We all know about dumplings that are balls made of dough and are cooked either by frying, baking, or steaming. They are common recipes in most cultures and are known by different names. Wonton is a similar recipe that is found in mainland China made of a wrapper made of dough skin. Many people cannot differentiate between a dumpling and a wanton because of their similarities. This article gets inside the two yummy recipes to find out the differences.
Dumpling
Dumpling is a food item made of dough mostly by hands. Dumplings are cooked by steaming, baking, frying, or any together method. They are mostly round in shape and have vegetables or meats filled inside. Dumplings are salty and taste great alone, but they are also eaten with soups and gravies. Dumplings are found in cuisines of many countries around the world and the changes mostly pertain to ingredients of the filling or the ingredients used in making the dough balls. Variations in wrappers and the manner in which wrapping is done leads to the confusion many time, but different food items known by different names in different countries belong to the same generic name dumpling.
Wonton
In Chinese cuisine (there are many different Chinese cuisines), there are many variations of dumplings. One such dumpling is called wonton or wuntun. It is a dough ball that contains meat of pork that has been minced. Sometimes shrimps are used as filling in these dumplings. The wrapper is made of thin dough made of wheat flour that is spread across one’s palm and then the filling is placed on it, and the fingers are closed to give shape to this dumpling. In most cuisines, wontons are boiled and then served along with soups. However, in some places, wontons are also deep fried. Wontons are mostly triangular in shape though other shapes of wontons are also made depending upon the person who is making these dough balls.
What is the difference between Dumpling and Wonton?
• The wrapper of dumplings is thicker than the wrapper of wontons.
• The word wonton is Romanization of the Cantonese word hundun which literally means dumpling.
• Chinese cuisines have many different types of dumplings and wonton is just one of them.
• Wontons are always filled with meats whereas generic dumplings across the world can be eaten without a filling.