Wonton soup is a beloved staple in Chinese cuisine, celebrated for its delicate flavors and comforting warmth. Making wonton soup at home may seem intimidating, but with the right ingredients and techniques, you can recreate this restaurant favorite in your own kitchen. Here’s an authentic recipe for Chinese wonton soup, along with tips and variations to elevate this dish.
1. Authentic Chinese Wonton Soup Recipe (4 Servings)
Ingredients for Wontons
- 1/2 lb (225g) ground pork
- 1/4 cup (30g) finely chopped shrimp (optional)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
- 30-40 wonton wrappers
Ingredients for Soup
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 2-3 green onions, sliced
Instructions
Prepare the Wonton Filling
In a mixing bowl, combine ground pork, shrimp, soy sauce, sesame oil, Shaoxing wine, ginger, white pepper, and green onion. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
Assemble the Wontons
Take a wonton wrapper and place about 1 teaspoon of the filling in the center. Wet the edges with water, fold the wrapper into a triangle, and press to seal. Fold the two corners of the triangle inward, pinching them together to form the classic wonton shape.
Cook the Wontons
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Gently drop the wontons into the water and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until they float to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon.
Prepare the Soup Base
In a separate pot, heat the chicken stock over medium heat. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper. Stir to combine.
Assemble the Soup & Serve
Add the cooked wontons to the soup and garnish with sliced green onions before serving.
2. Tips To Perfect Wonton Soup
Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh pork, shrimp, and vegetables enhance the flavor and texture of the wontons. Avoid pre-packaged fillings for a more authentic taste.
Seal Wontons Properly: Ensure the edges of the wonton wrappers are tightly sealed to prevent them from breaking apart during cooking.
Cook Wontons Separately: Boiling the wontons in a separate pot of water prevents excess starch from clouding the soup.
Season the Soup Carefully: The soup base should complement the wontons, so taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
3. Recipe Variations
Vegetarian Wontons: Replace pork and shrimp with finely chopped mushrooms, tofu, and shredded carrots for a vegetarian-friendly option.
Spicy Wonton Soup: Add chili oil or a dash of Sichuan peppercorns to the soup for a spicy kick.
Seafood Wonton Soup: Add shrimp (peeled and deveined), scallops, or crab meat to the soup for a seafood twist.
Vegetable Wonton Soup: Add baby bok choy, spinach, broccoli florets, baby carrots, or mushrooms to the soup for a healthy meal
Wonton Soup With Noodle: Add cooked egg noodles or rice noodles to the soup for a more filling meal.
4. What To Eat With Wonton Soup
Wonton soup pairs well with a variety of side dishes to create a complete Chinese meal. Consider serving it with the following:
Spring Rolls: Crispy spring rolls filled with vegetables or shrimp are an excellent appetizer.
Fried Rice: A small bowl of fried rice complements the lightness of the soup.
Dim Sum: Dumplings, buns, or other dim sum items make a great combination with wonton soup.
5. How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
Storing Wontons: Store uncooked wontons in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. Cook from frozen to prevent them from becoming soggy.
Storing Soup: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the soup and wontons separate to maintain the texture of the wontons.
Reheating: Reheat the soup on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through. If the wontons have already been cooked, gently warm them in the soup to avoid overcooking.
Wonton soup is a versatile dish that can be customized to suit your preferences. I hope that after reading this article, you knew how to make wonton soup perfectly at home.
Read More: How to Make Wontons from Scratch
2 Comments
This soup looks wonderful. I would love to try it, but I have celiac disease and can’t have gluten. Do you have any recipes for making wontons gluten-free? If so, I would love to make some.
You can read this article. Recipe Variations Section