Cheese Wontons: Perfect Pairing Ideas For Your Next Party

Cheese wontons are a delicious snack, but what should you serve with them? The crispy, fried exterior and hot, melty interior of these bite-sized treats are a perfect marriage of American and Chinese cuisine. While they are tasty on their own, there are plenty of dips and dishes that can take your cheese wonton experience to the next level.

Crab, chives, and other kinds of cheese

Crab wontons are a classic appetizer, often served in Thai and Chinese-American restaurants. They are also surprisingly easy to make at home. Most recipes call for imitation crab meat, but you can use canned or fresh crab if you prefer. To make crab wontons, simply mix the crab with cream cheese and seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Place a teaspoon of the mixture in the centre of each wonton wrapper, brush the edges with egg, and fold and pinch the corners together to seal. Fry the wontons in hot oil until crispy and golden brown, or bake them in the oven for a healthier alternative.

Chives are a great way to garnish and add flavour to cheese wontons. You can sprinkle chopped chives on top of the wontons after frying or baking, or you can mix them into the cream cheese filling. Chives add a mild onion flavour that pairs well with the cream cheese and other ingredients, such as crab or shrimp.

You can also experiment with different kinds of cheese in your wontons. While cream cheese is the most common choice, you can add other types of cheese to the filling, such as flavoured cream cheese, garden vegetable cream cheese, or even regular cheese. Just be sure to decrease the amount of cream cheese accordingly so that the filling is not too heavy.

Thai sweet chilli sauce

When serving cheese wontons with Thai sweet chilli sauce, you can simply dip the crispy wonton into the sauce for a delicious treat. The sauce's sweet and sour notes will enhance the savoury cheese and crispy wrapper, creating an explosion of flavours with every bite.

For an extra special presentation, you can also plate the cheese wontons with a drizzle of the Thai sweet chilli sauce on top. This adds a touch of elegance to the dish while still allowing the flavours to shine. Garnish with some chopped chives or spring onions to add a pop of colour and a subtle onion flavour that complements the sauce.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can even create a unique sauce by blending the Thai sweet chilli sauce with other condiments. For example, mixing it with mayonnaise or sour cream can create a creamy, spicy dip for your cheese wontons. You can also add a squeeze of lime or lemon juice to the sauce for a tangy twist.

So, the next time you're enjoying some crispy cheese wontons, don't forget to include Thai sweet chilli sauce as your condiment of choice. The combination of textures and flavours is sure to impress and satisfy your cravings!

Sweet and sour sauce

A basic sweet and sour sauce recipe includes pineapple juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, salt, ginger, cornstarch, and water. You can also add a few drops of red food colouring to achieve that signature glossy look.

To make the sauce, simply combine all the ingredients in a saucepan on the stovetop and simmer over medium heat. No need to bring it to a full boil. You can then add a cornstarch slurry to help thicken the sauce. Remove from the heat and pour into a small dish or bowl. This sauce will last for around two weeks when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

If you don't have the time or inclination to make your own sauce, you can always use a store-bought variety.

Duck sauce

Ingredients

For the perfect duck sauce, you will need apricot jam, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. You can adjust the quantities of these ingredients based on your taste preferences.

Instructions

Start by adding the apricot jam to a saucepan and placing it over medium heat. Once the jam is melted, add the brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Stir everything together until well combined. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.

Serving

Storage

Customisation

Feel free to customise your duck sauce by adding other ingredients, such as Sriracha or honey, to suit your taste preferences. You can also adjust the consistency by adding more or less water to the sauce.

Sriracha or hot sauce

Sriracha or other hot sauce is a great pairing with cheese wontons, adding a spicy kick to the creamy, crispy snack. The combination of spicy and creamy is a delight for the taste buds, and the crispy texture of the wonton wrappers pairs well with the smooth, soft cheese.

To make Sriracha cream cheese wontons, mix cream cheese with Sriracha sauce and thinly sliced green onions. You can also add a hint of sugar to taste. Spoon the mixture onto the wonton wrappers, and fold and seal them securely. Fry the wontons in hot oil until golden brown, and serve with a dipping sauce.

For a simple dipping sauce, you can mix honey, soy sauce, Sriracha, vinegar, and sesame oil. This will enhance the spicy flavour of the wontons and add a tangy, savoury note. Alternatively, you can serve the wontons with a sweet and sour sauce, or Thai sweet chilli sauce, for a contrasting sweet flavour.

If you want to tone down the heat a little, you can substitute Sriracha with another hot sauce of your choice. You can also adjust the amount of Sriracha added to the cream cheese mixture to your preference.

Sriracha cream cheese wontons are an excellent appetiser or party food, and can be served as a tasty snack on their own or with a side of sauce for dipping.

Frequently asked questions