Guide Note

The Chinese dumpling, the wonton, serves a use similar to that of dumplings in many other cuisines: It allows leftover or random ingredients, such as vegetable or meat scraps, to be attractively packaged as a side dish or as an addition to soup stock. Many types of wonton are eaten in China, varying widely by region, use, and construction; but the classic Chinese wonton in America is a folded triangle of noodle surrounding a filling of finely ground, lightly seasoned pork, and served in a cup of soup as an appetizer. The broth is generally chicken, while spare amounts of ingredients such as chopped scallions add color and variety. Authenticity, however, varies; and particularly cynical American-Chinese restaurateurs have been known to fill wontons with cream cheese or to abandon them entirely, substituting ravioli.

Fast Facts

1. There are many different styles and shapes of wonton
2. Wontons are distinct from other Asian dumplings such as gyoza and soup dumplings
3. Chicken and shrimp are also common fillings
4. Wontons are also served alone, usually fried or steamed
5. The two other canonical American-Chinese soups are hot and sour and egg drop