Try these easy turkey wontons, a light and tasty appetizer made with fresh ingredients like ground turkey, cabbage, and ginger. Perfect for any occasion.
If you’re seeking delicious and easy meals featuring turkey mince, you’re in for a treat! Try making Korean-style turkey keema, a flavorful dish perfect for serving over rice or in a soft white bun. Another recipe that highlights turkey mince is my turkey mince and cabbage noodles, one of my favourites and quick to prepare for busy weeknights.
These meals showcase the versatility of turkey mince, making weeknight cooking enjoyable and effortless! If you're craving something light yet satisfying, don’t miss my simple chicken noodle stir-fry. Each recipe brings Asian-inspired flavours to your table without the hassle, making dinner a breeze!
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💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick & Simple: Easy to make for a snack or appetizer.
- Balanced: Ground turkey with fresh cabbage, scallions, and ginger.
- Customizable: Adjust seasoning or ingredients to fit your tastes or dietary needs.
- Cook Your Way: Steam, fry, or add to soup—perfect for any occasion.
🥘 What You’ll Need to Make Turkey Wontons
- Ground Turkey: Go for lean ground turkey to keep the filling moist and flavorful. If you can, avoid extra lean turkey as it might make the filling a bit dry.
- Scallions: Make sure to chop them finely so they blend well into the filling.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is key here. I recommend using a garlic press to get it finely minced.
- Lemon Zest: Make sure to zest only the outer layer of the lemon skin to avoid bitterness.
- Fresh Ginger: Use fresh ginger root, not powdered. Peel it with a spoon for ease and grate it finely to get all that flavor.
- Light Soy Sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness.
- Grated Cabbage: Green cabbage works best, but you can also use Savoy or pointed cabbage. Just make sure it's finely grated or shredded. If you prefer, you can squeeze out any excess water from the cabbage after grating.
- Wonton pastry: 1 pack containing 30 square-shaped wrappers.
♻️ Substitutions
- Ground Turkey: You can swap the turkey for ground chicken, pork, or even a plant-based alternative.
- Cabbage: If you don’t have cabbage, you can use finely chopped spinach or bok choy for a similar texture.
- Soy Sauce: If you need a gluten-free option, replace the soy sauce with tamari.
- Canola Oil: You can substitute this with any neutral oil like vegetable oil or use sesame oil for added flavour.
📖 Variations
- Spicy Wontons: Add a teaspoon of chilli flakes or sriracha to the filling for a little heat.
- Herbed Wontons: Mix in some fresh cilantro or parsley for a bright, herbaceous taste.
- Wonton Soup: Instead of serving the wontons on their own, cook them in chicken broth to make a light wonton soup. Add veggies like bok choy and mushrooms for a heartier meal.
- Baked Wontons: For a healthier alternative, bake the wontons in the oven until crispy instead of frying.
👩🍳 How to Make Turkey Wontons
Ready to make something comforting? Try our turkey wontons! They’re quick, easy, and packed with wholesome ingredients. We’ll guide you step-by-step, from preparing the filling to folding the wontons. Your kitchen will smell incredible!
Check out our handy guide with step-by-step photos to help you along the way.
Step 1: Start by finely chopping the scallion, mincing the garlic, and grating the ginger and lemon zest.
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, chopped scallion, minced garlic, lemon zest, ginger, light soy sauce, grated cabbage, and oil.
Step 3: Lay out your wonton wrappers on a clean surface. Place a small spoonful of the filling in the centre of each wrapper. Be careful not to overfill, as this can make the wontons difficult to seal.
Step 4: Dip your finger into the water and run it along the edges of the wonton wrapper. Fold the wrapper diagonally to form a triangle, pressing firmly to seal the edges.
Step 5: Ensure there are no air bubbles inside. You can leave the wontons as triangles or fold the two outer corners together to create a classic wonton shape.
Step 6: I chose to boil my turkey wontons. Boiling helps keep the wrappers tender and ensures the filling cooks evenly. I simply wait until they float to the top before removing them to serve.
Pro Tip: Other ways to cook these wontons:
- Steamed: Steam in a basket over simmering water for 5-6 minutes.
- Fried: Fry in hot oil for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and crispy.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
Serve these turkey wontons with your favourite dipping sauce. You can go classic with soy sauce or mix up a quick dipping sauce with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and a bit of chilli oil.
For a full meal, serve the wontons with a simple green salad or as part of an appetizer platter with other finger foods like spring rolls or dumplings.
❓FAQs
If you’re steaming or boiling wontons, make sure to lightly grease the steamer basket or stir the boiling water occasionally to prevent sticking.
Keep uncooked wontons in the fridge for up to two days, covered tightly. Freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to three months—cook from frozen with extra time. Leftover cooked wontons can be refrigerated for up to two days and reheated by steaming or pan-frying.
An easy way is to fold the wrapper in half into a triangle, then bring the bottom corners together. Using a bit of water helps seal them securely, keeping them intact while cooking.
No, the filling goes in raw. Since the wontons have a small amount of meat, they cook quickly during steaming, boiling, or frying.
If you don’t have wonton wrappers, there are a few substitutes that can work, though the texture may vary.
Egg roll wrappers – These are a bit larger and thicker, so you may need to cut them down to size.
Spring roll wrappers – Made for frying, they turn extra crispy, which isn’t the same as traditional wontons.
Homemade wonton wrappers – Just a simple mix of flour, water, egg, and salt if you want to make your own.
Vietnamese rice paper wrappers – A gluten-free option, but they have a softer, chewier texture.
Dumpling wrappers – Gyoza or potsticker wrappers work well since they’re similar in thickness.
I usually go for dumpling wrappers if I don’t have wonton wrappers, but if you want a crispier bite, spring roll wrappers might be fun to try!
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Turkey Wontons Recipe
Ingredients
- 250 g ground turkey ½ pound
- 1 scallion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 2 cm fresh ginger grated (1 inch)
- 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 40 g freshly grated cabbage 1.4 oz
- 1 tablespoon canola oil or sesame seed oil
- 85 ml water 3 oz
- 1 pack Wonton pastry 30 wrappers (I used squared)
Instructions
- Start by finely chopping the scallion, mincing the garlic, and grating the ginger and lemon zest. In a mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, the chopped scallion, minced garlic, lemon zest, ginger, light soy sauce, grated cabbage, and a bit of oil. Mix everything together until well combined. This delicious blend will be your turkey wonton filling!
- Next, lay out your wonton wrappers on a clean surface. Place a small spoonful of that flavorful turkey filling right in the center of each wrapper. Be careful not to overfill, or it’ll be tough to seal them up!
- Now, take a moment to seal your turkey wontons. Dampen your finger with a little water and run it along the edges of each wrapper. Fold the wrapper diagonally to form a triangle, pressing firmly to seal the edges and making sure to push out any air bubbles. You can keep the wontons triangular, or if you like, fold the outer corners together for that classic wonton look.
- When it comes to cooking the wontons, you have a few tasty options. If you want a lighter option, steam them in a steamer basket for about 5-6 minutes until the turkey is fully cooked. For a crispy finish, heat some oil in a pan and fry the wontons for 3-4 minutes on each side until they’re golden brown and crunchy. If you’re in the mood for something comforting, drop the wontons into boiling water or broth and cook them for 4-5 minutes until they’re tender.
Video
Notes
- Customize Your Filling: Feel free to adjust the filling ingredients based on your preferences. You can add vegetables like carrots or mushrooms for extra nutrition.
- Wonton Wrappers: Fresh wonton wrappers work best, but if you can’t find them, dried wrappers can be used. Just ensure to follow the package instructions for rehydrating.
- Sealing Tips: Make sure to seal the wontons tightly to prevent the filling from leaking during cooking. A little water on your fingers can help ensure a good seal.
- Cooking Methods: You can choose from various cooking methods—steaming for a lighter option, frying for extra crunch, or boiling for a comforting soup. Each method offers a unique taste and texture.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these turkey wontons with a homemade chili sauce or soy sauce for dipping. Pair them with a side of steamed vegetables or a light salad for a complete meal.
- Storage: Uncooked wontons can be stored in the freezer. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Cook from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Meal Prep: These wontons are perfect for meal prep. Make a large batch and freeze them for quick weeknight dinners.
- Nutritional Information: Turkey is a lean protein, making these wontons a healthier option compared to traditional meat-filled dumplings. They are low in calories but high in protein, perfect for a balanced diet.
Andrea says
Loved how simple and tasty these turkey wontons were—my favorite part was the ginger kick!
Leslie says
These Turkey Wontons are so great! The flavor was perfect and I really enjoyed making them!
Swathi says
This turkey wonton looks delicious and easy to make it I made it yesterday so good.
Elizabeth says
Wontons are my favorite and I'm so glad I found a recipe that is easy to follow and delicious! The wontons have such great flavor!
Tara says
I am so glad I found your post. These wontons are irresistible. I love the flavor combination, and the fact that they use turkey is a huge plus for me. Will definitely make them again!
Nicole Kendrick says
These are so delicious. They're also much easier than I would have thought. Next time, they're going to be the main course!
Nora says
First time I made Wonton with turkey filling! What an amazing flavor! Loved it!
Ashley says
These were so yummy! I already had ground pork in my freezer so I used that instead--turned out great!