment to hold the folded wontons.
The Bonnet
This is the most common folding method and is perfect for wontons that will be boiled or added to soup. It is also the go-to method for most wonton recipes as it yields a compact shape with tasty, chewy folds. To fold a wonton into a bonnet shape:
- Take a square wonton wrapper and use your index finger to dab the edges of the wrapper with water.
- Place 1-2 teaspoons of filling in the middle of the wrapper.
- Fold the wrapper in half diagonally to create a triangle, ensuring the edges meet neatly.
- Dab one of the corners of the triangle with water.
- Bring the two corners together and squeeze to seal.
The Diamond
The diamond is an alternative to the bonnet and yields a slightly less compact wonton with pointed/flared ends. To create a diamond shape:
- Place 1 teaspoon of filling in the centre of a wonton wrapper.
- Moisten the edges of the wrapper.
- Fold the wrapper in half to form a triangle, carefully pressing out any air bubbles and sealing the edges well.
The Scrunch
This method is used only with very thin wrappers and small amounts of filling. It is a good option for wontons that will be tossed in sauce. To create a scrunched wonton:
- Place a small amount of filling in the centre of the wrapper.
- Make a loose fist with your hand and drop the wrapper/filling lightly into your fist.
- Gently squeeze to seal.
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Oil temperature and type
The ideal oil temperature for frying wontons is between 350°F and 375°F. You can use a large, deep frying pan, a wok, or a medium-sized pot. Fill the pan with about 2–3 inches of oil, heat it to the desired temperature, and then add the wontons.
It is important not to overcrowd the pan, so fry the wontons in batches of 6–8 at a time. This will ensure that the oil temperature does not drop too much, and the wontons will cook evenly. Fry the wontons for 2–3 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain them on paper towels.
You can use a variety of oils for frying wontons, such as vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil, or even lard. Each type of oil has a different smoke point, so be sure to choose one that can withstand high temperatures.
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Frying time and colour
Most recipes recommend frying the wontons for 2-3 minutes, with some suggesting up to 5 minutes, until they turn golden brown and crispy. The oil temperature should be between 350°F and 375°F. It is important to monitor the wontons during the frying process to ensure they do not burn.
When frying, it is best to cook the wontons in batches to avoid overcrowding. Add a few wontons at a time to the hot oil, being careful not to crowd the fryer or pan. Use a slotted spoon to gently lower them into the oil to avoid splashing.
The colour of the wontons is a good indicator of their doneness. The desired colour is a golden brown, which indicates that the wonton wrapper has reached the desired level of crispness. It is important not to overcook the wontons, as they can burn and become bitter.
Once the wontons have reached the desired colour and crispness, remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon or tongs and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil. Serve the wontons immediately while they are still hot and crispy.
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Dipping sauces
There are several dipping sauces that you can pair with your deep-fried wontons. Here are some options:
Soy Sauce, Vinegar, and Sugar
This sauce has a balanced salty, tangy, and sweet flavour. To make it, combine dark soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and water. You can also add sliced chillies for some spice. Adjust the quantities of the ingredients to your taste.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
This sauce is made with rice vinegar, ketchup, sugar, and salt. Combine these ingredients with water and cornstarch in a saucepan over medium heat. This sauce pairs well with crispy fried wontons.
Soy Sauce, Vinegar, and Sesame Oil
This sauce also includes scallions, onion powder, garlic powder, and green onions. For a nuttier flavour, toast the sesame seeds in a non-stick pan until lightly browned before adding them to the sauce.
Spicy Sauce
For added spice, mix in some red pepper flakes, Chinese hot mustard, sriracha, or other hot sauce. You can also add aromatics like scallions, ginger, or garlic for depth of flavour and texture.
These sauces are simple to make and can be customised to your taste preferences. They are the perfect accompaniment to your deep-fried wontons.
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