Pork and prawn wonton soup recipe

This soup makes a wonderful starter. You can buy wonton wrappers at any Chinese supermarket (they're usually found in the chiller cabinet or freezer). The wontons are cooked and served in a light broth - which is both healthy and tasty.

Serves 4

Ready in 30 minutes

Ingredients

500ml vegetable stock
½ small Chinese leaf lettuce (about 100g), cut into 1cm slices
4 dried (and soaked for 10 minutes) or fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1-2 tbsp each light soy sauce and rice vinegar, to taste
1 tsp toasted sesame oil, to taste
2 spring onions, finely sliced

For the wontons

150g pork, minced
150g medium prawns, shelled, de-veined and finely chopped
1 large spring onion, finely chopped
1.5cm piece fresh ginger, grated
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp cornflour
16 wonton wrappers

METHOD

How to make pork and prawn wonton soup

1. Mix all the wonton filling ingredients in a bowl. Put 1 teaspoon of filling in the centre of each wonton wrapper. Brush a little water along the edges of each wrapper, then gather the corners into the centre and twist to form small, sealed dumpling parcels.

2. Pour the stock and 500ml boiling water into a large pan and bring to the boil. Add the dumplings, 1 at a time, and cook for 5 minutes, until they expand and float to the surface.

3. Add the Chinese leaf and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the shiitake mushrooms. Season the broth to taste using the light soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil and a pinch of ground white pepper.

4. To serve, ladle 4 dumplings into each bowl with some soup and vegetables. Scatter with sliced spring onions and serve immediately.