Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Whether it is crab, jalapeno or pork I usually always have some frozen wontons waiting to be plucked from my freezer and tossed into the fryer on a moments notice. I say usually because to my utter dismay, when I opened my freezer to grab some for dinner last week, I realized I was out. Apparently I had been a little too busy (or was it lazy) lately to replenish my stock. But this was a problem that was quickly and quite easily remedied by these wontons filled with bay shrimp, vegetables, garlic and a little Chinese 5 spice.
For those of you that don’t have much experience with Chinese 5 spice, that has flavors of cinnamon, star anise, fennel, szechuan pepper and cloves. This combination has a bit of a sweet flavor and pairs really nicely with the sweetness of the shrimp and the salty soy sauce. You should be able to find it in the spice aisle of your grocery store. And keep in mind that a little goes a long way so a jar should last you for awhile.
I used bay shrimp otherwise known as shrimp meat, for this recipe. I picked these because they are small, pre-cooked and can be found relativity easily at the seafood counter of your grocery store.
Shrimp and Vegetable Wontons
Wontons filled with bay shrimp, vegetables, garlic and a little Chinese 5 spice.
In a bowl combine shrimp, mushrooms, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, 5 spice powder, vinegar and soy sauce. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Spoon 1 teaspoon of shrimp mixture onto a wonton wrapper. Dip your finger in water and run along the edge of the wonton wrapper. Then carefully pull opposite sides together to make a pointed top. Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers.
Heat 2 inches of oil in a large pan over medium high-heat. Once oil starts to shimmer, drop a little piece of a wonton wrapper into the oil. If it sizzles it is ready. Fry wontons in batches until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan. With a slotted spoon, transfer wontons to a paper towel lined plate. Sprinkle with kosher salt and serve.
Notes
If you don't want to eat all of the wontons at once, place the ones you don't want to fry on a cookie sheet and freeze them. Once frozen transfer to sandwich baggies for later use. Enjoy!
Thank you for this recipe. Growing up my parents made wontons quite frequently and would have to shoo us kids out of the kitchen as we would sometimes steal a pinch of the ingredients while waiting hungrily. All I can find in the store around here are cream cheese and that is not a true wonton to me. Sure those dumpling pot stickers are everywhere but that isn’t the same at all either. Wontons crunch, not mush when bitten.
Yum, these wontons look great… so great in fact I was hoping I may speak to the photographer and perhaps get permission to use the photo on some wonton packaging here in Australia for a local seafood shop…. Worth the question with the hope there may be a “yes! sure” response :)
I hope you enjoy them hanneke!
Jessica- I love foods that bring back childhood memories too. What kind of fillings were traditional in your family?
Thanks Soma!
I always have frozen wontons, or mandoo in Korean, in my freezer too! Some of my fondest childhood memories are of making mandoo to freeze with my mom and sister!
great recipe! I love wontons, esp. wonton soup. I must try these,thx!
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Tim Hill
June 20, 2020 at 1:06 amThank you for this recipe. Growing up my parents made wontons quite frequently and would have to shoo us kids out of the kitchen as we would sometimes steal a pinch of the ingredients while waiting hungrily. All I can find in the store around here are cream cheese and that is not a true wonton to me. Sure those dumpling pot stickers are everywhere but that isn’t the same at all either. Wontons crunch, not mush when bitten.
Deseree
June 21, 2020 at 9:14 amYou are so welcome!! :)
Dean
July 22, 2013 at 4:35 amYum, these wontons look great… so great in fact I was hoping I may speak to the photographer and perhaps get permission to use the photo on some wonton packaging here in Australia for a local seafood shop…. Worth the question with the hope there may be a “yes! sure” response :)
Deseree
November 9, 2009 at 11:21 amI hope you enjoy them hanneke!
Jessica- I love foods that bring back childhood memories too. What kind of fillings were traditional in your family?
Thanks Soma!
Soma
November 9, 2009 at 7:42 amThey look extremely appetizing. seriously making me hungry.
Jessica
November 4, 2009 at 9:19 amI always have frozen wontons, or mandoo in Korean, in my freezer too! Some of my fondest childhood memories are of making mandoo to freeze with my mom and sister!
Hanneke
November 3, 2009 at 11:49 amgreat recipe! I love wontons, esp. wonton soup. I must try these,thx!