Spicy Wonton in Chili Oil Sauce: Easy 10 Minute Recipe
This spicy wonton recipe with a homemade chili oil sauce is so addicting and can be made in just 10 minutes! I always keep wontons in the freezer for quick meals whenever the cravings hit and tossing them in this Korean-inspired sauce is an easy way to take it to the next level!
What Are Wontons?
Wontons are a type of dumpling. It consists of a filling enclosed in a wonton wrapper and molded into various different shapes.
There are many filling options. However, pork, shrimp, vegetables, or a combination are the most common and popular.
Wontons are remarkably versatile and can be enjoyed in many different ways. They can be steamed, boiled, deep-fried, or served in soups.
The possibilities for enjoying these delightful dumpling are truly endless!
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What is Chili Oil?
Many would consider chili oil a household staple, especially in Asian cuisine.
It is spicy condiment that is a fiery and flavorful mixture of spice-infused oil, along with hot chili peppers, crunchy texture, and other aromatics. You can easily purchase chili oil at nearly any grocery store, and various brands offer different flavors and levels of heat.
However, creating your very own chili oil at home is incredibly simple with just a few basic ingredients.
The best part about making your own chili oil is that you can customize the level of spiciness, aromatics, and even consistency to your individual liking.
Store-bought chili oils are great but making your own is so fun and satisfying. It is something you need to try doing at least once!
Ingredients for Spicy Chili Oil Sauce
- Korean Chili Flakes: Gochugaru is a staple Korean ingredient. It tastes much different than other non-Korean chili flakes due to its mild to moderate spice level and hint of sweetness. It is a common ingredient in Korean dishes such as soups and stews, kimchi, and more!
- Green Onion: Green onions are the perfect addition because it has a very distinct but mild oniony flavor.
- Garlic: Always, always a staple for tasty dishes! It truly does make everything better!
- Ginger: Ginger is so fragrant and adds the greatest flavor to this dish. I recommend using grated ginger that will blend seamlessly into the sauce so you don’t end up with harsh bites of ginger.
- Sesame Seeds: These seeds have a nutty flavor that ties into this chili oil dish perfectly as well as adding some crunchy texture.
- Neutral Oil: You will want to use a neutral oil due to it having very little to no flavor. All of the incredible ingredients going into this oil recipe will make this come to life. Some examples are vegetable, canola, corn, avocado, safflower, and peanut oils.
- Soy Sauce: A regularly used condiment in Asian dishes that provides a salty, umami, and savory flavor.
- Rice Vinegar: Used frequently in Asian cooking. This is a slightly sweet and sour vinegar made from fermented rice.
- Sesame Oil: It’s derived from sesame seeds and has a nutty taste that is the perfect finishing touch for many Asian dishes.
- Sugar: A little sweetness to balance out the salty and spicy elements of this recipe. I like to use white sugar for this but feel free to use your favorite sweeter.
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Homemade vs. Store-Bought
Wontons
The best part about making your own wontons at home is that you can use your favorite filling combination. They can be cooked and eaten right away or stored in the freezer for later. However, the downside is that they can be quite time consuming to fold.
My not-so-secret shortcut is to buy store-bought frozen wontons. My favorite brand for this is bibigo! You can find this in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store. They come in a bunch of different flavors and fillings, I typically buy the Chicken & Cilantro or the Pork and Vegetable Mini Wontons.
Chili Oil
Homemade chili oil is so fun to make! Pouring in the hot oil and hearing the sizzle as the ingredients meld together is so satisfying. Best of all, you can customize it to your liking with your favorite peppers and aromatics. The recipe I’m sharing here is a Korean-inspired chili oil but the possibilities are endless!
There are also many great store-bought options.
My favorite chili oil to use for sauces is the Momofuku Chili Crunch. It has a nice kick without being too spicy and just a touch of sweetness which is great for making a balanced sauce.
The Laoganma Spicy Chili Crisp is a classic. It’s not very spicy but will add a nice layer of flavor to everything. I consider this an all purpose chili oil.
Trader Joe’s used to make a really spicy Crispy Habanero but they have since continued it. However, I do enjoy getting their Crunchy Chili Onion. It is mild but garlicky and has a great texture.
How to Make Spicy Wonton
The recipe I am sharing here combines the convenience of frozen wontons with the bold flavors of a homemade Korean-inspired chili oil sauce.
Let’s walk though this step-by-step together so you can make this simple but delicious spicy wonton at home!
As always you can find the recipe card at the end that you can print out, pin to Pinterest, save for later, and share with others.
Step 1: Cook the Wontons
Take a medium-sized pot and fill it with water. Place the pot on high heat and let the water come to a rolling boil.
Add frozen wontons to the boiling water and let them cook for approximately 1-2 minutes or until they float to the top.
I am using bibigo’s frozen Pork & Vegetable Mini Wontons but you can use wontons from your favorite brand or homemade ones with your filling of choice.
Also note that frozen wontons are usually fully cooked. You may need to boil longer if using raw wontons. Boiling time may also vary depending on the size and amount of wontons you put into the water.
Once the wontons are done cooking, remove the pot from the heat, and strain the wontons.
Set aside the cooked wontons while you prepare the chili oil sauce.
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Step 2: Prepare the Chili Oil Ingredients
Get a small-sized bowl for mixing the ingredients. I recommend using a ceramic or oven-safe bowl as you will be pouring hot oil into this later on.
I also advise you not to use a glass bowl because it has a risk of exploding when coming into contact with high heat.
In whatever bowl you choose, combine the gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), white part of the green onion, garlic, ginger, and sesame seeds.
This chili mixture is the base for the chili oil.
Step 3: Make the Chili Oil
Place a small saucepan on medium heat.
Pour neutral oil into the small saucepan and let it heat up. Neutral oils are oils that have little to no flavor. Some examples include vegetable, canola, corn, avocado, safflower, and peanut oils.
To tell if the oil is hot enough without using a thermometer, place a wooden chopstick or the end of a wooden spoon in the center of the pan. If the oil bubbles around the chopstick, then it is ready to be used.
Once the oil is hot enough, pour it over the chili mixture. Be careful and do not stand too close because the chili mixture will sizzle as it comes in contact with the hot oil.
This method of pouring hot oil onto the chili mixture cooks it just enough to allow the flavors of the aromatics and heat of the chili flakes to be released without burning it. The ingredients infuse together to become a spicy, flavorful, and aromatic chili oil.
Step 4: Prepare the Spicy Wonton Chili Oil Sauce
After the chili oil has been created, add soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar to the chili oil.
Mix the chili oil and additional ingredients well to combine them thoroughly.
Taste test the sauce and adjust the ingredients according to your preference.
Step 5: Toss and Serve Spicy Wonton
Lastly, mix the combined chili oil sauce and pour it on top of the cooked wontons.
Toss the wontons gently in the delicious sauce, ensuring each are evenly coated.
Finally, top the spicy wonton with sliced green onion for added flavor and garnish.
Save This Spicy Wonton Recipe!
This spicy wonton recipe is seriously so simple to make but tastes anything but simple! You can easily whip this up in 10 minutes.
My biggest life tip is to always have frozen dumplings or wontons. With a few additional ingredients, you can make a delicious and ultra flavorful Korean-inspired chili oil sauce to take the wontons to the next level.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do and recreate this delicious dish at home!
Did you make this recipe? I would love to see! Tag me on IG @feedmi_ or TikTok @feedmi
Spicy Wonton Recipe
Ingredients
- 13 small frozen wontons
- 1 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 green onion, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ⅔ tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp sugar
Instructions
- Boil frozen wontons for about 1-2 mins or until they float. Strain and set aside.
- Combine gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), white part of green onion, garlic, ginger, and sesame seeds.
- In a small saucepan on medium heat, heat up the oil. Place a chopstick into the center to test if the oil is hot enough. If bubbles form around the chopstick, it is ready. Pour the hot oil over the chili mixture.
- Add soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and mix together. Taste test and adjust to your liking.
- Toss the chili oil sauce with wontons, top with green onions, and enjoy!
