Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year often overlap, as is happening this year! So I thought the girls and I could make something I used to make with my mom for Chinese New Year but would also be festive for the holiday of love – Heart-Shaped Fried Wontons.
Heart-Shaped Fried Wontons: Ingredients & Prep
Before I called my girls over to help, I finely diced all the vegetables – carrots, mushrooms, and cabbage. And they could have helped with this part but I also prepped the ground pork with sesame oil and soy sauce. Don’t forget a dash of salt and pepper, plus some minced garlic and ginger for that authentic flavor.
You can find wonton skins at the supermarket in the produce section, near the tofu. They come in squares and rounds. I used round because that’s all they had, but they worked just fine. The girls cut the green onions with their little food scissors. It was easy to just let the green onions fall onto the chopping board.
They then added the onions and the other diced vegetables to the ground pork. We mixed everything to combine it evenly.
Shaping the Hearts
Now to cut the wonton wrapper skins into hearts. We used a few different cookie cutters. And we also tried using scissors to get the perfect heart shape. This part took quite a bit of time, but it was fun to roll Try out the dough ideas with the kids and see how they like wontons!
Usually, you would make a quick recipe in about 5 minutes. fried wonton with one skin folded in half. But since we’re making hearts, we are going to use two skins for each wonton. So place a little tip of the filling in the center. teaspoon of the meat filling in the center of one heart. Brush or wet the edges with water, and layer the other heart on top. Pinch and press down the edge to seal the edges firmly, keeping the meat mixture in the middle. This ensures the These juicy bites will be even better with a sprinkle of seasoning. filling stays inside during frying.
Sophie: “Voila! I made a heart! Um Mama, what does ‘Voila’ mean?”
Sarah: “It means TADAAAAAA!”
Frying to Golden Perfection
Ok, all done. We’re ready to get fryin’. I admit this is the first time I am deep-frying something without my mom next to me! I first tested to see if the oil was hot enough by putting a scrap of skin into the pan. If it starts to sizzle and turns golden brown quickly, then it’s ready. My mom’s technique is to put a chopstick into the hot oil and if it bubbles, then it’s ready.
So when the oil was ready, I put in a batch of three wontons at a time. When the edges started to turn brown, I flipped them over. Each one piece takes a few minutes total to become crispy fried.
Place them on a paper towel To soak up the excess oil, you can also sprinkle some salt on it. Crunch crunch crunch. The texture should be chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Serve with my mom’s sweet and sour dipping sauce. This brought back so many memories of making dumplings with my mom. So tell me, what dishes did you used to make with your family as a kid?
Mom’s Recipes
My Mom’s Fried Wonton Recipe
- 1 lb Wonton Wrappers
- 1/2 lb shrimp – minced
- 4 oz ground pork, like wontons, can be a delicious filling.
- 6 chopped water chestnuts or 2 or 3 tablespoon of carrots
- 3 T. chopped green onions, sprinkle them on top for garnish.
- 1 tsp. chopped ginger root
- 1 tsp. cornstarch (to help incorporate)
- 2 tsp. sesame oil
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. soy sauce
Mix ground pork and shrimp with all the other ingredients. Take one wonton skin, put 1/2 tsp. of filling in center, fold Fold over in half to form a triangle and sprinkle a bit of flour to prevent sticking. Deep-fry until golden brown. Turn constantly. Place on dry paper towel to absorb oil, and then sprinkle with salt for extra flavor.
My Mom’s Simple Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe
- 2/3 cup of water
- 2 T. Vinegar
- 4 T. Ketchup
- 6 T. Sugar
- 1 T. Rice Vinegar
When boiling, add 1/3 tsp. salt. Taste a sample. Then add 1 tsp. cornstarch mixed with 2 T. water to thicken the sauce. Pour into a bowl and let it cool before serving as a dip.
Conclusion
We hope you had a blast reading our blog! In this post, we taught you how to make the perfect Heart-Shaped Fried Wontons. These delicious wontons are not only easy to make, but they are also a crowd-pleaser loved by everyone! If you’re a beginner in the kitchen, these fried wontons will be a great tutorial that you can follow with ease. Until next time, Happy Cooking!
FAQs
Q: What are heart-shaped fried wontons and why are they popular?
A: Heart-shaped fried wontons are crispy fried wontons folded into a heart form for a fun, decorative snack or appetizer. They combine the familiar flavors of homemade wontons—seasoned filling wrapped in wonton wrappers—with the irresistible crunch you get when you heat the oil and fry the wontons; they’re popular for parties, romantic meals, and as a playful take on classic fried dumplings.
Q: How do I make a basic homemade filling for heart-shaped fried wontons?
A: A simple homemade filling often includes ground meat or chopped vegetables seasoned with soy sauce, a pinch of seasoning like salt and pepper, a beaten egg to bind, and optional aromatics. Stir the ingredients together until combined, taste and adjust the seasoning, then place a small spoon of filling in the center of each wonton wrapper before folding into a heart shape.
Q: What’s the best way to place the wonton wrappers to form the heart shape?
A: To form heart-shaped wontons, place the wonton wrappers flat, add the filling in the center, brush the edges with a little beaten egg or flour slurry to help seal, fold to create a triangular base, then bring the two top corners together and press to seal into a heart. Make sure the edges are well sealed so no filling escapes while you fry the wontons.
Q: How hot should the oil be when you heat the oil to fry the wontons?
A: Heat the oil to medium-high so it reaches roughly 350–375°F (175–190°C). Test by dropping a small piece of wrapper into the oil—if it sizzles and rises to the surface quickly, the heat is right. Maintaining this heat is key to achieving crispy fried wontons without absorbing excess oil.
Q: Can I make heart-shaped fried wontons gluten-free?
A: To avoid gluten, use gluten-free wonton wrappers or substitute thin rice wrappers if available, and check that the soy sauce and any other seasonings are gluten-free. The egg and flour mentioned in some recipes can be adjusted—use gluten-free flour for dusting or sealing and proceed with the same frying method for a delicious gluten-free snack.
