Patrick Oconnell
Cheese rangoons are crispy dumplings with a soft, creamy filling. They are usually served as an appetizer in American-Chinese restaurants, although they are believed to have been invented in the US in the 1950s. The filling is made with cream cheese, crab meat or imitation crab meat, scallions or onion, garlic, and other flavourings. The dumplings are then deep-fried or baked. You can make cheese rangoons at home, with wonton wrappers available at most grocery stores. They are also available at restaurants such as Panda Express.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of dish | Appetizer |
| Main ingredients | Cream cheese, crab meat or imitation crab meat, scallions or onion, garlic |
| Other ingredients | Sugar, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, green onions, tamari, lime zest, cilantro, red chili flakes, sesame seeds |
| Wrappers | Wonton wrappers |
| Cooking method | Deep-fried in vegetable oil, baked in the oven |
| Dipping sauces | Sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, plum sauce, duck sauce, hot mustard sauce |
| Calories | 54-180 kcal |
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What You'll Learn
Making cheese rangoons at home
Cheese rangoons are a delicious snack, appetizer, or side dish that can be made at home. They are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, with a tasty filling. Here is a step-by-step guide to making cheese rangoons in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Ingredients:
- Cream cheese (softened)
- Wonton wrappers
- Green onions/scallions
- Garlic powder
- Oil for frying or baking (avocado, olive, sesame, canola, peanut, or vegetable oil)
- Salt and pepper (optional)
- Sweet chili sauce or another dipping sauce of your choice
Optional Ingredients for Added Flavour:
- Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce
- Imitation crab meat or shrimp
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Ginger
- Lime juice and lime zest
- Honey
- Ketchup
- Tamari
Preparing the Filling:
In a bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with sliced green onions and garlic powder. You can also add other ingredients like Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce for an extra kick. Mix well until the filling is creamy and well-combined. If you want to include crab or shrimp, make sure to drain the seafood well to avoid excess moisture in your rangoons.
Assembling the Rangoons:
Take a wonton wrapper and add a rounded teaspoon or a tablespoon of the cream cheese filling to the centre. Use your finger to wet the edges of the wrapper with water, or you can use an egg wash. Bring the corners of the wrapper together in the centre, and pinch to seal the filling inside. Ensure that the rangoons are well-sealed to prevent the filling from leaking out during cooking.
Cooking the Rangoons:
Cheese rangoons can be cooked in various ways, including frying, baking, or air frying. Frying will give them a crispier texture. To fry, heat oil to 350°F/180°C and carefully drop the rangoons into the hot oil. Fry in batches for about 3 minutes or until golden brown, turning them occasionally for even cooking. Alternatively, you can bake or air fry your cheese rangoons. Preheat your oven to 350°F/175°C and brush the rangoons with oil before baking. Bake for 8-12 minutes until golden brown. For air frying, preheat your air fryer to 400°F and arrange the rangoons in a single layer. Air fry for 15-18 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until golden and crispy.
Serving Suggestions:
Cheese rangoons are typically served as an appetizer or side dish. They can be enjoyed on their own or with a dipping sauce. For a classic pairing, serve them with a sweet and sour sauce, or make your own sweet ginger chili sauce by mixing honey, ketchup, chili sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, tamari, ginger, garlic, and lime zest. Enjoy your homemade cheese rangoons as a tasty treat!
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Panda Express cheese rangoons
To make Panda Express Cheese Rangoons at home, you can follow a few simple steps. First, mix the cream cheese, garlic powder, and scallions together in a bowl. Next, place a teaspoon of the mixture in the centre of a wonton wrapper. Brush water around the edges of the wrapper, then bring the corners together in the centre and pinch to seal the filling inside. You can also add crab meat to make crab rangoons, a popular variation.
To cook the rangoons, heat vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to 350°F. Carefully place the rangoons into the oil and fry until golden brown. You can also use an air fryer, spraying both the basket and the rangoons with oil and cooking at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Drain the cooked rangoons on paper towels and serve with your choice of sauce.
Cheese Rangoons are a quick and easy dish to make at home, perfect as a starter or appetiser for a fun, casual meal. They are a crowd-pleaser and a great finger food for parties or game day.
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Crab rangoons
Crab Rangoon, sometimes called crab puffs, crab rangoon puffs, crab ragoons, cheese wontons, or cream cheese rangoons, are filled crisp dumpling appetizers served primarily in American Chinese restaurants. They are surprisingly easy to make at home. The filling is made with a combination of cream cheese, crab meat or imitation crab meat, scallions or onion, garlic, and other flavourings. A small amount of the filling is wrapped in each wonton wrapper. The dumpling is then shaped by either folding the wrapper over into a triangle, by creating a four-pointed star, by gathering it up into a flower or purse shape, or by twisting it into the traditional wonton shape.
Crab Rangoon is cooked to crispness by deep-frying in vegetable oil or by baking. They can be served hot or cold. In North America, crab rangoon is often served with a sauce for dipping such as soy sauce, plum sauce, duck sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or a hot mustard sauce. You can also add hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce to the cream cheese mixture for more flavour.
To make the filling, mix softened cream cheese with sliced green onion and garlic powder. Mix until well combined and creamy. To fill the wontons, add 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture to the centre of the wonton wrapper. With your fingers, wet the corners of the wonton wrapper, then push the edges of the wrapper together in the centre and pinch to seal. Make sure that the wontons are sealed very well.
To cook, heat 3-4 inches of vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry 5-6 wontons at a time, turning them as needed to make sure they brown evenly. This process should take about 3-5 minutes. Drain the cooked wontons on paper towels and repeat the frying process with the remaining wontons.
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Baked cheese rangoons
Cheese rangoons are a popular appetizer at many Chinese restaurants. They are typically fried, but baking them is a healthier alternative that still delivers a delicious crunch.
Ingredients
To make baked cheese rangoons, you will need the following ingredients:
- Cream cheese
- Green onions
- Garlic or garlic powder
- Wonton wrappers
- Olive oil or cooking spray
- Salt (optional)
- Lemon pepper or other spices (optional)
Preparation
First, preheat your oven to between 350°F and 400°F. Then, mix the cream cheese, garlic or garlic powder, and green onions in a bowl until well combined. If desired, you can add salt and your choice of spices to the mixture.
Next, place a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture in the center of a wonton wrapper. Lightly brush the edges of the wrapper with water, beaten egg, or egg wash, and then bring the corners together in the center, pinching to seal the cream cheese inside. Repeat this process until you have used up all your filling.
Before baking, brush or spray the rangoons with olive oil or cooking spray. Place the rangoons on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and crispy.
Serving
Storage
Leftover baked cheese rangoons can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or frozen for about 2 weeks. To reheat, simply pop them back in the oven at 325°F for 5-8 minutes, or 8-10 minutes if frozen.
Customization
Although cheese rangoons are typically made with cream cheese, green onions, and garlic, you can customize the filling to your taste. For example, you can add crab to make crab rangoons or include hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce for an extra kick.
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Where to buy wonton wrappers
Wonton wrappers, also known as wonton skins, are thin sheets of raw dough used to make Asian dumplings. They can be used to wrap vegetables, meat, or seafood mixtures and then deep-fried, boiled, or baked. You can also use them to make ravioli!
There are several options available for purchasing wonton wrappers. One option is to check your local grocery store. Wonton wrappers are often found in the refrigerated section of the produce department or in the international foods aisle. If you are unable to find them at your local grocery store, you can try specialty Asian markets or international food stores, which typically carry a wider variety of wonton wrappers, including egg-free and gluten-free options.
Another option is to purchase wonton wrappers online. Amazon offers a variety of wonton wrappers, including egg roll wrappers, dumpling wrappers, and square wonton wraps. Some brands available on Amazon include Toufayan Bakeries and NUCO. Amazon also offers free shipping on eligible orders.
In addition to Amazon, there are other online specialty food retailers, such as Frieda's LLC, that offer wonton wrappers. Frieda's wonton wrappers, for example, contain no egg, MSG, or trans fat, and can be frozen for up to six months.
When purchasing wonton wrappers, it is important to check the ingredients and nutritional information to ensure they meet your dietary needs and preferences. Additionally, be sure to review the storage instructions and use-by dates to ensure freshness.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese rangoons are a popular appetizer at many Chinese restaurants, especially at Panda Express. You can also find them at Trader Vic's, a Polynesian-style restaurant in Beverly Hills and San Francisco.
Yes, you can make cheese rangoons at home. The process is quite simple and only requires a few ingredients: wonton wrappers, cream cheese, and seasonings. You can find wonton wrappers in the product section of most grocery stores.
To make cheese rangoons, mix cream cheese with your choice of seasonings, such as garlic, green onions, sugar, or onion powder. Place a teaspoon of the mixture onto a wonton wrapper, seal it, and fry in oil until golden brown. You can also bake them for a healthier option.
