My family loves a good bowl of wonton soup. I make it regularly because my Taiwanese-American husband and son can easily live on it year-round, no matter the season. I can’t blame them, as wonton soup is as soul-satisfying and comforting as a bowl of miso soup. While there are countless ways to create wonton fillings and soups, today’s recipe is the ultimate version I consistently return to. The wontons are juicy and sweet, and the soup boasts a flavorful broth. You’ll want to keep in your back pocket as your go-to wonton soup recipe!
What is Wonton Soup?
Wonton soup, a classic Chinese dish, consists of a delicately seasoned broth and boiled wontons. Written as 云吞 in simplified Chinese, “wonton” literally translates to “swallowing clouds” because these dumplings, once cooked, gracefully float in the broth like clouds. You can make wontons with different fillings, with the most common ones featuring ground pork or a blend of ground pork and shrimp, scallions, and simple seasonings. Some other additions include shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, chives, and finely minced carrots. Personally, I swear by the combination of ground pork and shrimp!
Why You’ll Love This Wonton Soup Recipe
Juiciest and tastiest filling Fast and straightforward technique of folding wontons – It is easier than you think. Simple yet flavorful soup
3 Tips to Make The Best Wonton Soup
You can use frozen wontons, however, homemade wontons make all the difference because of the fresh ingredients. Nothing is more satisfying when you bite into these juicy little dumplings, served in a flavorful chicken soup seasoned with white pepper and toasted sesame oil. Here, I’d like to share 3 tips to make your wonton soup extra special!
Tip 1: Use Shrimp and Pork for the Filling
Why this combination? The inclusion of shrimp not only adds sweetness but also ensures that the wontons remain succulent, juicy, and tender in contrast to a plain ground meat filling. Once you give it a try, you’re unlikely to switch to other options.
Tip 2: Wrap Wontons Nicely
Nicely wrapped wontons are not only visually beautiful but also keep the filling inside the wrap and you can freeze them for later use. There are several ways to wrap wontons and everyone has their own preference. If you want to see me folding wontons in action, please check this video or read this How To Wrap Wonton page.
Tip 3: Use Chicken Base Soup
Make sure you get Asian chicken stock for an authentic taste, and not Western-style chicken stock. Asian chicken stock is simply made with chicken, ginger, green onion, and garlic. The light yet aromatic broth helps to bring out the flavors of wontons without overwhelming them. You can purchase Asian chicken stock at Asian grocery stores or make your own by following my Homemade Asian-style Chicken Stock recipe. Don’t skip the key ingredient—white pepper powder—as it gives a sharp, smoky flavor with a little kick of spiciness to the soup.
Where to Buy Wonton Wrappers
To make wontons, you will need square-shaped wonton wrappers and not round-shaped ones. You’ll find them in the freezer section at Asian/Japanese grocery stores. Some major American grocery stores also carry wonton wrappers such as Nasoya or Twin Dragon brands. If you can find handmade wonton wrappers locally, that would be a treat. I personally prefer the Japanese brand by Myojo, which has a more delicate skin but you could also use another popular brand Twin Marquis (真味)’s Hong Kong Style or Shanghai Style wonton wrappers. Each brand has a different thickness and consistency. Try out the different ones to see which wrappers you like the best. Quick Tip: While working with wonton wrappers, cover the unused ones with a damp towel so they don’t dry out.
How to Serve this Wonton Soup
This homemade wonton soup goes great alongside steamed rice and a simple veggie side like Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry. You can also just toss in some veggies like baby bok choy, edamame, or thinly sliced carrots directly into the soup. To turn these dumplings into a fulfilling meal, bulk it up with your choice of noodles. Try egg noodles, ramen noodles, somen noodles, or rice noodles. Wontons are delicious enough with a simple soy sauce. But they also go well with all sorts of dipping sauces. Like it spicy? Serve them with spicy garlic chili sauce or a homemade chili oil.
Freezing Extra Wontons
Homemade wontons can be frozen and kept well for 1-2 months. Whenever you make wontons at home, make sure to make a bigger batch. This way you can quickly put a meal together whenever your family craves a bowl of wonton soup or when you need some tasty fried appetizer for a party. I call frozen wontons the great emergency food—super convenient yet wholesome.
More Ideas to Enjoy Wontons
Wontons are greatly enjoyed by many Asian cultures for their versatility and nutrients. There are endless, creative ways to serve these dumplings:
1. Deep-Fry Wontons
Crispy deep-fried wontons are great for an appetizer. I love serving these crunchy morsels at dinner parties or family get-togethers, and they always disappear.
2. Pan-Fry Wontons
Similar to gyoza, pan-fried wontons dipped in soy sauce are always a hit!
More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love
Japanese Egg Drop Soup Mapo Tofu Mapo Eggplant Stir-Fried Tomato and Eggs Pork Shumai (Steamed Pork Dumplings)
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram. Editor’s Note: The post was originally published on Aug 10, 2011. The new images and video were added to the post on June 12, 2017. The post was republished with updated blog content on January 11, 2023.
