We're sorry, there seems to be an issue playing this video. Please refresh the page or try again in a moment.If you continue to have issues, please contact us here.
Chinese wontons are famous for their savory flavor and appealing plump shape. Many recipes for these popular dumplings fill them with a combination of ground pork and shrimp, but this lighter version omits the pork and is seasoned to highlight the fresh, sweet flavor of shrimp. Soaking the shrimp in a baking soda solution before chopping them helps to keep the filling juicy and bouncy, not mushy. Wonton wrappers come in different shapes and colors; we recommend using square yellow Hong Kong-style wrappers, a type that’s thinner and easier to fold and seal than wrappers that are white. Once you’ve mixed up the filling, wrapping the wontons is a fun project to do with a partner, or make it a group activity. Serve these tender morsels with the vinegar dipping sauce and add a noodle dish for a fuller meal if you like.
For the wontons: Stir the shrimp, baking soda and enough cold water to cover in a large bowl until the baking soda is evenly distributed. Carefully transfer the bowl to the refrigerator and let sit uncovered for 30 minutes. Drain and discard the soaking water. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels.
Reserve 1 1/2 cups shrimp and chop the remaining shrimp until sticky and a paste forms, about 4 minutes. Coarsely chop the reserved 1 1/2 cups shrimp until it’s in small bite-size pieces, about 1 minute. Wipe out the large bowl the shrimp soaked in and place both types of chopped shrimp in the bowl. Add the scallions, cornstarch, bouillon powder, sesame oil, sugar, Shaoxing wine, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and ground white pepper. Mix with gloved hands in one direction until a sticky film starts to form on the side of the bowl, about 1 minute. Gather and scoop all the filling in one hand and throw the mixture back into the bowl to release some of the air. Repeat this step 3 more times.
When ready to wrap the wontons, fill a small bowl with cold water for sealing them. Place a wonton wrapper on your palm and place a tablespoon of filling in the center of the wrapper. Using your finger, swipe all four edges of the wonton wrapper with a thin coat of water. Take the corner of the wrapper closest to you and join it with the opposite corner to form a triangle and pinch the sides close. Take the two opposite side corners and scrunch them to the middle corner to make folds and give you three points at the top. Firmly press the wrapper closer to the filling to seal. The closer you press the filling, the less air bubbles in the wonton to prevent it from bursting during cooking. Set the wonton filling-side down on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining filling. Make sure the wontons don’t touch.
You can cook the wontons immediately or cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. You can also freeze the wontons in a single layer until solid. Once frozen, transfer to a resealable freezer bag, remove excess air and freeze for up to 2 months.
To cook the wontons, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the water with 1 tablespoon salt. Gently add 10 to 15 wontons to the water. Boil until the wontons float to the top and the skin is translucent, about 4 minutes per batch. Transfer to a platter with a slotted spoon. Repeat with the remaining wontons.
For the sauce: Combine the vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil in a small bowl. Serve alongside the warm wontons.
Cook’s Note
We recommend large shrimp for the ideal texture. Be sure the shrimp weighs 2 pounds after peeling, not before. A 2-pound bag of defrosted frozen peeled shrimp is convenient, just make sure to remove the tail shells if they’re left on.
Tools You May Need
Copyright 2025 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.
Tools You May Need
Price and stock may change after publish date, and we may make money off
these links.
Subscribe to our Recipe of the Day newsletter to get Food Network's best ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert delivered to your inbox daily.
By entering your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use
and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
Food Network and
its affiliates
may use your email address to provide updates, ads, and offers.
To withdraw your consent or learn more about your rights, see the
Privacy Policy.