Wonton Wrapper Wonderland

Once upon a time, in my delirious love affair with dim sum, I decided that I would make my own. My first adventure in potstickers was a complete success and we truly enjoyed the appetizer, but it was an awful lot of work for just two people.

Image Source: http://www.topdimsum.com/

Then there were the wonton wrappers. I had a ton left and I had already opened the package. Back then, in ancient times, all I had access to were the round wonton wrappers. But as our Chinatown expanded and stores started popping up closer to the Temple, we also started seeing a variety of wrappers from wonton to gyoza to eggroll and a variety of small buns from many a Pan-Asian background.

Dumpling wrappers or skins are also sold as shao mai, shumai, siu mai, su my and shiu mai. Generally, they are round (disks) and are sold fresh as well as frozen in Asian markets and supermarkets. Wonton skins are thicker and square. Eggroll wrappers are thicker than dumpling wrappers and often larger in area than wontons. If you are interested in distinct differences, you can read about it: here.

Nutella Wontons

Wrappers are stuffed with vegetables and meats or seafood, and may be boiled, fried, or steamed. Usually, they are served with a dipping sauce, or in soup. They freeze well, if you make a batch. In addition to a variety of cooking methods, there are different ways to shape them, and if you’d like to learn how to, you can read and view videos about it: here.

But if all you make are the dumplings you love from your favorite Chinese takeout, you are missing the true versatility of packaged wonton skins (and yes, you can make your own, but most of us do not have that kind of time on our hands).

Lasagna Bites

I used to bake the wonton skins in tiny muffin tins, like open flowers, and then fill them with picadillo and cheese or shrimp and sour cream, or ground sausage and cream cheese, and have delectable tapas in a crunchy and handy little package. It was the ultimate finger food.

Wonton Mozzarella Sticks

Later, it also occurred to me that wonton skins were perfect for homemade ravioli—thank you, Marco Polo!

If you like to mix up your cuisines, you can make pierogis, taquitos, empanadas, a horiatiki salad, and tiny pizzas... You do not need to make savory dishes, either; you can use the wrappers for dessert. You can cut them up and season to taste to make your own nachos/chips or crackers.

Ice Cream Tacos

Heck, if you cut in strips and wrap a tiny weiner and bake it, you'll have a great mummy Halloween treat. 

Add wonton and eggroll wrappers to your freezer staples! 

https://www.pinterest.com/amapolapress/food-goddess-wonton-wrappers/

Check out the Pinterest board for a few recipes ideas and collections on the many delicious things you can do with wonton wrappers. Of course, the board will also include cooking with dumpling and eggroll wrappers.