Golden Crispy Fried Wontons (The Ultimate Party Appetiser)

Every party needs a dish that disappears within minutes of hitting the table. This is that dish. Golden, shatteringly crispy on the outside, savoury and juicy on the inside, and completely impossible to eat just one of. Crispy fried wontons are the kind of crowd-pleasing appetizer that works for absolutely every occasion — backyard barbecues, birthday parties, game nights, Christmas spreads, and every gathering in between. The beauty of using Yunion standard wonton skins for frying is that they bubble up into the most incredible light, airy crunch that thinner skins simply can't achieve. Make more than you think you need. You will run out faster than you expect.

Serves: 6-8 as an appetizer Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 300g ground pork or chicken mince

• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

• 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated

• 2 spring onions, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp light soy sauce

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• 1 tsp oyster sauce

• 1 tsp sugar

• Pinch of white pepper

  
  

For wrapping:

• 1 packet Yunion Standard Wonton Skins

• Small bowl of water for sealing

  
  

For frying:

• Neutral oil for deep frying, enough to fill a wok or deep pan to at least 5cm depth

  
  

For the dipping sauce:

• Sweet chilli sauce

• Or a mix of 2 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp chilli oil, and 1 tsp honey

  
  

Method

• Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly until well combined. The filling should be tightly bound and hold together when pressed. Avoid adding any extra liquid — a tight, dry filling is essential for deep frying. Too much moisture causes the filling to steam inside the wrapper and can cause the wontons to burst in the hot oil.

• Place a Yunion standard wonton skin flat on a clean surface. Add a small half teaspoon of filling to the centre. Less filling than you think you need is exactly right here — the filling must cook through completely at the exact moment the wrapper turns golden, and overfilling prevents that from happening evenly.

• Moisten all four edges with water. Fold the wonton into your preferred shape — a simple triangle, a tight parcel with all four corners brought to the centre, or a classic nurses cap all work well for frying.

• Press all sealed edges firmly to ensure there are no gaps. Any unsealed edge will allow hot oil to enter the wonton and the filling to escape. Run your fingers along every seam before placing each wonton on the tray.

• Heat neutral oil in a wok or deep pan over medium heat until it reaches approximately 170°C. Test the oil by dipping the corner of a wonton skin in — it should sizzle immediately and steadily without the oil smoking aggressively.

• Fry wontons in small batches of 6 to 8, turning occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes until deeply golden and crispy all over. Do not crowd the wok — overcrowding drops the oil temperature and produces pale, greasy wontons rather than golden, crispy ones.

• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack rather than paper towel. A wire rack allows air to circulate underneath and keeps the wontons crispy far longer than paper towel does.

• Serve immediately with dipping sauce.

  
  

Tips

• Keeping the filling amount small is the single most important rule for perfectly fried wontons. Half a teaspoon per wonton feels almost absurdly small but it ensures the meat cooks through completely at the exact moment the wrapper reaches that gorgeous deep golden colour.

• A wire rack for draining is strongly recommended over paper towel. Paper towel traps steam underneath the wontons which softens the wrapper almost immediately. A rack keeps every surface exposed to air and maintains that incredible crunch for much longer.

• These wontons can be prepared ahead of time and frozen uncooked on a tray, then transferred to a freezer bag once solid. Fry directly from frozen at a slightly lower temperature of 160°C, adding an extra minute or two to the cooking time. Having a stash of these in the freezer is one of the best party preparation decisions you will ever make.

  
  

Find Yunion Near You

Our full range of fresh noodles is available at select supermarkets and Asian grocery stores across Perth. Find your nearest stockist and make your next family gathering one to remember.