Homemade wonton soup! These wontons are filled with a juicy pork and prawn / shrimp filling and will knock your socks off. With step by step photos and a recipe video, you’re going to be a Wonton Wrapping Master in no time! Added bonus: Best standby freezer meal ever and super healthy (350 calories for a bowl!)
This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
Wonton soup
If you’ve ever had store bought frozen wontons or wontons from a good value Chinese place that probably uses frozen wontons, you will be amazed how different homemade ones are. The main difference is the texture of the filling – because homemade wontons are made with just pure fresh ingredients, NO mysterious fillers!
I think wontons are one of those things that many people don’t think to make, assuming they are really tedious and take ages. But they don’t!! The wonton filling takes minutes to make (literally – 5 minutes) and wrapping the wontons is quite fast if you use my method!
About this Wonton recipe
I used to use my mother’s Wonton recipe, because it’s the one I have used all my cooking life. Then a few years ago, I came across this Wonton Soup recipe by my friend Maggie from Omnivore’s Cookbook, a wonderful authentic Chinese food blog.
I’ve learnt so much about authentic Chinese cooking from Maggie who was born and raised in China and only recently moved to the States. She takes such great care with her recipes, if you love Chinese food, I think you’ll be as delighted to discover her blog as I was. 🙂
So I think my mother was a bit disgruntled when I told her I was using Maggie’s Wonton filling for this post because it’s better than hers. I sent her away with samples, and she agreed that Maggie’s Wontons are fantastic, but didn’t admit it was better.
It IS better. Sorry mum! Maggie’s has better seasoning! 😉
Wonton filling
There are many types of wonton fillings, but I’d say that pork and shrimp/prawns are the most common. Then there are all sorts of additions, including mushrooms, water chestnuts, chopped up Asian greens and even carrots.
With all the possible variations out there, and not knowing which recipes are actually “real”, you can be confident that this is authentic because I have used Maggie’s recipe exactly as it is written.
Wrapping Wontons
This is where Maggie and I differ. If you click over to Maggie’s recipe, you will see that she uses trapezium shaped wontons wrappers (I had to Google that!!!). I use plain square ones because they are readily available here in Australia, even in supermarkets (Woolies, Coles). Once cooked, they look pretty similar.
So here is how I wrap wontons. This is a fast way of wrapping wontons because you can lay out 10, even 20, and do them all in one go, rather than doing them one by one, because they are wrapped on the work surface rather than in your hand.
My Way of Wrapping Wontons
The above is the way I usually fold wontons because I like the way the “tails” flap around like noodles once cooked. Yes, I’m a 7 year old at heart.
But to me, the flappy wonton skins are part of the Wonton Soup experience. 😂
The better way for freezing (more compact)
However, when I know I’m going to be freezing all or most of them, I wrap them in a more compact way so they fit better inside containers. This is the way the frozen wontons in Asian grocery stores are wrapped.
The photo on the bottom right is a container of frozen wontons I bought to show you how they are sold. Also so I could make some and smugly say how much better homemade is!
Asian Grocery Store Way
Both wonton wrapping methods are just as easy, and you can do them in batches rather than holding them one by one. But you can see how much more compact the Asian Grocery Store Way is compared to My Way in the photo below. The Wontons at the top are the compact Asian Grocery Way, the ones on the bottom are My Way with more flap page once cooked.
This is what mine looks like once cooked. See all that wonton wrapper flappage? YUM.
Don’t get too hung up about how neat your wontons are. Once cooked, they mostly lose their shape, so just make sure that your filling is well sealed inside. And even if the filling falls out, you still get the same flavour, so don’t fret!!!
Tip: As tempting as it is, do not bunch them up like a money bag otherwise you end up with a thick wad of wonton wrapper that won’t cook through.
Broth for Wonton Soup
Wontons are served in a clear Chinese chicken broth. Sometimes with just wontons, sometimes with wontons and noodles, called “Combination Long and Short Soup” on Chinese restaurant menus. “Short” refers to the wontons and “Long” refers to the long noodles!
If I am at an Asian store, I usually pick up Chinese chicken broth which is more yellow but just as tasty as Western chicken broth that is available at supermarkets. However, I usually make this with ordinary Chicken broth using the same soup broth recipe as my Chinese Noodle Soup.
So….what do you think??? Have I convinced you to give homemade Wonton Soup a go? I promise it is WORTH IT! They taste absolutely incredible. You will be amazed!
– Nagi x
PS Homemade wontons are so fantastic for standby meals to keep in your freezer because you can throw in whatever veggies you have and voila! You have a complete HEALTHY meal!
More great dumplings of the world
Potstickers (Chinese pan fried dumplings)
Gyoza (Japanese dumplings)
Shumai (Japanese steamed dumplings on my mother’s site, RecipeTin Japan!)
Browse the Yum Cha recipe collection
Watch How To Make It
This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!
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Wonton Soup
Ingredients
- 50 – 60 wonton wrappers (Note 1)
Wonton Filling
- 200 g / 7 oz lean pork mince (ground pork)
- 200 g / 7 oz peeled prawns / shrimp , roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp ginger , finely grated (1.5″ / 3cm piece)
- 2 shallots / green onions , finely chopped (5 tbsp)
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce (Note 2)
- 2 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing wine) (Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sesame oil, toasted (Note 4)
Broth (for 2 servings)
- 3 cups / 750 ml chicken broth (Note 5)
- 2 garlic cloves , smashed (6)
- ⅓” / 1 cm piece of ginger , sliced (optional, but highly recommended)
- 1½ tbsp light soy sauce (Note 2)
- 2 tsp sugar (any)
- 1½ tbsp chinese cooking wine (Note 3)
- ¼ – ½ tsp sesame oil
To Serve
- Shallots / scallions , finely chopped
- Bok choy , quartered, or Chinese broccoli cut into 10cm /4″ lengths (optional)
- 40 – 50 g / 1.5 – 1.75 oz dried egg noodles per person , (optional) (8)
Instructions
Wontons:
- Place Filling ingredients in a bowl. Use a potato masher to mash until fairly smooth – about 20 mashes. Don’t turn the prawn into a complete paste, small chunks are good.
Wrapping (See photos and video):
- Use My Way (better Wonton Soup experience!) or the Asian Grocery Store Way (easier to pack for freezing).
- Lay Wontons on work surface. Use 2 teaspoons to put the Filling on the wontons. Work in batches of 5 if starting out, up to 15 or 20 if confident. Brush 2 edges with water. Fold to seal, pressing out air. Brush water on one corner and bring corners together, pressing to seal.
- Place wrapped wontons into a container with a lid as you work (so they don’t dry out).
Cooking/Freezing:
- To cook: bring a large pot of water to boil. Place wontons in water and cook for 4 minutes or until they float. Remove with slotted spoon straight into serving bowls. Ladle over broth.
- To freeze: Freeze uncooked in airtight containers. Cook from frozen for 6 to 8 minutes. IMPORTANT: Do not freeze if you made this with defrosted frozen prawns. (Note 11)
Broth:
- Place Broth ingredients in a saucepan over high heat. Add white ends of scallions/shallots if leftover from Wonton filling.
- Place lid on, bring to simmer then reduce to medium high and simmer for 5 – 10 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. Pick garlic and ginger out before using.
- If using vegetables, blanch in the soup broth and place in serving bowl.
Assemble Soup:
- Prepare noodles according to packet directions (if using noodles). Place in serving bowl with cooked wontons and blanched vegetables.
- Ladle over soup. Serve!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This wonton recipe was originally published in September 2016. Updated for housekeeping matters in 2018 – no change to recipe!
Life Of Dozer
Little impromptu home video I put together of Dozer with the gang at the beach!
Ann says
My 11 year old daughter just loves wonton soup always wanting me to buy it from our local shop, so I decided to try an make it. I have now made this a few times using different recipes and just have not had the tick of approval from her until I came across your recipe. OMG can I just say this was so good and tasty, I can’t believe I even made something so good, my daughter absolutely loved it and so did I so easy to make thank you Nagi for sharing.
Abby says
So good!! Can’t believe it was this easy all along, definitely thought this was something I had to order to get my fix 😅 thanks Nagi 😁
Nagi says
Excellent! So happy you liked it! N x
Renee says
There is a place that serves amazing wonton noodle soup near my best friend’s house. Unfortunately, my best friend lives over two hour’s drive from me! So I gave this a shot tonight, and it was almost as good. – and the almost came mostly from the fact I had to make it myself! Thank you so much, Nagi, for satisfying my wonton craving and saving my life! 😀
Judi says
Hi! I made a different wonton soup recipe the other day and while the wontons were tasty, the broth was dark and too heavy. Yours looks just right can’t wait to try. My question is about serving size. I need to serve 6. Can you please let me know how many wontons and how much broth to make. Thanks!!
Shyla says
Do you use raw pork in the wonton filling, or should it be fried first?
Nagi says
It needs to be raw, otherwise it will overcook and turn rubbery when you cook them. N x
Dana says
If I make this recipe with cooked prawns will it still work?
Nagi says
No sorry Dana, they need to be raw or they will go rubbery. N x
carol says
I was a bit sceptical about how complex this might be, but it was SO easy, fun to make and really tasty. Great mix of ingredients makes the broth very rich. Thanks
Sandra says
Thank you!!! One of my favorite soups. So simple and full of flavor. Feel kind of bad for my local Chinese restaurant, I nailed it on the first try!!! Oh la la.
Freida says
Looking forward to trying this recipe
Nagi says
I hope you love it Freida!! N x
Samantha G. says
I come here for the broth recipe and it’s amazing. I buy wontons from local Chinese restaurant and add to this broth to make the soup. Thanks for the recipe Nagi!
Anna says
Would these taste good with all prawns or a mix of prawns and tofu? I’d like to make it without the meat if possible
Yean Sze says
The wontons turned out so good and tasty . Thanks for your recipe.
Al Westbrook says
I loved this recipe, so tasty and fun to make! Having the time during lockdown to cook new recipes I really appreciate the step by step guide, the video & recipe.
Amanda says
I made this tonight and WOW! Amazing and my kids loved it! Thanks for yet another fantastic recipe 😊
Lesley-Anne Tamsons says
Hello, I think I did this recipe wrong… Is the pork mince and prawns uncooked when filling wonton??
Nagi says
Hi Lesley-Anne, yes the mix is raw otherwise they would cook twice and be dry. You can see this in the video too. N x
Lesley-Anne Tamsons says
Thank you! Can’t wait to try this again 😊
Imogen Henden says
I made these for myself before (they were yummy) and now I’d like to make this for my family, but they’re pretty big eaters. Is this meal filling?
Leanne says
Turned out awesome and i am a really bad cook. The shape looked more authentic the more i made. Thanks
Nagi says
Practice is all it takes Leanne, I’m so glad you gave this recipe a go and enjoyed it! N x
Helen says
This is the bestest wonton soup, EVER! I have made it several times and we just love it. Such a simple but absolutely delicious and very satisfying soup. Thanks very much, Nagi 🙂
Amber says
Most of the seafood at local supermarket has been thawed already does that mean I can’t re freeze?
glenn michael quon says
Can’t go wrong here. My daughter & I make dozens of wontons which some goes in the freezer (but not for long as they’re usually gone within a few weeks). We love having wontons with prawn noodles & of course chili oil which gives it kick!
Mags says
I am in 2 minds boiling wantons . I presume that all the flavours in the meat will get wasted in the boiling water but on the other hand when boiling them direct into the soup broth, the broth gets thick due the flour on the wanton. Furthermore i always failed when buying the wrappers…they are just too thick and needs lots of boiling time. I like them soft and not chewy…sigh…
Nagi says
Hi Mags, sealed wontons don’t lose flavour when boiling – alternatively you can steam if you prefer! N x