Wontons, a perfect little pocket of goodness, are just as scrumptious as dumplings. Just like dumplings, wontons are a classic Chinese food. Wonton soup and fried wontons are mouth watering delicacies that come to mind when I think about this dish. The best way to know if a wonton is gluten free or not is to contact the restaurant, cook, or manufacturer directly.
What are wontons
Wontons are a type of Chinese dumpling that are usually filled with meat and vegetables. They’re typically served as an appetizer or as part of a main dish, like soup. Wontons are made from very thin sheets of dough that are filled with meat and vegetables, then boiled and fried.
The dough is usually made from wheat flour, but it can also be made from potato starch or tapioca starch. The filling usually consists of pork and shrimp mixed with cabbage, scallions, ginger and garlic. The wonton wrapper gets its name from the Cantonese word wantan, meaning “swallowing clouds.”
Wonton wrappers and gluten free products
Wonton wrappers are made from wheat flour, water, salt and lard. They are available in the refrigerated section of most supermarkets. Wonton wrappers can also be found in Asian grocery stores. Wontons are not only delicious but they are also fun to make with family and friends.
Simply place a teaspoonful of filling in the center of each wrapper then fold over into a triangle shape. Pinch the edges closed with your fingers or use a small pastry brush dipped in water to seal the edges together.
Filling Ideas for Wontons
- Shrimp or chicken stir-fry mixed with ginger, garlic and soy sauce
- Steamed vegetables mixed with minced garlic, ginger and soy sauce
Is it possible to make wontons gluten free
As with most things in life, there are a lot of misconceptions about gluten. So let’s start by explaining what gluten actually is. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Some people have an intolerance to this protein which can cause a number of symptoms such as bloating, nausea and diarrhea.
In some cases, the immune system attacks the small intestine causing damage to the villi (tiny projections) that absorb nutrients from food. This condition is called Celiac disease and can lead to malnutrition if not treated properly.
So what does this mean for wontons? Well, if you have celiac disease or other forms of intolerance to gluten then you should avoid wontons because they are made with wheat flour. However, it’s possible to make wontons gluten free by substituting wheat flour with rice flour or tapioca starch which both have similar properties when used in cooking so your wontons will taste just as good.
Most ingredient lists don’t contain gluten
- Gluten is a protein in certain grains, such as wheat, rye and barley. It can cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to it.
- Most wonton wrappers are made with flour and water and may contain other ingredients, including cornstarch or rice flour.
- There are also meat- or vegetable-filled varieties that may contain additional ingredients, such as soy sauce or oyster sauce.
- Most ingredient lists don’t contain gluten, but if you’re concerned about cross-contamination, check with the manufacturer before buying the product.
The dough and fillings in wontons are not gluten free
The wontons themselves are made by wrapping a filling, such as shrimp or pork, in a thin dough wrapper and then steaming them. Wontons can be made from either wheat flour or rice flour. If you’re following a gluten-free diet, you want to avoid the wheat flour version.
The fillings in wontons are not gluten free because they’re made with flour-based sauces and meats. If you want to make a gluten-free version of this popular dish, replace the filling ingredients with a vegetable or meat-based broth that’s been reduced down to a thickened sauce consistency.
Just because a wonton is wrapped in wheat dough, it does not mean that it contains gluten
There are many different types of wontons and they can be made with a variety of meats and vegetables.
- Wontons are small dumplings that consist of a filling, wrapped in thin dough. They are usually boiled or deep-fried before being served in soup, stir-fried or even roasted on skewers. They can also be served alone with dipping sauces.
- Wonton wrappers are made from wheat flour so they contain gluten, but there are other ingredients that can be added to these wrappers that make them suitable for people with celiac disease or who have gluten intolerance. The most common ingredients used to make wonton wrappers include rice flour and tapioca starch but there are also some recipes for making homemade ones without any flour at all.
Conclusion
Wonton wrappers can be used to make different kinds of dumplings, including potstickers. Pot stickers are fried in oil, further enclosing the meat and vegetables in the wonton wrapper. While generally safe for celiacs under the right circumstances, you should always read whether or not the restaurant is using a gluten-free flour to make their wrappers.