Wonton
Wonton is a type of Chinese dumpling made from thin dough wrappers filled with ingredients such as meat, seafood, or vegetables.
Wonton is a type of Chinese dumpling made from thin dough wrappers filled with ingredients such as meat, seafood, or vegetables. It is commonly boiled and served in soup, but can also be steamed or fried.
What it is
A wonton is a small dumpling with a thin wrapper and a savoury filling, typically associated with Chinese cuisine. Common fillings include pork, shrimp, seafood, and vegetables. The wrapper is folded around the filling and cooked by boiling, steaming, or frying.
Key details
The English word 'wonton' comes from Cantonese, with alternative spellings such as wantan, won ton, and wuntun. Wontons are often boiled in broth and served as wonton soup, but also appear in dim sum or fried as a snack. They are found in multiple regional Chinese cuisines and are a standard item in Chinese restaurants internationally.
Why it matters
Wontons are a widely recognized Chinese food item, common in Canadian Chinese restaurants and grocery stores. The term is also recorded in Quebec French-language terminology as an established culinary borrowing, reflecting their integration into Canadian food culture.
In short
- Wontons are small Chinese dumplings with thin wrappers and savoury fillings.
- They are commonly boiled in broth for wonton soup, but can also be steamed or fried.
- The name comes from Cantonese, with several alternative spellings.
- Wontons are widely available in Canada, including in Chinese restaurants and grocery stores.
Wontons are widely available in Canadian Chinese restaurants and grocery stores, and the term is recorded in Quebec French-language terminology as an established culinary borrowing.
Quick questions
What is a wonton?
How are wontons cooked?
Is a wonton the same as a dumpling?
Sources
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wontonSupports: Definition of wonton as a small dumpling filled with meat, seafood, or vegetables and usually served boiled in soup or fried.
- Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/wontonSupports: Definition of wonton as a type of dumpling commonly associated with Chinese dishes, especially soup.
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/wontonSupports: Definition, Chinese-cooking context, and word origin from Cantonese.
- Office québécois de la langue française — https://vitrinelinguistique.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/fiche-gdt/fiche/26557347/wontonSupports: French-language Canadian terminology, origin from Cantonese, and use in Quebec.
- Britannica Dictionary — https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/wontonSupports: Definition of wonton as a Chinese food made of dough filled with meat or vegetables and often served boiled in soup.