Fast Recipes

Cheat's wonton soup

This wonton soup is an express version of the recipe that cuts time, not flavour.

By Jessica Brook
A shortcut recipe for when you don't have time to make wontons. Use minced pork with a good amount of fat to ensure the dumplings aren't too dry.

Ingredients

  • 1 litre (4 cups) chicken stock
  • 60 ml (¼ cup) light soy sauce
  • 60 ml (¼ cup) Shaoxing wine
  • 10 ginger (about 2cm), thinly sliced
  • 3 spring onions, cut into 5cm batons
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon quill
  • 24 wonton wrappers, cut diagonally
  • Steamed Asian greens, shredded spring onion and coriander, to serve
  • Fried shallots and chilli oil (optional), to serve
Broken dumplings
  • 10 peeled raw prawns (about 150gm), finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp chopped coriander
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 spring onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 300 gm minced pork

Method

  • 1
    Combine stock, soy sauce, Shaoxing, ginger, onion, star anise, cinnamon and 275ml water in a large saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low-medium and simmer until broth is fragrant (10 minutes). Strain (discard solids) and return to a clean saucepan over medium heat.
  • 2
    For dumplings, combine ingredients (except pork) in a small food processor and process until finely chopped. Add pork, process to combine and season to taste. Roll into 26 walnut-sized balls, drop into the soup and simmer until cooked (2-3 minutes). Add wonton wrappers and cook until al dente (30 seconds).
  • 3
    To serve, top soup with Asian greens, onion, coriander and fried shallots, and drizzle with chilli oil.