Easy Fried Wontons (With Shrimp or Tofu)

By
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt is a cookbook author and culinary teacher who specializes in Thai cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/14/21
Fried wonton with shrimp and tofu

The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska 

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
516 Calories
25g Fat
54g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 516
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 33%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 558mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 54g 20%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 368mg 28%
Iron 5mg 30%
Potassium 243mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

These fried wontons are the perfect party food. Make some and watch them disappear - fast! They're easy and fun to put together and can also be made vegetarian/vegan so everyone can enjoy them. Choose between a shrimp or tofu-onion filling; either one is ready to use in just minutes. Serve with either sweet chili sauce (available in supermarkets), or traditional sweet and sour sauce. If you're expecting company, these fried wontons can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator, then just fried up when guests arrive. Either way, your party is sure to be a hit this crunchy-good finger food around. Enjoy!

1:40

Click Play to See This Easy Fried Wontons (With Shrimp or Tofu) Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

  • 1 package tofu, medium-firm or firm, or 1 cup cooked baby shrimp

  • 2 spring onions, or green onions

  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

  • 1 teaspoon white sugar

  • 1 (12-ounce) package wonton wrappers, available in the deli section of most supermarkets

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying, such as peanut, sunflower, canola

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

If Using Tofu

  1. Drain tofu and slice into very small cubes to equal 1 cup.

    Chopped tofu
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Place in a bowl and add the green onion, hoisin, and sugar. Gently stir to combine.​

    Tofu and hoison sauce
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

If Using Shrimp

  1. Thaw and drain if using frozen shrimp.

    Shrimp
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Place in a bowl and add the green onion, hoisin, and sugar, stirring to combine.

    Add shrimp and tofu
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

Make and Fry the Wontons

  1. Using a cutting board or another clean surface, lay out 6 wonton wrappers at a time. You will also need 1/2 cup water and a pastry brush if you have one (otherwise you can use your fingers). Wet the outside borders of each wrapper.

    Wonton wrappers
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Place a little filling (about 3/4 teaspoons) in the center of each wrapper.

    Filling into wrappers
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Fold wrapper in half to create a triangle with the filling inside its base. Press sides together.

    Fold wrapper
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  4. You can fry them up like this or continue folding by bringing the two outside corners of the triangle together, overlapping them a little and securing with a little water. They should be able to stand up, like artfully folded serviettes.

    Fold upward
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  5. Place oil in a small to medium frying pan (oil should be at least 3/4- to 1-inch deep). Turn heat to high and don't leave the stove. Wait until you see squiggly lines forming on the bottom of the pan.

    Oil in pan
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  6. Shortly after this, test the readiness of the oil by dipping the corner of a wrapper into the oil. If it begins to fry, oil is hot enough; if not, wait a minute longer.

    Test oil
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  7. Place wontons in the hot oil and fry, turning until all sides are light golden brown.

    Place wonton in oil
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  8. Remove from heat and set on a paper towel or clean kitchen towel to drain. Continue until all the wontons are fried.

    Wontons
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska

  9. Serve with your choice of homemade Thai sweet chili sauce, store-bought Thai chili sauce, or sweet and sour sauce.

    Fried wonton with shrimp and tofu
    The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska 

  10. Enjoy!

Tip

  • If you're expecting a crowd, you can double the filling recipe and still have plenty of wrappers.

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