Everyone has a dish they always order when dining out, even though they know they should be trying something new. My friend always orders Teriyaki Chicken at Japanese restaurants, it drives me nuts. But then again, I can’t help but order my staple Prawn Pad Thai at many a suburban Thai eatery, even though nine times out of ten I know I will be disappointed in the lack of flavour. However a dish that I know I can rely on and trust with my deepest darkest secrets, is wonton noodle soup. I often find myself confiding in a bowl of hot soup in a corner of a restaurant, don’t you?
I adore tangling my chopsticks in the egg noodles, slurping up the broth, and the joy that comes from biting into a slippery wonton then the intense flavour of the filling that meets the palate. It doesn’t matter if it’s a prawn, pork or chicken wonton, it’s always pretty good. And it’s usually accompanied by a bill totalling $8, score.
One of my favourite places to eat wonton soup is China Bar. This chain seems to be popping up in Melbourne like pimples all over a teenage boys face. But that’s a good thing! The food is always fast, tasty and cheap. My local China Bars are at Doncaster and Box Hill, both are great, but you can pick up roast duck and pork belly from Box Hill.
I’ve put together this recipe so that you too can experience the pleasure of wonton noodle soup at home. Like any recipe, use it as a guide, you can use pork, turkey, beef or veal mince instead of chicken if you like, or you could make a fish, crab or prawn mousse if it tickles your fancy. But, unlike me, maybe refrain from having D&M’s with your soup. Enjoy!
Chicken Wonton and Egg Noodle Soup
Ingredients
Easy Soup Stock:
2 tsps oil
1 onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, diced
1 knob of ginger, sliced
2.5 litres of water
4 star anise
3 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
2 tbs sugar
½ cup fish sauce
1 kg chicken wings or nibbles
Juice of 1 lime
Salt, to taste
Yummy Chicken Wontons:
1 packet of wonton skins
300g chicken mince
1 tbs sesame oil
1 tbs sugar
2 tbs fish sauce
1 tbs light soy sauce
1 tsp white pepper, ground
Pinch of salt
½ cup coriander roots, finely chopped
2 spring onions, finely chopped
Juice of ½ a lime
1 packet of fresh egg noodles
To serve:
1 bunch coriander
1 bunch Vietnamese mint
2 red chillies, sliced
2 cups bean sprouts
Wedges of lime and lemon, to serve
Method
- To make the soup stock, place large pot on med-high heat, sauté the onion, ginger and garlic with the oil for a few minutes until translucent. Add water, star anise, cinnamon, fish sauce and sugar then bring to the boil. Add chicken wings then bring to the boil, scraping the top of the soup for any impurities. Simmer for 1 – 1.5 hours, add more water if the stock reduces too much. Strain bones and spices, reserving liquid. Finish the stock with a squeeze of fish sauce and lime juice.
- To make the chicken wonton mix, combine all Chicken Wonton ingredients except the wonton skins in a bowl and mix well until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge to marinate for an hour.
- To fold wontons, place wonton wrapper on clean surface, then place 1 tsp of chicken mix in the centre of the wrapper. Dip your finger into a bowl of water then wipe water across the two edges of the wrapper in a triangle shape. Fold the dry edge if of the wrapper onto the wet edge and seal to make a triangle, ensuring you push out any remaining air. Fold the bottom two edge of the triangle onto them selves, and seal together with water. Wonton should look folded at the bottom with a pointy hat. Repeat this process with the remainder of your chicken mix.
- To cook the chicken wontons, boil water in medium sized saucepan, place wontons in boiling water and cook for about 2 – 2.5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, then refresh in ice bath and place on paper towel. Add to hot soup when ready to serve.
- To cook the egg noodles, boil water in medium sized saucepan, place egg noodles in boiling water and cook for about 2 minutes or less. Remove and plunge in ice bath, strain. Add to hot soup when ready to serve.
- To serve, place noodles and wontons in large bowl, ladle over hot soup mix. Serve with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, chilli and wedges of lime and lemon, add according to your taste.
I LOVE this post! Won Ton Noodle Soup is totally my regular dish at any cheap chinese restaurant especially at China Bar! And i totally agree with you, the guys down at Box Hill are SO quick at preparing it! There are also a few good places in and around Melbourne CBD who make a cracking Won Ton Noodle Soup! Love your blog by the way x
I will add this to my menu plan for next week, it looks delicious
Sounds amazing Dani. I know what you mean about some people never daring to try new things. I think we all get stuck in a rut now and then. I had a time when the only thing I would eat from our Thai restaurant was Fried Kway Teow
I completely agree! Can I suggest however, that Quan88 on Victoria Street has the best wonton noodle soup in Melbourne. Their broth is to die for!
Wow dani, this looks amazing! i cant wait to try and cook this…
Mmmm Dani, that is my idea of heaven in a bowl. The ULTIMATE comfort food. I just made a big batch of chicken stock today, I was going to do something else with it, but I think this will be the go now.
hey dani you posted that online and on facebook with a coles and smiths ad……. why? if you are to post advertising i will leave your blog and fb page you owe us “fans” better where is your integrity???
Hello Dani,
This soup look absolutely delicious, I look forward to trying it soon.
Thanks, Dani, just the recipe I need. I have been making my daughter a chicken noodle soup with bought stock, Will give your stock a go.
I’ve pinned this – look out! The Pinterest fairies are going to deck your halls with bells of JOLLY. Also, you write well, talk about being greedy when talents were being passed out.
I also consider this recipe worthy of stockpiling ingredients for. Thanks for sharing!
hey dani.hwz life
hope the best for you in future.
was your fan on masterchef.
wanted u to win….
bt.
i like this recipe……… will try it
hey !! i love asian food and i want to make a good Asian soup but unfortunately i can’t use any sort of meat at my place
so can u post a vegetarian soup recipe
I am definitely gonna try it today.. thanks for the recipe Dani
Dani,
Australian Masterchef is showing here in the UK, way behind Australia as this is December 6th and sadly tonight I have just seen you being eliminated. I have loved the show and so wanted you to be the winner and felt quite depressed when it was all over for you as you brought many smiles and displayed great talent over the past weeks.
I wish you every success in your chosen future, you have the world before you, take advantage of your youth and spirit to reach your goals.
Margaret
Hi Danni, I thought you were great on Masterchef and love your blog, you totally write like you speak which is great! I love the sound of this recipe and the whoopie pies, will definatly give them a go at the weekend, never had wontons before. Asian home cooking isn’t as big in the UK I think, but maybe its just not big in my house as never really tried before, sounds delish! could you tell me how you might make the prawn filling? would there be different spices or is it just substituting chicken for prawn?
Hey Jenni. Thanks for your comment! I would just chop or mince the prawn finely, then add the same ingredients. Good luck! Cheers.