FOOD NEWS
The Difference Between Crab Rangoon And Wontons
BY MOLLY HARRIS
Crab rangoons and wontons can be deceptively similar since they share the same thin, doughy wrapper, but they each have distinct flavors, origins, and textures.
Crab rangoon is a fusion food created in mid-20th century America. It has a creamy filling of cream cheese, crab meat, scallions, and seasonings in a crispy, fried wonton wrapper.
On the other hand, wontons are a centuries-old Chinese classic, with a savory filling of ground pork, shrimp, and seasonings, encased in a delicate, silky dough.
While wonton filling can vary from pork to shrimp with seasonings like ginger, garlic, scallions, and soy sauce, crab rangoon always has cream cheese and crab filling.
Moreover, wontons use a thinner, square wrapper and can be either steamed and served in broth or fried, while crab rangoons use a circular wrapper and are deep fried.
Crab rangoon pairs a creamy filling with a crunchy wrapper and has a slightly sweet, tangy flavor, but wontons are meatier and more savory, with a thinner, tender dough.