Air-Fried Cheese Wontons: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Air fryers have become a popular alternative to deep frying, offering a healthier, quicker, and easier way to cook. With an air fryer, you can make crispy, golden, and delicious cheese wontons in just a few minutes. This simple snack or appetizer combines creamy cheese with crispy wonton wrappers, and you can add various ingredients to the filling to make it sweet or spicy. Making cheese wontons in an air fryer is an easy process that only requires a few basic ingredients and some simple folding techniques.

Choosing your ingredients

Choosing the right ingredients is essential to making delicious cheese wontons in an air fryer. Here's a detailed guide to help you select the best ingredients for this tasty treat:

Cream Cheese:

The star ingredient of your cheese wontons is cream cheese. Opt for regular cream cheese, not the spreadable or whipped variety. You can use full-fat or low-fat cream cheese, depending on your preference. If it's not already softened, pop it in the microwave for about 20 seconds to make it easier to mix.

Green Onion/Scallions:

Finely chop some green onions (also known as scallions) to add a mild onion flavour to your filling. You can also use the green tops of regular onions if you don't have green onions available.

Garlic:

Garlic adds a savoury kick to your wontons. You can use fresh garlic cloves, minced or crushed, or opt for garlic powder if you prefer a more subtle garlic flavour.

Chives:

Fresh or dried chives bring a mild onion flavour to your wontons. They pair well with the cream cheese and add a nice touch of colour.

Sweetener:

Adding a touch of sweetness to your filling can enhance the overall flavour. You can use white, granulated sugar, or even a pinch of powdered sugar. If you want to make your wontons extra sweet, you can dust them with powdered sugar after cooking.

Salt:

A pinch of salt will help balance the sweetness of the cream cheese and enhance the overall flavour of your wontons.

Wonton Wrappers:

Wonton wrappers are small squares of thin dough used to create the outer shell of your wontons. You can typically find them in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store, either near the produce, in the deli area, or with other refrigerated dough products. They are usually sold in packages of 12-14 oz, containing around 50 wrappers.

Oil:

A light coating of oil is necessary to crisp up your wontons in the air fryer. You can use an oil spray or brush your wontons with olive oil or another cooking oil.

With these carefully selected ingredients, you'll be well on your way to creating delicious, crispy cheese wontons in your air fryer!

Preparing the filling

Firstly, gather your ingredients. The exact quantities may vary depending on your taste preferences and the number of wontons you wish to make. However, the basic ingredients you will need include cream cheese, green onions or scallions, garlic powder or fresh garlic, and salt. You can also add other ingredients such as sugar, chives, or soy sauce to enhance the flavour.

Once you have your ingredients, it's time to mix them together. In a small bowl, add the cream cheese, green onions or scallions, garlic powder or minced garlic, and salt. If you are using sugar, chives, or soy sauce, add those as well. Beat the mixture until it is creamy and well combined. You can use a hand mixer or an electric mixer to make the process easier.

Now that your filling is ready, it's time to start assembling your wontons. Lay out your wonton wrappers on a flat surface. You can find these wrappers at most grocery stores, usually in the refrigerated section near the produce or deli area. They are small squares of thin dough used for making wontons, dumplings, and other snacks.

Moisten the edges of each wonton wrapper with water. This will help seal the wontons and prevent leaks. You can use your finger or a pastry brush to apply the water.

Add a small amount of the cream cheese filling to the centre of each wrapper. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause leaks. Use a teaspoon or a piping bag to portion out the filling evenly.

Finally, seal your wontons. There are several ways to do this, but one simple method is to fold the wrapper diagonally to create a triangle shape. Make sure the edges are moist and well-sealed. You can also brush on some beaten egg mixed with water to help the wrapper stick together.

Your cheese wonton filling is now ready to be cooked in your air fryer! Remember to spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil or spray before placing the wontons inside. Enjoy your delicious and crispy homemade cheese wontons!

Folding the wontons

Firstly, lay a wonton wrapper on a non-stick surface. With your finger, wet the edges of the wrapper. You can use water or an egg wash (1 egg whisked with 2 tablespoons of water). Adding some filling to the centre of the wrapper is the next step. Most recipes suggest using about a teaspoon of filling, but one suggests adding 1 to 1.5 teaspoons. You do not want to overfill the wonton, but you also want to ensure there is enough filling.

Now for the fun part – the folding! There is no wrong way to fold a wonton. You can search for ideas online or create your own fold. The key is to ensure that they are well sealed so that the creamy filling does not leak during cooking. One recipe suggests bringing each corner up to create a star shape and then sealing tightly. Another suggests folding the wrapper in half to form a triangle, rectangle, or rectangular ignot. You can also try the "coin purse" style, bringing the four corners up and sealing. If you are baking your wontons, you may want to fold the top corner down so that the envelope looks closed, as the "point" may burn when baking.

Once you have mastered the art of folding wontons, you can experiment with different fillings and sauces to find your favourite combination!

Cooking the wontons

Now that you've prepared your filling and laid out your wonton wrappers, it's time to cook your cheese wontons in the air fryer. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Filling the Wontons:

• Add about a teaspoon of the cream cheese filling to the centre of each wonton wrapper. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause the filling to leak out during cooking.
• If you're feeling adventurous, you can try different folding styles. The simplest method is to fold the wrapper diagonally to form a triangle. For a rectangular shape, fold the wrapper in half, then pull down on the two lower corners and seal them together. You can also try the "coin purse" style, where you bring all four corners to the centre, creating an "open envelope" shape.
• To seal the wontons, lightly moisten the edges with water or an egg wash (a mixture of beaten egg and water). This will ensure that the wontons stay closed during cooking.

Air Frying:

• Before placing the wontons in the air fryer, spray the basket with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking. You can also lightly spray or brush the wontons themselves with oil for extra crispness.
• Arrange the wontons in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't touch each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook them in batches.
• Set the air fryer temperature to between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model, so refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Cook the wontons for 7-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook. The wontons are ready when they turn golden brown and crispy.
• Once cooked, remove the wontons from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.

Your cheese wontons are now ready to be enjoyed! Serve them as an appetiser or snack, and don't forget to provide some dipping sauces on the side.

Sauces and dips

There are several sauces and dips that you can serve with your homemade cheese wontons. Here are some ideas:

Sweet and Sour Sauce

This sauce is a popular choice to balance out the savoury flavour of the cheese wontons. You can easily make it yourself with pineapple juice, honey, vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, and sesame oil. Add some cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce, and a few drops of food-based red dye to get that signature red colour.

Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce

This sauce is another popular option for dipping wontons. It has a sweet and spicy flavour that goes well with the cream cheese filling. You can make your own by mixing bottled chilli sauce with orange marmalade. Adjust the amounts to your liking.

Soy Sauce-Based Dipping Sauce

If you prefer something more savoury, you can make a simple dipping sauce with soy sauce, black vinegar, scallions, sesame seeds, and crushed red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.

Other Ideas

You can also experiment with different sauces like plum sauce or duck sauce. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try making a copycat Cheddar's Painkiller Sauce or a Strawberry Habanero Everything Spread for a fruity twist!

Storing Your Dipping Sauces

Most of these sauces can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze them for longer-term storage. Simply thaw and give them a quick stir before serving.

Reheating Tips

If you have leftover wontons, you can reheat them in the air fryer to retain their crispiness. Reheat them at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, or until they are warmed through and crispy again. You may need to increase the time if they are frozen.

Enjoy experimenting with different sauces and dips to find your favourite combinations!

Frequently asked questions