Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Strange yet yummy little packages - Wontons


Wontons are one of the easiest things to make, so don't be scared. You can fill them with anything you like and they present really well. If you like appearing cooler than you really are, I would highly recommend wonton making for potlucks. Ok, so here are the steps to social fame... good luck.

Makes about 45 wontons
Great deep fried appetizer or in soup.

Wonton wrappers:
Buy at any Chinese grocer - full egg wonton wrapper, I use Double Happiness Ltd. wrappers.

Wonton filling:
8 medium sized Shitake mushrooms, diced small
1 package enoki mushrooms, diced
5 Tbs Chinese green onion, diced
1 Tbs sriracha or chili sauce (to taste if you don't like spice)
1 Tbs braggs or soy sauce
1 Tbs fish sauce
1 clove garlic minced
Mix and put about a level tsp of the mixture in each wonton. Here's how to wrap a wonton... it's really easy, I use the video style. http://www.homemade-chinese-soups.com/how-to-fold-wontons.html
Find a friend, grab a glass of wine and have a wrapping, chatting good time (should take you about 15 min to wrap 45). They also freeze well, so make more and then freeze them in a ziplock bag on a plate. Make sure they aren't clumped together so they don't stick to each other.
Deep Frying Instructions:
Once the wontons are made, set some safflower (best), peanut or canola oil to fry if you have a home fryer and drop in until brown. Strain on a paper towel.
or
If you don't have a fryer, put oil in a small saucepan (you want to submerge the wontons fully in the oil) and set to high heat, make sure the oil doesn't smoke. Heat to around 375ºF, just before smoking. Make sure you don't get any water in the pan, that will cause the oil to spit which can be very burny. Brown wontons and then strain on paper towel.

Or boil the wontons in a good chicken or fish stock with some carrots and chives for colour if you don't like fried food. Voila, wonton soup.

Spicy Fruit Sauce:
6 apples
2 cups huckleberries (sour berries)
or
4 cups plums
1/2 onion diced
2 Tbs grated ginger root
1/2 c water
Combine in sauce pan and bring to boil then simmer till soft. Strain through sieve and put the juice back in the pot.

1/3 c sugar
1 tsp chili flakes
1/4 c vinegar
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt, to taste
Add the rest and reduce by 1/2, around 30 min or until desired thickness is reached.

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