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5 from 4 votes

Shrimp Wonton Dumplings with Pork

Here is my ultimate guide on how to make Chinese wonton dumplings at home from scratch and how to fold them! It also includes a shrimp wonton recipe with pork as well to start you off! Happy folding!
Prep Time40 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Servings: 25 Dumplings
Calories: 71kcal
Author: Joyce Lee

Ingredients

  • 1 package wonton wrappers

Wonton Filling

  • 200 g shrimp (21/25 size, approx. 10, thawed if frozen)
  • 100 g ground pork (approx. ½ cup)
  • ½ teaspoon cornstarch
  • 2 stalks green onions (approx. ¼ cup, finely minced)

Seasoning

Instructions

Preparation

  • Wash the 2 stalks green onions and cut off the tips where the roots are.
    We want to use both the greens and the whites of the green onion.
    Finely chop the green onions and set it aside for later

Mix the Ground Pork Until the Meat Glutens Come Out

  • In large bowl, add 100 g ground pork1 teaspoon fish sauce (or soy sauce), 3 teaspoons oyster sauce, ½ teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon Shaoxing cooking wine, ¼ teaspoon white pepper, and ½ teaspoon sesame oil and mix everything together for 8 minutes.
    I highly recommend using a stand mixer or a hand mixer for this step. On my Kitchenaid stand mixer, I mix this on the 6 setting.
    If you are doing it by hand, mix everything together in 1 direction for at least 10 minutes.
    Ground pork wonton filling after it has been mixed for 8 minutes in a stand mixer.
  • We want to mix the pork very well until it is gluey. This will give the filling a springier texture. The longer you mix it, the springier the texture will be.
    Here is how it should look when you are done mixing.
    Ground pork wonton filling after it has been mixed for 8 minutes in a stand mixture on a white plate to show texture.

Chop the Shrimp and Combine it with the Pork

  • Place the peeled shrimp on the cutting board and chop it to your preference of size of either roughly chopped chunks or finely chopped.
    I personally like to keep the shrimp size chunkier so I can taste it more, and I find it gives the texture more of a crunch. If you like your shrimp finer, chop it very well until it is smooth.
    Alternatively, you can do a mix of both finely chopped with a few chunkier pieces of shrimp as well.
    Finely chopped shrimp and finely minced shrimp on a cutting board
  • Once the pork has finished mixing, scrape the pork down from the side of the bowl to the middle and add the shrimp to the pork mixture, and mix everything together well until everything is evenly combined for about 5 minutes.
    Shrimp being added to the mixed ground pork filling
  • Here is how it should look after it has finished mixing
    Ground pork and shrimp wonton filling after it has been mixed for 5 minutes in a stand mixture on a white plate to show texture.
  • Add in the green onions and mix it for 1 minute.
  • Do a taste test by putting a teaspoon in a small bowl and microwaving it for 20 seconds in the microwave or pan-frying it in a frying pan.
    Adjust the saltiness by adding more soy sauce, fish sauce, or salt.

Folding the Wonton Dumplings

  • Open a pack of wonton wrappers but keep it under a damp paper towel so it doesn't dry out.
    Place a small bowl of water out, this is what we will use to seal the dumplings.
    Bring out a plate where you will keep the dumplings after you have finished folding them. If you work slowly, you may want to cover the plate with a damp paper towel while you are making the dumplings so they don't dry out.
  • Place a wonton wrapper on your palm, diamond shape facing you (if you are using square wrappers). Fill 1 teaspoon of filling into the middle of the wrapper.
  • Using your other hand, dip your finger into the bowl of water. Wet the top edges of the wrapper.
  • Bring the bottom corner of the wonton wrapper from the bottom to the top corner and press on just the tip.
  • Hold the wonton dumpling by the tip at the top with 1 hand, and use the other hand to grab the excess wrapper on the right side and press it together towards the top.
    It doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to stick together. As long as the filling is touching the wrapper, it will act as a glue.
  • Switch the dumpling to the other hand and do the same thing on the left side
  • Use both hands to hold the dumplings and use your forefinger or middle finger and your thumb to press everything together to seal it well at the top of the dumpling.
    The shape is meant to be whimsical and not perfect.
  • Place the dumpling on the plate and cover it with a damp cloth while you work on the next dumpling.

How to Freeze the Wonton Dumplings

  • To freeze them, place the wrapped wontons in a single layer on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper so they don't freeze onto the cookie sheet.
  • Make sure the dumplings are not touching each other, so they don't stick together while it is freezing.
  • Place the cookie sheet with the wonton dumplings in the freezer for 30 minutes to pre-freeze them.
  • After 30 minutes, remove them from the freezer and store them all in a freezer bag together, the dumplings should be firm enough to not stick together.

Notes

  • You can double or triple the recipe to make a larger batch.
  • Avoid using Extra Lean Ground Pork - Try to use fatty ground pork for the best flavor and texture.
  • Overmix the Pork - In order to get that wonderful springy texture, you want to make sure you overmix the ground pork as much as you can with salt (soy sauce and oyster sauce). The filling should look gluey by the time it has finished mixing.
  • Use a Mixer If Possible - You can definitely overmix the ground pork by hand, but it will take a lot of elbow grease. If you are doing it by hand, mix it in one direction only, this will make it easier to achieve that gluey texture. If you have a stand mixer or a hand mixer, I highly recommend using that instead. On my Kitchen aid stand mixer, I use the 6 setting.
  • Adjust the Shrimp Size - If you like the texture of crunchy shrimp, cut the shrimp into larger pieces before adding it to the pork mix. If you like it smoother, finely chop it before you mix it into the pork. I personally like a mix of both so I cut half in large chunks, and half finely minced.
  • Don't Overthink the Wrapping - Since the filling is very gluey, you don't need to worry about your wontons falling apart if you didn't fold it right. The filling will hold everything together once it's cooked.
  • Add Umami with Shiitake Mushrooms - To give your wonton dumplings a bit more umami, soak 1 or 2 dried shiitake mushrooms for a 30 minutes in hot water. Once it is soft, remove the woody stem and discard it, and finely chop the mushrooms and add it into the filling. The finer you mince it the better it is, because it can overpower the wonton.

Nutrition

Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 189mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.03g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg