Name: Sichuan Spicy Wontons in Chili Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 recipe dumplings wrappers (instructions for wontons (or use 40 store-bought wrappers)); 1-2 tbsp sesame oil; 7 oz tofu (pressed and crumbled); 7 oz mushrooms (finely chopped); ½ stick leek (60g finely chopped); 1 carrot (100 g grated); 7 oz napa cabbage (finely chopped); 2 garlic cloves (chopped); 1 tbsp grated ginger; 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari); 1 tbsp rice vinegar; salt and pepper (to taste); ⅔ cup sweet chili sauce (or use only chili oil); 2 tbsp chili oil (or sesame oil); 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari); 2 tsp black vinegar (or rice vinegar (to taste)); 2 garlic cloves (finely grated); 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds; 2 tbsp spring onions (finely sliced)

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This vegan recipe for Sichuan Spicy Wontons with vegetable filling in chili sauce is perfect as a starter, side dish, or main course. The spicy sauce makes the Chinese steamed wonton dumplings especially flavorful and to a highlight at your dinner table. With this simple step-by-step instruction and helpful tips, you can do it in no time!

Sichuan Spicy Wontons in Chili Sauce (Vegan)

Chinese wontons & other dumplings

My family loves Chinese food and all kinds of dumplings! That’s why I learned early on how to make some of our favorite dishes myself, including Polish pierogi, Italian ravioli and tortellini, gnocchi, Japanese gyoza, and much more!

These savory Chinese wonton dumplings are actually inspired by my gyoza recipe, but they are folded similar to tortellini, then gently cooked and served with spicy chili sauce. Anyway, we think this dish is not really delicious but also easy to make ahead, so you should definitely give it a try!

Wonton soup or crispy fried wontons

Have you ever eaten a Wonton soup or fried Wonton at a Chinese restaurant? These popular dumplings are not only served in different forms but also in different ways!

In the past, I have already shared a recipe for deep-fried crispy Spinach Artichoke Wontons here on the blog. And even though, they look and taste completely different than today’s recipe, both are actually wontons!

Vegan filling with vegetables and tofu

Basically, you can stuff wontons with anything you like. Traditionally, they are stuffed with a hearty filling of pork, beef, or shrimp, but my vegan version with tofu and vegetables is not only much healthier and contains less fat, but it tastes at least as delicious! I used a veggie filling of tofu, mushrooms, carrots, napa cabbage, green onions, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. However, feel free to swap the veggies and seasonings to your liking.

Vegetables and Tofu - Ingredients for Chinese Dumplings, Filling for Wontons

Vegetable Filling for Chinese Dumplings Wontons

Vegetable and Tofu stir-fry for Dumplings

Vegan Sichuan Spicy Wontons in Chili Sauce

Actually, you can steam, cook, pan-fry or deep-fry these dumplings until crispy – serve in a sauce, with a dip or in a wonton soup – anything is possible! However, in today’s recipe, I was inspired by the Sichuan spicy wonton serving suggestion, also called “Sichuan Red Oil Wontons”. Here, the dumplings are simply cooked and then served in a spicy chili oil sauce. Instead of the traditional chili oil, however, I used my homemade sweet chili sauce as it is milder in taste and contains less fat.

How to wrap wontons

To wrap a wonton, place a square dumpling wrapper on a work surface so that one corner is facing towards you, like a diamond. Then place about one heaped teaspoon of filling in the middle of the wrapper. Now dip a finger in water and moisten the edges of the square. Then fold the top corner over the filling in your direction to form a triangle and press the outer edges together firmly to seal.

Finally, fold the long outer corners (right and left) towards the middle and fold them over each other so it looks like two crossed arms (Chinese “Chausou”). Pinch them together and press well to seal with a little water so the dough sticks together.

How to freeze dumplings

To freeze the uncooked stuffed wontons, first arrange them in a single layer on a baking tray or wooden board, leaving enough distance between each other, and freeze for 1-2 hours. Once they are frozen, you can transfer them into a freezer bag for easier storage. If you want to serve them, simply cook or deep-fry them straight from the freezer (no need to thaw) as instructed in the recipe box below. The dumplings may take around 2 minutes longer until they’re completely thawed so be sure to adjust the cooking time as needed.

Recipe tips

I always make my homemade dumplings wrappers recipe, but you could also use store-bought wonton wrappers.
You could also fold these wonton dumplings like pierogi, ravioli, gyoza, or like these spinach artichoke wontons. (You will find the desired folding instructions in the individual recipe).
The filling can be prepared one day in advance and kept covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
You can boil, steam, shallow-fry or deep-fry these wontons until crispy, like spring rolls, or serve them in a dumpling soup.
I like to serve my Sichuan vegan wontons with sweet chili oil sauce. But you could also make a dumpling dipping sauce, a creamy peanut sauce, or any other Asian sauce you like.
These wontons taste best when freshly made, but feel free to keep leftover dumplings in the fridge and gently reheat them before serving.
If you’ll end up with any leftover filling, you can use it for an Asian inspired vegetable stir-fry.

Sichuan Spicy Wontons in Chili Sauce (Chinese dumplings)

This Sichuan Spicy Wontons in Chili Sauce recipe is:

Vegan (meat-less, fish-free)
Dairy-free (lactose-free)
Without eggs
Homemade
Simple
Delicious
Stuffed with vegetables
& protein-rich tofu
Spicy
Versatile
Perfect for meal prep
Ideal as a starter or side dish for lunch or dinner!

More vegan Asian, Chinese, Japanese, or Thai recipes to try:

If you try this vegan Sichuan Wontons in Chili Sauce recipe, please leave a comment and a rating if you liked it! And if you take a picture of your Chinese dumplings and share it on Instagram, please tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka, because I love to see your remakes! Enjoy!