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Quick, easy, and incredibly delicious, this homemade fried wonton recipe won't take you longer than 30 minutes to make! These crispy fried wontons are filled with ground pork and shrimp flavored with everyday ingredients like soy sauce and sesame oil.
Table of Contents
You might wonder if making deep-fried wontons from scratch is worth the effort, especially when you can easily order them from any Chinese restaurant. You can even buy those frozen packets from the grocery store.
But trust me, wrapping these little parcels of goodness, seeing them turn golden brown and crispy, and enjoying the satisfying crunch as you bite into them make the entire process worthwhile.
Want to skip the frying? Boil or steam these Sichuan Red Oil Wontons or Shrimp Wontons instead.
What Are Fried Wontons
Wonton is a type of Chinese dumpling that looks like small, folded parcels. It is typically steamed or boiled in soups, but can also be deep-fried for a crispy exterior.
Fried wontons are popular in many Chinese restaurants in the United States. They are served as appetizers with a side of pinkish-red Chinese sweet and sour sauce for dipping.
The most common fried wonton ingredients are ground pork, shrimp, and basic condiments like soy sauce and sesame oil. Some recipes add green onions or scallions for extra color and flavor, while others mix and match the protein with chicken, turkey, beef, and even scallops.
Everything gets tucked into a thin, square wonton wrapper made from flour, water, and eggs. You can then fold it into various shapes, such as triangles, pyramids, money pouches, or even lotus flowers.
I absolutely love pork and shrimp fried wontons because they are so crispy, classic, and delicious! And don’t even get me started on the dipping sauce—the sweet and sour sauce has a complex yet refreshing flavor that pairs perfectly with the savory filling.
Difference Between Dumplings And Wontons
Simply put, wontons are dumplings. They are under the big umbrella of Chinese dumplings, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Other types of Chinese dumplings include steamed dumplings, potstickers (guo tie), siu mai, soup dumplings (xiao long bao), and stuffed buns (shen jian bao).
What Goes Into This Recipe
- Ground pork – a classic wonton filling that gives a nice, meaty flavor. You can also use ground chicken or turkey, but in my opinion, pork has the best flavor!
- Shrimp – a must-have for the best wonton filling recipe! You can use fresh or frozen shrimp or prawn, just make sure to thaw and devein them before using. Chop them into small pieces so they mix well with the ground pork.
- Soy sauce – adds a savory, umami flavor to the filling. I love the Kimlan Light brand from Taiwan, which tastes perfect with Asian dishes. You can also use fish sauce instead.
- Sesame oil – another key ingredient in making the filling extra flavorful and authentic. A little goes a long way, so I’m just using half a teaspoon in this recipe.
- Wonton wrappers – get square wonton wrappers (either off-white or yellow ones) to make the wrapping and folding easier! You can easily find this in the chilled or frozen section of supermarkets and Asian stores.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
Variations
- Extra crunch. Add chopped water chestnuts to the filling for a satisfying texture in every bite.
- Protein and seafood. Swap pork for ground chicken to make chicken wonton. You can also use turkey, or even beef, and minced scallop or crab meat instead of shrimp as the filling.
- Vegetarian. Replace the pork and shrimp filling with mushrooms and diced vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and cabbage for a tasty veggie version.
- Seasonings. Opt for five spice powder, oyster sauce, or hoisin sauce for a more complex flavor.
Dipping Sauces For Fried Wontons
Perfectly crispy fried wontons need an equally delicious dipping sauce. I usually like to pair them with my homemade sweet and sour sauce made from tomato ketchup, plum sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, among others.
Sometimes, a good old-fashioned Thai sweet chili sauce also does the trick, especially if you prefer a little bit of heat. I love using the Mae Ploy brand for its authentic taste.
Many restaurants also serve fried wontons with a creamy dipping sauce made from mayonnaise. Feel free to spice it up with a touch of sriracha!
How To Fold Wontons
There are a handful of ways to fold wontons, and it always starts with placing an appropriate amount of filling in the center of a wonton wrapper.
The most common and authentic fold is the simple Hong Kong-style wrap (rightmost). It looks like a pouch with the edges gathered together at the top, forming some sort of a crown.
This method is great for beginners as it’s as straightforward as it gets. To achieve this, brush the edges with water and gather them all together at the top to create a pouch.
Another easy way to fold wontons is by creating a triangle (middle). Just fold the wrapper diagonally in half and seal the edges with water. It’s not as pretty as the Hong Kong-style wrap, but you can definitely make a lot of wontons in a short amount of time!
If you’re feeling a little bit fancy, you can try shaping them into cat’s ears (leftmost). This method requires a little bit more practice, but the end result is really worth it! Watch the video in the recipe card to see how it’s done.
How To Make This Recipe
This easy fried wonton recipe is so quick and simple that you can make it in less than 30 minutes! So even if you’re new to cooking, you can enjoy a plate of freshly made fried wontons for dinner without ordering takeout.
Here’s a step-by-step on how to make and fry crispy wontons at home:
Step 1: In a bowl, mix the ground pork, shrimp, soy sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper together. Stir well to combine and form a sticky filling.
Step 2: To wrap the wontons, lay a piece of the wonton wrapper on your palm and add 1/2 tablespoon of the filling in the middle. Dip your index finger into the sealing water and trace it around the outer edges of the wonton wrapper.
Pro tip: If you’re just starting out, use 1 teaspoon of filling in each wonton to give you more room to work with.
Step 3: Make them into a pretty cat’s ears shape by folding them into a triangle and pulling the two corners down so one overlaps the other. Pinch well and seal tightly with water.
Step 4: Heat some oil for deep-frying. Once the oil is fully heated, deep fry the wontons until golden brown. Drain the excess oil with paper towels. Serve hot with Chinese sweet and sour sauce or Thai sweet chili sauce.
Expert Tips
- Use extra thin wonton wrappers for the crispiest fried wontons.
- Don’t overstuff your wontons as they can burst open while frying. Stick to at most 1 tablespoon of filling per wonton for best results.
- Press out any excess air from the wontons before sealing to keep them from puffing up while frying.
- Seal the edges tightly with a dab of water to prevent the filling from leaking out. You can use egg wash if you can’t secure them properly with water.
- Deep-fry the wontons at the right temperature (around 375°F) to ensure they cook evenly and don’t absorb too much oil.
- Use an air fryer to cook the wontons. It won’t get as crispy as deep-fried wontons, but it’s way easier and healthier.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use either, but I prefer water because it’s easier to work with and it seals the wonton wrappers just as well.
It’s best to use neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil. The cooking oil temperature for deep-frying should be around 350-375°F to ensure crispy and evenly fried pork wonton.
Yes, you can freeze uncooked wontons for up to 3 months. Place homemade wontons in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze them until firm and transfer to a freezer bag for long-term storage.
Absolutely! You can fry or deep fry them as long as you thaw them properly in the refrigerator before cooking.
This fried wonton recipe has only 484 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
These crispy fried pork and shrimp wontons are best eaten with sweet and sour sauce or sweet chili sauce. For a wholesome Chinese meal at home, I recommend the following recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Fried Wontons
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. (250g) ground pork, chicken or turkey
- 1/4 lb. (115g) shrimp, chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, or fish sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 dashes ground white pepper
- 1 pack wonton wrappers, store-bought
- water , for sealing
- vegetable oil , for deep frying
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the ground pork, shrimp, soy sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper together. Stir well to combine and form a sticky filling.
- To wrap the wontons, lay a piece of the wonton wrapper on your palm and add 1/2 tablespoon of the filling in the middle. Dip your index finger into the sealing water and trace it around the outer edges of the wonton wrapper.
- Make them into a pretty cat’s ears shape by folding them into a triangle and pulling the two corners down so one overlaps the other. Pinch well and seal tightly with water.
- Heat some oil for deep-frying. Once the oil is fully heated, deep fry the wontons until golden brown. Drain the excess oil with paper towels. Serve hot with Chinese sweet and sour sauce or Thai sweet chili sauce.
Video
Notes
- Use extra thin wonton wrappers for the crispiest fried wontons.
- Don’t overstuff your wontons as they can burst open while frying. Stick to at most 1 tablespoon of filling per wonton for best results.
- Press out any excess air from the wontons before sealing to keep them from puffing up while frying.
- Seal the edges tightly with a dab of water to prevent the filling from leaking out. You can use egg wash if you can’t secure them properly with water.
- Deep-fry the wontons at the right temperature (around 375°F) to ensure they cook evenly and don’t absorb too much oil.
- Use an air fryer to cook the wontons. It won’t get as crispy as deep-fried wontons, but it’s way easier and healthier.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use some cream cheese and canned crab meat as won ton filling?
Thank you
Yes.
Cook them longer at a lower temp. Mine come out perfect every time. ? Remember your protein need to be ground.
Roughly how many water chestnuts are needed for above receipe?
No need water chestnuts.
Wonton
Hi
Is it possible to only use shrimp, and can I boil this as well?
Yes, you can. Boil is fine.
how would you double the recipe? Would it be okay just to double all ingredients? Most wrappers come in a big stack and I LOVE this recipe, freeze and store for easy cooking! Thanks in advance!
Yes, you can double.
Is the meat stuffed raw? Will it cook by the time the wontons fry
Yes.
This meal was absolutely delectable I made five more dumplings after my lips touched the first ??????
How did you make the MOST important ingredient- the won ton wrapper. You assumed everyone has them in their pantry.??. Perhaps a recipe or source should have been included.
I don’t assume everyone has the wonton wrapper in their pantry, you just need to go out and buy. You can try this recipe if you want to make it from scratch: https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-make-chinese-wonton-wrappers-4066655
Great recipe, Pete maybe you should use your brain cell and search the internet for wonton wrapper.
No need to be mean and nasty. It is a simple question. It’s sad to see how people cannot even interact on a cooking website without resorting to this behavior. There used to be a saying “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”
Did you read Pete’s uncalled for comment?
Go to the store lol and buy some
I apologize for the harsh remark. For most of us, won ton wrapper is something easily accessible by purchasing them ready made from supermarkets or Chinese grocery stores. They did not realize that for some people, it is not a known thing. Nevermind, let me explain. Wonton wrapper is like spaghetti where most are bought off-shelf. No need to waste time making your own.
What an incredibly rude comment. You should be thanking the author for the recipe rather than complaining like an entitled, spoiled person.
There was a link in receipe to make ur own wontons..
These look so crispy and addicting! That may be the best kind of party. mmm ?
Can these Valentines be frozen and heat it up later also is it possible to bake them?
Keep up the superb work, I read few posts on this internet site and I conceive that your website is real interesting and contains lots of good info.
Can I use an air fryer instead? If can, what do I need to do differently in order to get crispy wanton?
It *might* work in an air fryer if they have a light coating of oil or nonstick spray to try to get them to brown and crisp. If you don’t want to deep fry because the oil content, then brushing them with oil will still defeat the purpose… but will retain far less oil than the deep fried version.
I personally would try a couple lightly brushed with oil, and a couple sprayed with nonstick spray and see how it goes in the air fryer. Plan on pan fry/steam the rest if you don’t get good results.
I usually make a large batch and pan fry/steam half, and deep fry the other. I like them both ways but the fried version makes better left overs.
Hope that helps.
I can confirm they turn out really well in the air fryer! A quick spray with oil on both sides and they will be nice and crispy. I had them on for approx. 8 minutes at 180 deg celsius.
Ooh, I have tried airfying wontons before and the crisp just wasn’t right. I might’ve messed up by not spraying some oil. Important step.
I think air fryer food will never be crispy like hot oil deep-fried. It just doesn’t work that way.
yeh its more crispier