
Chicken Broth Wonton Soup
鸡汤小馄饨 · jī tāng xiǎo hún tún
My grandmother in Yangpu District, Shanghai, made this every rainy winter morning. She’d wake at 5 a.m. to grind pork by hand with ginger and scallion, saying ‘small wrappers hold big warmth’—a phrase I still whisper while folding.
Recipe author: HǎoWèi Test Kitchen
Home-cooking research team
Reviewed by HǎoWèi editorial team · Last updated 2026-08-29
Ingredients
- skinless boneless chicken thighs鸡腿肉(去皮去骨)🛒 local500 g
- wonton wrappers (square, ~8 cm)小馄饨皮(方形,约8厘米)🏮 asian30 pieces
- ground pork (lean 70%)猪绞肉(瘦7肥3)🛒 local200 g
- fresh ginger鲜姜🛒 local20 g
- scallions (green and white parts)小葱(葱白+葱绿)🛒 local30 g
- light soy sauce生抽🏮 asian15 ml
skinless boneless chicken thighs: Use thighs for richer broth; breast dries out.
wonton wrappers (square, ~8 cm): Look for 'fresh wonton skins' in refrigerated section; substitute round dumpling wrappers if needed—cut into squares.
ground pork (lean 70%): Ask butcher for freshly ground; avoid pre-seasoned meat.
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Instructions
1Rinse chicken thighs under cold water; place in a pot with 1.8 L cold water. Bring to a gentle boil over high heat, then immediately reduce to low and skim off grayish foam for 2 minutes.
去腥关键步骤
🔍 Look for Low heat 2 分钟 · 2 minutesVisual: 水面浮起细灰沫,汤底仍呈淡色清澈状。Surface shows fine gray foam; liquid remains pale and clear beneath.
You know it's right when: 浮沫不再大量涌出;汤味清新无铁腥气。Foam stops rising rapidly; broth smells clean, not metallic.
2Add 10 g sliced ginger and 2 scallion whites to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 40 minutes on low heat. Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl; reserve cooked chicken.
保留原汁原味
🔍 Look for Low heat 40 分钟 · 40 minutesVisual: 汤色浅金透亮,表面无油星。Broth is pale gold and translucent, with no oil droplets on surface.
You know it's right when: 每3–4秒仅微泡破面。Gentle bubbles barely break surface every 3–4 seconds.
3Finely shred reserved chicken; mix with ground pork, remaining grated ginger, chopped scallions, light soy sauce, and ½ tsp white pepper. Stir vigorously in one direction for 2 minutes until sticky and cohesive.
上劲是馅料弹牙的关键
🔍 Look for 2 分钟 · 2 minutesVisual: 馅料能挂住筷子;泛光泽且微黏手。Mixture clings to chopsticks when lifted; glossy and slightly tacky.
You know it's right when: 筷子离碗15厘米提起,馅料不脱落。Resists falling off chopsticks when lifted 15 cm.
4Place 1 tsp filling in center of each wrapper; fold corners to center like a gift box, pressing edges to seal tightly. Repeat until all 30 wrappers are filled.
小馄饨要封严防漏
Keep wrappers covered with damp cloth to prevent drying.
5Bring reserved broth back to a gentle simmer. Drop wontons in one at a time; cook 3–4 minutes until wrappers turn translucent and float. Serve hot, garnished with scallion greens.
浮起即熟,勿久煮
🔍 Look for Medium-low 3–4 分钟 · 3–4 minutesVisual: 馄饨皮呈玻璃状;馅心无粉红色。Wonton skins become glassy; filling is no longer pink inside.
You know it's right when: 所有馄饨在水面匀速轻浮。All wontons bob steadily at surface.
Tips
- · Use a bamboo steamer rack to hold wontons before cooking—they won’t stick.
- · For clearer broth, chill strained soup overnight; skim solidified fat from top before reheating.
- · Freeze uncooked wontons on parchment-lined tray, then bag—they cook straight from frozen.
Sources & references
Quantities, technique notes, and substitution ratios are cross-checked against established Chinese cookery references and standard food-science sources.
- Read our editorial policy
- Fuchsia Dunlop, Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Authentic Sichuan Cooking
- USDA FoodData Central — ingredient nutrition and portion data
- Traditional Chinese family-kitchen practice and regional taste records
Common questions
Is there a vegan substitute for oyster sauce?
Yes — 'mushroom oyster sauce' (often labeled vegetarian/vegan) is sold in most Asian grocers and increasingly in mainstream supermarkets. It behaves 1:1 and adds the same glossy umami. Watch labels if you're also gluten-free; most brands are GF, some aren't.
Source: HǎoWèi substitution engine
What's the difference between light and dark soy sauce?
Light soy (生抽) is the everyday salty seasoning — thin and salty, used in most recipes. Dark soy (老抽) is thicker, darker, slightly sweet, and used mostly for color (braises, fried rice). If you only buy one, get light soy. For dark soy's color: 1 tbsp light soy + a pinch of sugar + a few drops of molasses.
Source: HǎoWèi pantry guide
Why do you cook the aromatics (garlic/ginger) first on low heat?
Aromatics contain oils and sugars that turn bitter if scorched. Gentle heat (low-medium) lets garlic and ginger release their fragrance without browning too fast. If the pan is too hot, garlic goes bitter within seconds — that's why we always add aromatics first, before the main ingredients.
Source: Chinese Cooking Demystified technique library
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