What is the difference between dumplings and wontons? Is wonton another name for dumplings?

As we all know, dumplings and wontons are two common types of pasta. They are both made by wrapping stuffing in dough and cooking them. They taste very similar, but there are still some differences between the two, such as size, shape, fillings, etc. Let's take a closer look!

Are dumplings the same as wontons?

no the same.

Dumplings and wontons have many similarities. For example, both require stuffing and rolling out the dough, and both need to be cooked in water. However, there are still big differences between them in essence.

First of all, they are different in appearance. Dumplings are crescent-shaped, with large fillings and thin skin. The dumpling skin is round, which may be relatively more complicated to wrap. Wonton skin is square, and is relatively simple to make, and can be made as you please.

The way of eating is different. After wontons are cooked, some seasonings are added, such as seaweed, dried shrimps, coriander, etc. And it is accompanied by soup. You eat wontons and drink the soup at the same time, while dumplings are cooked in plain water. After cooking, drain the water and eat. You need to dip it in some seasonings, such as mashed garlic, rice vinegar, etc.

Dumplings are more popular in the north, where there is a custom of eating dumplings during the winter solstice. Dumplings are more common in the home. Wontons are more common in the south.

What is the difference between dumplings and wontons?

1. Different packaging methods result in different tastes

The most taboo in making dumplings is that the dumpling skin is not pinched tightly. The seal must be tight. If it is not tight, the dumplings will leak during the cooking process, and they will be cooked and mushy, and the dumpling filling will lose its flavor and taste. The reason why dumplings are delicious is not only because of the good filling, but also because the essence of the dumpling filling is lost less during the cooking process.

Wontons are made by folding them, which is not so tight. Even if the wonton wrapper does not open during cooking, the flavor will still leak out. This is destined to make dumplings more fragrant than wontons, because the strong sealing can better lock the flavor. Simply put, for example, dumplings can wrap the meat filling and prevent the oil from leaking out, while wontons will leak out silently even if they are not cooked.

2. Different smell characteristics

When dumplings are being cooked, people can still smell them from a distance, and even know what the fillings are without looking. But wontons are not so obvious, and sometimes you have to get close to them to know, oh, they are cooking wontons!

Dumplings and wontons are both noodles and vegetables, and are both included in the category of food. The smell of dumplings is more obvious and more extroverted, with obvious personality characteristics.

3. The stuffing of the package is different

The reason why dumplings are the number one food in the north and a symbol of national cuisine is that they can be all-inclusive, as long as it is a vegetable filling, it can be compatible. The classic leek and egg, pork and cabbage, three fresh fillings, and even eggplant vegetarian fillings are all extremely delicious!

Wontons are divided into large and small sizes, and the styles are divided into chao shou and wonton. Wontons are not so universal, they are more individual, small wontons with pure meat, large wontons with fresh meat, or wontons with shepherd's purse, wontons with shrimp, etc., which are more individual. There are limits on the breadth of the range of ingredients. Here comes the question, for example, have you ever eaten wontons stuffed with leeks and eggs?

4. The mainstream eating method is different

Dumplings are eaten dry or with dipping sauces, but they can also be made into soup dumplings, such as the soup dumplings made by people in the Northeast, which are very delicious. The three-fresh dumplings are really good!

Wontons are meant to be eaten with soup. Both large and small wontons must be eaten with soup. As for whether dried shrimp, seaweed, pickled mustard tuber or shredded egg should be added to the soup bowl, it depends on the wonton eating habits of different places.

5. Dumpling wrappers and wonton wrappers are different

Nowadays, whether it is a family-made wonton or a professional wonton shop, wonton wrappers are purchased uniformly. This undoubtedly further differentiates wontons from dumplings. Of course, there are also dumpling wrappers for sale.

The wonton wrappers from knife-cut noodle shops are uniform and evenly thick, but they just lose their soulful taste. They are completely incomparable to the hand-rolled dumpling and wonton wrappers. Commercialized wonton wrappers make wontons no longer have the most authentic handmade taste!

There is a kind of dumplings similar to wontons in the north, called cat ear dumplings. They look like cat ears and taste like dumplings. If you are interested, you can search for this dumpling.

6. The extension has different ways of eating

As we all know, dumplings can be eaten with wine, garlic, or vinegar, etc. Wontons are suitable for eating alone, and they are eaten in soup. More or less, they are not full of innovation!

What is the meaning of dumplings and wontons?

Although dumplings and wontons are both made of dough wrapped with meat filling, they are still different. First of all, they are different in meaning. According to legend, during the Han Dynasty, the Huns often harassed the border. There were two leaders in the tribe, Hun and Tun, who were very cruel. The people hated them so much that they wrapped the meat filling into corners and took the sounds of "hun" and "tun" and called them "wontons". They hated eating them and hoped to quell the war and live a peaceful life. As for dumplings, everyone knows that they have the meaning of "joyful reunion" and "good luck". The name of dumplings is taken from the meaning of "changing the year and handing over the child", "zi" means "midnight", and "jiao" is homophonic with "jiao". Eating dumplings is a unique folk tradition in my country during the Spring Festival. Secondly, from the appearance, the wonton skin is a thinner isosceles trapezoid, while the dumpling skin is a slightly thicker round shape.

My family members particularly like to eat food with fillings. When the weather gets a little cooler, we start to make wontons more often. It is simple, convenient and delicious. A bowl of hot food can instantly drive away the cold.