Grilled Shrimp Wontons

A popular appetizer, grilled shrimp is mixed with cream cheese, water chestnuts, and bacon and stuffed into a wonton wrapper that is then deep-fried. Served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce, you’ll find these small shrimp “purses” irresistible. They are creamy, sweet, spicy, and crunchy.

Normally when grilling shrimp, they are cooked all the way through. However, in this recipe, since the shrimp get cooked twice (on the grill and deep-fried in the wonton wrappers), they are purposefully undercooked slightly on the grill. This way the shrimp are still tender, not rubbery, by the end of the final cooking process.

When deep-frying the wontons, make sure that the oil is completely up to temperature. If the oil isn’t hot enough, you may end up with soggy wontons. Only cook a few wontons at a time so that they don’t overcrowd the fryer and reduce the temperature.

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Three cooked and seasoned shrimp skewered on two skewers laying across grill grates.

Thread the shrimp on two skewers so that they do not curl while cooking.

A close up of a golden fried wonton being help up by chopsticks, with a colorful plate in the background.

These creamy and crunchy shrimp wontons are a fun and flavorful appetizer.

A stainless steel mixing bowl with chopped shrimp, bacon, cream cheese, and seasoning.

Once the shrimp are mostly cooked, chop them and mix with the remaining filling ingredients.

A pair of hands folding a wonton on a marble countertop.

Filling and folding the wontons is a fun experience that the whole family can be involved with.

A hand holds up a fried wonton missing a bite, revealing the filling.

With a creamy and spicy filling, these wontons are best served hot while the wrapper stays crisp.

Grilled Shrimp Wontons Recipe

A popular appetizer, grilled shrimp is mixed with cream cheese, water chestnuts, and bacon and stuffed into a deep-fried wonton wrapper.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Asian

Keyword Finger Food

Difficulty Seasoned

Method Deep Fry

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 5

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 312kcal

Author adminsaffron

Equipment

wooden skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes
grill
deep fryer

Ingredients

Shrimp Wontons

1/3 pound shrimp
oil for deep frying
1 teaspoon Slap Yo’ Daddy "Love Me Tender" All Purpose Rub plus additional for sprinkling
3 slices bacon cooked and chopped
4 ounces cream cheese
3 tablespoons sliced green onions
3 tablespoons chopped water chestnuts
1 teaspoon white sugar
12 wonton wrappers

Dipping Sauce

3 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
sriracha hot sauce, to taste

Instructions

Shrimp Wontons

Preheat a grill to a moderatly hot temperature.
Peel and devein the shrimp. Thread the shrimp onto two parallel wooden skewers. Using two skewers prevents the shrimp from rolling on the grill.
Brush the shrimp with oil and apply some rub.
Place the shrimp skewers on the preheated hot grill for 1 to 2 minutes on each side to get a nice char on the shrimp while still a bit undercooked.
Note: Any undercooked areas of the shrimp will be cooked during the frying process.
Remove the shrimp from the heat then and cut them into 1/2-inch (1.3cm) pieces
In a bowl, mix the shrimp, bacon, cream cheese, green onions, water chestnuts, sugar, and rub. Mix and set aside.
Place one wonton wrapper on your cutting board. Spoon about ½ tablespoon of the mixture in the middle.
Use some water to moisten the edges and fold the wonton into a pouch.
Pinch the edges lightly so the moistened wonton skin will seal. Repeat until all wrappers or mixture is used up.
Prepare a deep fryer by filling with oil and heating to it 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Add the wontons, a few at a time so they don't overcrowd, and cook until golden, 1 to 3 minutes.