Pork & Shrimp Wonton Soup

For me, making wontons is a labour of love.  I gather all my ingredients, find a comfortable, scenic spot (or the television) and get to work at a leisurely pace.  These are not the usual wontons from the neighbourhood Chinese takeout- these have flavour and crunch.  They are both beautiful and tasty!

I make five or six dozen, freeze them in bags to hold one dozen each, ready for soup or deep-frying or steaming. So many possibilities.

To make about three litres of broth and approx, five dozen wontons.

Ingredients

For the Broth:
2 lbs        chicken backs, wingtips, and/or bones. roughly chopped with a cleaver
1 1/2 lbs  pork tied, or hocks
3 oz         Chinese ham or prosciutto (optional)
1 (3- by 4-inch) square piece of kombu (optional)
1 oz         dried shrimp or shells from fresh shrimp
8              green onions, whites and greens reserved separately
1 (4-inch) knob fresh ginger, sliced, plus 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
12            leaves napa cabbage, cut into 2-inch pieces, divided
Kosher salt

For the Wontons:
24 small shrimp, shells removed and reserved for the broth
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 pound ground pork
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 cup sliced yellow chives, divided (see note above)
50 wonton wrappers (thin variety preferred)

Directions

1.

For the Broth: Combine chicken, pork, and ham in a large stockpot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 10 minutes, then dump contents into the sink and let liquid drain. Clean bones and meat until cold running water, rubbing off any scum or blood clots that may appear and return to the stockpot.

2.

Fill stockpot with cold water until water is about 1 inch above the surface of the bones. Add kombu, dried shrimp (or shrimp shells), scallion whites, 4-inch knob of sliced ginger, and 4 cabbage leaves. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a bare simmer, and cook, uncovered, until broth is deeply flavorful, about 2 hours.

3.

Using tongs, discard bones from broth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a large saucepan. Defat broth with a ladle if using the same day. Broth can also be transfered to sealed containers, refrigerated overnight, then skimmed the next day, using a spoon to remove the solid fat from the top.

4.

For the Wontons: Place shrimp in a small bowl. Add baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 cup water and mix with fingers. Set aside for at least 15 minutes and up to 1 day in the refrigerator. Drain when ready.

5.

Meanwhile, combine pork, 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, half of chives, and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Mix with fingers until thoroughly combined. To test for seasoning, place a small amount on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high power until cooked through, about 10 seconds. Taste for seasoning and add more salt as necessary.

6.

Place one wonton wrapper in the center of the cutting board, keeping the rest covered in plastic. Place a 1 tablespoon-sized portion of pork filling in center of wrapper, and top with a single shrimp. Using your finger tip, moisten the wrapper with water around the edge.

7.

Lift two opposite corners up to meet at a point, then use your fingertips to seal the rest of the sides, forming a triangle, and squeezing out as mush as as possible.

8.

Pull the two opposite corners towards each other to form the triangle into a plump folded crescent shape, using a little water to seal the edges. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining wontons.

9.

For the Soup: Bring broth to a boil. Add wontons and cabbage and cook until wontons are cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining chives and remove from heat. Allow to cool for 1 minute. Serve immediately.