Chinese Crab Wontons
Yields 45
½ pound crabmeat
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 green onion, chopped
½ teaspoon salt
Mustard and sweet & sour sauce:
1 tablespoon mustard powder
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar
3 tablespoons plum sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 package frozen wonton wrappers, thawed
4 cups cooking oil for deep-frying
To Make Filling:
1. Combine crabmeat with cream cheese, ginger, green onions and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix until well blended.
2. Mix mustard and sweet & sour sauce in a bowl.
To Assemble:
Have the wrappers, the filling and a small bowl of water within easy reach.
1. Put about 1 teaspoon of filling in the center of each wrapper.
2. Fold the wrapper away from you, forming 2 overlapping triangles.
3. Flip the upper points of triangles towards you.
4. Bring the left and right corners together to create a groove around the mound of the filling. With your fingertip, moisten one corner with water and place the other corner on top, pinching together firmly.
To Cook:
1. Heat 4 cups of oil in a wok to 375 F.
2. Add about 15 wontons to the hot oil. Fry until golden brown. Remove with a strainer. Drain on a dish lined with paper towels.
3. Repeat with the remaining wontons. Serve with mustard and sweet & sour sauce.
Tips:
• Wontons can be frozen after being assembled. Thaw before deep-frying. They can also be deep-fried first and then freeze.
• Fried wontons can be kept warm in an oven at 200 degrees F. for 30 minutes or reheated at 425 degrees F for 3 to 5 minute; if frozen, 6 to 7 minutes.
© Dorothy Huang, 2005
As Houston, Texas’ renowned Chinese cooking teacher, Dorothy Huang (chinesecuisinedh@aol.com) has taught thousands of people to embrace Chinese cooking in their homes. Her second cookbook, Chinese Cuisine, Made Simple, includes 160 mouth-watering recipes and beautiful color photographs.