A Wonton Primer: Enjoying Wontons Throughout History | Tourism Richmond, BC (2024)
Perhaps one of the most endearing dishes in Chinese cuisine is Wonton soup. It’s well known and loved by many, and there have been many variations depending on where in Asia you go.
The characteristics of wontons include a thin, flour wrapping that becomes slightly translucent after cooking, and arestuffedmainly with prawn, pork, shallots and ginger. The wontons are typicallyserved in a piping hot bowl of soup and coordinating wonton noodles cookedal dente. The order in which the ingredients are placed within a bowl go: soup spoon at the bottom, then the wontons, garnishing (if any – usually a sprinkle of chopped green onions), noodles and then soup added over it. The reasoning for this specific order in platingis to not overcook the noodles so itbecome a soggy mess. In some places, you can order your wonton soup with a plate of wontons and a bed of noodles and the soup on the side.
What differentiates wontons from other dumplings is thethin wrap. Most dumplings are usually served withathicker wrap.Wontons originate from China, with evidence of itsexistence going as far back as the Qing Dynasty (1644). Wonton soup was enjoyed by the rich, upper class families but after World War II, it became more widespread. As the economy improved after the war, the dish moved toHong Kong, where many hawker stalls opened up to serve the dish to the working class. Due to it’s popularity, some variations of wonton include medicinal ingredients as a way to serve it to those who may not enjoy the strong taste of medicine. In Cantonese, ‘wonton’ roughly translates to ‘clouds’ – as the wontons look like clouds floating in the soup.
When more Chinese nationals immigrated to the United States, they brought along the dish, amongst many others, and opened up restaurantsto enjoy a taste of home in their respective Chinatowns. To make Chinese food more accessible to Americans, Chinese chefs created fusion items that felt more familiar and acceptable. This led to iterations including Crab Rangoon and Wonton tartlets.
Crab rangoon, also knownasdeep fried wontons with cream cheese and crab as itsfilling, gained popularity in the 50s. In more recent years, wonton tartlets became popular again – baked wonton wrappers that held almost anything including poke, caviar or even goat cheese with herbs.
While these two dishes are considered Westernized Chinese dishes, you will never find these types of wontons in an authentic Chinese restaurant menu. The closest you’ll get to something that has been Westernized is the deep fried wontons. These wontons are typically served with either a sweet and sour sauce or red vinegar.Another popular method of serving wontons are in chilli sauce. These are popular in Hong Kong style cafes and Taiwanese restaurants.
In Richmond along the Dumpling Trail, there are many places to enjoy a bowl of wonton soup. Two places that are of note are(8251 Westminster Highway) and4 Stones Vegetarian restaurant(7771 Westminster Highway).
Tsim Chai is a busy restaurant situated in a small strip mall just a couple blocks northeast ofthe Brighouse Canada Line stop. While they have an extensive menu of Chinese dishes, their wontons are one of their most popular menu items. Tsim Chai serves up the traditional bowl of wonton noodle soup, wontons in chili sauce and even deep fried wontons. Their wontons are larger than most places and have good taste to them.
A little further down on Westminster Highway is 4 Stones Vegetarian – while not your typical place for wontons as it is a vegetarian restaurant, it is the uniqueness and flavour of itsvegetarian wontons that make them notable. You’d be hard pressed to find a Chinese restaurant that is all vegetarian, but 4 Stones is just that. They are a small, hole in the wall eatery that can be quite busy depending on the time of day.
With over 800 restaurants in Richmond, there are many places to explore. With the Dumpling Trail, Tourism Richmond has helped narrow down some great choices for dumplings including wontons. Recently, the self guided tour was featured on theSoCal Restaurant radio show– a show dedicated to expanding food knowledge.
Wontons originate from China, with evidence of its existence going as far back as the Qing Dynasty (1644). Wonton soup was enjoyed by the rich, upper class families but after World War II, it became more widespread.
Wontons date back as far as the Qing Dynasty in 1644, during which wonton soup was enjoyed by the rich families of nobles and merchants. That was the case until the end of World War II, which is when it became more and more popular.
Wontons are derived from the Cantonese word yún tūn (云吞), which means swallowing cloud, referring to the way wontons float in soup. World War II brought wontons to Hong Kong, where it was a street food served to workers.
The Cantonese source of wonton is wan t'an, "stuffed dumpling." Definitions of wonton. a Chinese dumpling filled with spiced minced pork; usually served in soup. synonyms: won ton. type of: dumpling, dumplings.
Crab rangoon is a type of fried wonton, so they are really very similar. The difference is all in the filling. Traditional wontons are not ever filled with cream cheese (which is one of the main components in crab rangoon recipes).
Wontons may be an everyday affair, but that's all the more reason to celebrate with them, Genevieve Ko writes. Wontons, fried or in bowls of noodle soup, symbolize prosperity for the new year.
When comparing Chinese dumplings vs wontons, some key differences are: Wrappers: Wonton wrappers are thinner, are usually square, and may contain egg.Dumpling wrappers are thicker, are usually round, and don't require egg. Filling: Dumplings can be filled or unfilled.
Wontons or dumplings are important to Chinese culture such that they are not only tasty, but they also are an essential part of Chinese holidays and traditions. In addition to being super customizable in how you make them, wontons usually mean a lot of good fortune and luck.
Beyond it's delicate and delectable flavors, it's served with health-boosting ingredients that can catapult your energy, help build muscles, and provide the necessary nutrients you need to enhance your well-being.
The dough for both types of dumpling wrappers is generally the same: wheat flour and water. Many wonton wrappers also contain egg, which turns the wrapper yellow.
What are wontons made from? The wrapper's dough is generally made from flour, water, salt and eggs but the filling can be made from almost anything – ground and spiced vegetables, shrimps or meat are most common though.
Traditional Chinese wonton wrappers are made from wheat flour, eggs and water, and can be used to wrap around any number of fillings to be cooked in soups or fried.
adjective. If someone describes a woman as wanton, they disapprove of her because she clearly enjoys sex or has sex with a lot of men. [disapproval, old-fashioned] ...the idea that only wanton women have sexual passions. More Synonyms of wanton.
a type of dumpling (= a small piece of dough or pastry wrapped around fish, meat, or vegetables and cooked in oil, steam, or boiling water) that is part of some Chinese dishes, especially soup: We ordered the chicken soup with crispy wontons.
Fried Wontons are a popular Chinese dish made from wonton wrappers which are filled with a mixture of ingredients like ground meat (such as pork or shrimp), vegetables, and seasonings.
When comparing Chinese dumplings vs wontons, some key differences are: Wrappers: Wonton wrappers are thinner, are usually square, and may contain egg.Dumpling wrappers are thicker, are usually round, and don't require egg.Filling: Dumplings can be filled or unfilled.
Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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