Dazzle your holiday guests with these Asian-inspired Savory Pumpkin Wonton Bites! Wontons are incredibly versatile! My spin on this delicious appetizer combines pumpkin purée with sweet roasted garlic and fragrant Chinese Five Spice.
These Savory Pumpkin Wontons are a winner app! Serve them warm with a sprinkle of basil and parmesan cheese on top!
There are several different ways to fold wontons. It’s easy and fun to make these 🥟 , so here’s a quick instructional video to help you along! How to fold wontons. [Credit: Elaine Luo]
Place the stuffed wonton wrappers on a flat surface before steaming.
Steam the wontons in a bamboo steamer on top of a heavy wok with a little water on the bottom. You can use parchment paper underneath the wontons, or cooking spray, so the wontons don't stick.
Main ingredients you'll need
- Fresh garlic
- Shallots
- Pumpkin purée
- Chinese Five Spice
- Wonton wrappers
- Thai basil
I steamed them in a bamboo steamer first. You can stop there, or take the next step and quickly fry them for a nice crispy bite.
Fresh wontons sure beat the frozen-in-the-bag version! Don’t be skittish about making wontons. They don’t have to look perfect! Just a nice seal on all sides will do (think triangle and you’re golden!) so the stuffing doesn’t leak out. You can purchase wonton wrappers at most grocery stores in the produce section. This is a truly unique appetizer that will be gobbled up quickly!
Tips & Tricks:
- I used store-bought wonton wrappers, available everywhere now, even at Target! Cover with a damp towel so they don’t dry out while you’re forming the dumplings.
- If you don’t want to use an egg wash to seal the dumplings, water will work just as well.
- If you don’t have a bamboo steamer you can also use a regular steamer in a pot sprayed with cooking spray.
- Another way to form the dumplings is by placing a teaspoon in the center of the wonton wrapper and pulling up all sides to form a little package, securing with egg wash or water.
Want more?
If you liked these Savory Pumpkin Wonton Bites, you’re going to want these recipes:
- Savory Pumpkin Hummus
- Skinny Baked Wonton Chips
- Easy Wonton Soup
- Roasted Carrot and Ginger Hummus
- Shumai Shrimp and Turkey Sausage Dumplings
Update Notes: This post was originally published on July 31, 2017, but was republished with slight text changes and additions, like new images, step-by-step instructions, and tips in December 2020.
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Savory Pumpkin Wonton Bites
Dazzle your holiday guests with these Asian-inspired Savory Pumpkin Wonton Bites! This delicious appetizer combines pumpkin purée with sweet roasted garlic and fragrant Chinese Five Spice.
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 whole bulb of garlic
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium shallot, minced
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper
- ¼ cup fresh Thai basil, chopped (or regular basil, reserve extra for garnish)
- 14 square wonton wrappers
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut off the tip of the garlic bulb and place in the middle of a sheet of aluminum foil. Fold the sides around the garlic bulb sealing at the top. Place in the middle of the oven. Roast the garlic for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
- Meanwhile, in a medium nonstick skillet, add teaspoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the shallots about 3 minutes until softened. Set aside to cool. Wipe out the skillet.
- To make the filling: Squeeze out the roasted garlic from the skin into a medium mixing bowl. Add in the pumpkin puree, shallots, Chinese Five Spice, cayenne pepper, a pinch of salt and pepper, and basil. Mix together with a fork.
- To make the wontons: Using one wonton wrapper at a time, place a teaspoonful of the pumpkin mixture into the middle of the wrapper. Using your fingertip, brush the two top sides with water and fold up to meet the top, forming a triangle. Brush the two pointed ends with water and fold the ends over each other to seal, forming a pocket. Place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat with other wonton wrappers.
- Place the wontons in a single layer in a bamboo steamer or other stove-top steamer sprayed with cooking spray. Steam for about 10 minutes. Heat the non-stick skillet with canola oil over medium-high heat. Brown the wontons for about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the wontons to a serving platter. Sprinkle with cheese and garnish with extra basil. Serve while warm.
Notes
- I used store-bought wonton wrappers, available everywhere now, even at Target! Cover with a damp towel so they don’t dry out while you’re forming the dumplings.
- If you don’t want to use an egg wash to seal the dumplings, water will work just as well.
- If you don’t have a bamboo steamer you can also use a regular steamer in a pot sprayed with cooking spray.
- Another way to form the dumplings is by placing a teaspoon in the center of the wonton wrapper and pulling up all sides to form a little package, securing with egg wash or water.
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Oven & Stove Top
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3-4 Wontons
- Calories: 436
- Sugar: 2.3 g
- Sodium: 739.1 mg
- Fat: 10.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 72.4 g
- Protein: 12.6 g
- Cholesterol: 11 mg
Janice Farnoy says
I’ve been looking for a a great appetizer recipe to treat my family for the holidays. I’ve found it! Cannot wait to try these savory wontons! Yummy. 😋
Asian Caucasian says
So happy to hear that, Janice! I'm sure you and your family will love this wonton appetizer. They're fun to make as well!