Elevate your mealtime with this Asian Lamb Wonton Salad, a dish that combines fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and a touch of creativity in the kitchen. At the heart of this salad are tender, flavorful wontons filled with seasoned ground lamb. Infused with fresh garlic, ginger, and cilantro, each wonton is a delicious bundle of savory goodness, wrapped in a delicate pasta pouch that cooks to perfection.
While crafting the wontons does take a bit of time, it’s a process that invites togetherness. Gather your family or friends to help shape these little pockets of flavor—rolling, folding, and sealing them can turn into a fun, hands-on activity. This collaborative effort not only speeds up the process but also creates special memories and a shared sense of accomplishment, making the meal even more meaningful.
The salad itself is a bed of fresh greens and vibrant vegetables that provide the perfect contrast to the richness of the wontons. And then there’s the dressing—a creamy chili oil creation that truly steals the show. Made by blooming red chili flakes in avocado oil, the oil is infused with deep, aromatic flavors before being blended with aioli to achieve a silky smoothness. This versatile dressing not only brings the salad together but also doubles as a dipping sauce for the wontons, ensuring every bite is bursting with flavor.
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or treating your loved ones to something special, this Asian Lamb Wonton Salad is an unforgettable dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. From the satisfying process of making wontons to the refreshing crunch of the salad, it’s a meal that nourishes both body and spirit. Bring your loved ones to the table and savor every flavor-filled moment.
Asian Lamb Wonton Salad
Ingredients
For the Wontons
- ½ lbs ground lamb
- 2 scallions finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 TBS fresh ginger grated
- 1 TBS coconut amino sauce or soy sauce
- 1 TBS sesame oil
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
- 30 wonton wrappers
- small bowl of water for sealing
- 1-2 TBS tallow, lard or ghee use for browning wontons
Chili Oil Dressing
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 3 TBS chicken broth
- 3 TBS neutral oil (avocado oil)
- 1 tsp red chili flakes
- 3 tsp coconut amino sauce or soy sauce
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 3 TBS aioli sauce or mayonnaise
Salad
- 4 cups tender mixed greens
- 1 cup purple or green cabbage finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled grated
- 1 cucumber diced
- 1 avocado peeled and sliced
- 1 TBS sesame seeds
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
Make the Chili Oil Dressing
- In a medium heatproof mixing bowl, combine the minced garlic, maple syrup, black pepper.
- In a small frying pan, heat the neutral oil and red chili flakes over medium- low heat until very hot and shimmering (about 275 degrees F).
- Carefully pour the hot oil over the garlic mixture. It will sizzle and bloom the flavors.
- Once slightly cooled, about 5 minutes, stir in the coconut aminos/soy sauce, rice vinegar and chicken broth.
- Stir gently and let cool.
Wonton Filling
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ground lamb, scallions, garlic, ginger, coconut amino/soy sauce, sesame oil, cumin and cilantro.
- Mix until well combined.
- Place a wonton wrapper on a clean surface. Add 1 teaspoon of the lamb mixture to the center of one corner of the wrapper.
- Dip your finger into the water and wet the edges of the wrapper.
- Fold the wrapper in half diagonally to form a triangle, pressing firmly to seal.
- Bring the two diagonal points together and press to seal, forming a traditional wonton shape.
- Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
Cooking the Wontons
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the wontons one at a time, cooking in batches for 3-4 minutes, or until they float to the top and the lamb is fully cooked. The internal temp of the wonton should read 140 degrees.
- Remove with a slotted spoon onto a towel lined plate.
- You can serve them soft or heat a medium pan and add 1 TBS of lard, tallow or ghee. Lightly brown both sides of the wonton to give a crispy finish.
Putting the Salad together
- Prepare all of the salad ingredients and arrange on a large platter or bowl.
- Place the lamb wontons on top of the salad.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Dress salad with the chili oil dressing
