Shrimp and Pork Wontons with Chili Shrimp Oil

This recipe is the best way to prepare Wontons. The combination of Shrimp and Pork Wontons produces the absolute best flavor possible in these little morsels of deliciousness. What separates this dish from the countless other Dumpling and Wonton recipes out there is the unbelievably amazing Shrimp Oil that is used as a dipping sauce. The Oil is flavored with the delicate and beautiful flavor of shrimp, and perhaps the only thing as good as its taste is how amazing it smells. If you want to impress in the kitchen and get a little bit creative, this dish is definitely one to try out

How to make the Chili Shrimp Oil

The first thing you’ll need to prepare for this recipe is the Shrimp Oil. It can be made well in advance, and we found after 2 – 3 days in the refrigerator it was still perfect to enjoy. Which is good news, because while Wontons are generally easy to make, they are a little bit labor intensive as you need to roll every individual Wonton by hand. Best to prepare the Shrimp Oil in advance so when it’s ‘go-time’ to eat all you need to do is make the Wontons

The Shrimp Oil is very easy to make. The process involves infusing Olive Oil with Shrimp (care of the Shrimp shells) along with some beautiful aromatics including Szechuan Peppercorns, Fennel Seeds, Garlic, and Chili

Once you’ve peeled and deveined the Shrimp, (Video here on how to do that!) place the shells (excluding the heads) into a pot filled with Olive Oil and the aromatics. Set it over a low heat for about 15 minutes, ensuring the Oil doesn’t get too hot, so avoid any bubbles

After 15 minutes the Oil will be done. An amazing combination of flavors fill the Oil, with the prominent taste and aroma being that of Shrimp. You can set the Oil aside to cool and even refrigerate it for a few days before making the Wontons. You can also pour a little bit into a bowl and mix in some Chinese Vinegar for a lovely dipping sauce

Making the filling for the delicious Shrimp and Pork Wontons

The three core ingredients that make up the filling are Shrimp, Pork, and Cabbage. The third ingredient may seem like one you could skip, but trust us, you can’t! Adding Cabbage to Wontons and Dumplings is a critical step, and adds much needed volume and texture that rounds out the filling

In addition to these three ingredients, we use a combination of finely diced Ginger, Garlic, and Scallions. All very traditional Chinese flavors that bring a beautiful mix of flavors and fragrances to the dish. Once you’ve prepared all your ingredients, throw them into a bowl and then move your attention to the Cabbage

Everything must be finely diced before it’s combined in a stand mixer. Finely dicing the ingredients will help to form a paste-like filling texture. This is important as not only does it make it easier to stuff the wontons, but you can get a lot more filling into them when the texture is smooth and paste-like

Surprisingly the Cabbage requires a bit more effort than the other ingredients

Cabbage is loaded with Water, so simply dicing up the Cabbage and adding it to the mix of filling ingredients won’t work. You’ll end up with a watery filling that will cause the Wontons to break apart as they’re cooking. So, we need to remove as much water as possible from the Cabbage

Once finely diced, place the Cabbage in a bowl and season it well with Salt. Salt removes moisture from ingredients, with Cabbage being no exception. Mix the Salt into the Cabbage then leave it for a few minutes then transfer the Cabbage into a Cheesecloth or some paper towels

Hold the wrapped Cabbage over a bowl and gently squeeze it to remove the moisture. The water will seep through the Cheesecloth / Paper Towels and into the bowl. Do this until you’ve removed as much moisture as possible. Retain about 1 tbsp. of Cabbage Water, as this will be used to add a little bit of moisture (and seasoning) to the Wonton filling. Once your Cabbage is prepared, simply combine it with your Shrimp, Pork, Garlic, Ginger, Scallions, and Corn Starch in the Stand Mixer and mix until a smooth paste forms

How to perfectly cook Shrimp and Pork Wontons

You don’t need any fancy purpose-built steamers at home to make perfect Dumpling and Wontons at home. All you need is a frying pan with a lid. That’s it! By adding a little bit of water to the pan and covering it with a lid you will create your own steamer that cooks the Wontons perfectly

Before we steam the Wontons, however, I like to give them a nice pan-fry on one side. This is the authentic method when preparing Dumplings and Wontons as it adds a nice crispy texture to one side of the Wontons before they are steamed

Simply pan fry them in the same frying pan with a little Oil until golden-brown (about 2 minutes over medium heat should do it). Once golden-brown, leave them in the same spot and add about ¼ cup of Water. Cover, and steam for 4 minutes and your Shrimp and Pork Wontons will be cooked and ready to serve with that wonderful Shrimp Oil

You can also use classic Dumpling Wrappers instead of Wonton wrappers for this recipe

The good news is that nothing else will change in this recipe if you are using Dumpling Wrappers. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to find the right wrappers in the grocery store, especially if you don’t have local access to a specialty Asian store. If so, you may just find that the only wrappers available are Dumpling Wrappers. Well, that’s totally ok – use them and follow the recipe exactly as outlined below and it will turn out fine

Dumpling Wrappers have a slightly different texture to Wontons. They’re a little thicker than Wontons, so you’ll have a slightly doughier taste to them. When using Wontons Wrappers, the flavor and texture is minimal so all you’re getting is that pure flavor of the amazing filling. Dumplings offer up a different eating experience, but equally as enjoyable

Hey, if you really want to be creative why not try a combination of Wonton and Dumplings when preparing this dish? You can try both and see which you prefer

Shrimp and Pork Wontons with Chili Shrimp Oil Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Shrimp, shells on
• 1 lb. Pork
• ½ Napa Cabbage
• Wonton Wrappers
• 1 tbsp. Ginger, finely grated
• 1 tbsp. Garlic, finely grated
• 4 Scallions, finely diced
• 1 tbsp. Corn Starch
• ½ tsp. Salt
  
  

Chili Shrimp Oil Ingredients

• Shells from Shrimp (excl. head)
• 2 tsp. Szechuan Peppercorns (or Black Peppercorns)
• 2 tsp. Fennel Seeds
• 1 tsp. Smoked Paprika
• 2 tsp. Chili Flakes
• 2 Garlic Cloves, finely sliced
• 1 cup of Olive Oil
  
  

Equipment needed: Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment

Instructions

1. Peel and devein the Shrimp, discarding the Shrimp heads and setting the flesh aside. Place the Shells in a saucepan set over low heat along with all the remaining Shrimp Oil Ingredients
2. Cook for 15 minutes allowing the flavors to infuse into the Oil. Remove from heat and allow to cool before straining. Place the Oil in a sealable container for storage and refrigerate until ready to use
   
   

Making the Wontons

1. Finely dice the Cabbage then season with 1 tsp. of Salt. Strain using a cheesecloth (or paper towels) to remove its water. Retain about 1 tbsp. of the Cabbage Water
2. Finely chop Shrimp and Pork and combine with Cabbage, Ginger, Garlic, Salt, and Scallions in a bowl. Add Corn Starch along with the Cabbage Water and mix well using stand mixer until a paste forms
3. Place 1 heaped tsp. of filling onto the middle of a Wonton wrapper. Wet two edges of the Wonton wrapper with a little bit of water (just use your finger) then fold it over to form a triangle and seal the edges. Repeat for remaining Wontons
4. Add a little Vegetable Oil to a large frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, place Wontons onto the pan and sear for 2 ½ minutes until that side turns golden-brown (You will need to batch cook given the number of Wontons)
5. Fill with ¼ cup of Water, cover, and allow to steam for 4 minutes to cook the Wontons completely through
6. Serve with the Shrimp Oil in a bowl, or as a side sauce for dipping
   
   

Recipe Notes

• You can replace the Wonton wrappers with Dumpling wrappers if you prefer
• Try mixing a little bit of Chinese Vinegar in with the Shrimp Oil to create a unique dipping sauce
  
  

We’re sure you’re going to enjoy these tasty Shrimp and Pork Wontons as much as we do, and that delicious Chili Shrimp Oil is the perfect accompaniment! It’s a fun and unique twist on a classic Dumpling or Wonton dipping sauce, and tastes fantastic

For more Chinese-inspired recipes, check out some of these favorites of ours:

• Chinese Hand Pulled Noodles
• Szechuan Kung Pao Chicken
• Homemade Shrimp Toast
• Peking Pork Belly Pancakes
  
  

Happy Cooking!