This month’s Daring Cooks challenge was Vietnamese Chicken Pho and Sweet Wontons chosen by Jaden from Steamy Kitchen.
Vietnamese Pho is a noodle soup popular in Vietnam. The broth is simmered for hours with either beef knuckle/leg bone or with a whole chicken and accompanied by rice noodles, fresh herbs like cilantro or basil, a wedge of lime or lemon, fresh bean sprouts and fresh sliced chilies if desired.
Pho is different than other noodle soups because of the spices used in making the broth – coriander, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and fresh ginger. I bought my spices at World Market – they are so much cheaper than at the supermarket.
This was my first time tasting Pho (pronounced “fuh?”) and my first time cooking Vietnamese food. I decided to make the Pho Ga (chicken) version. Click here to visit the Steamy Kitchen for the recipe.
Although my family and I didn’t love this soup (mostly because of the spices we weren’t use to) it was fun to try something new. We did however love the second part of this challenge the fried Chocolate Wontons. I used round potsticker wrappers and filled them with Nutella. They were crispy, sweet and delicious. The perfect ending to a light meal.
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp. water
- 12 wonton wrappers, defrosted (keep wrappers covered with damp towel)
- 12 pieces or nuggets of chocolate (use any type of chocolate you like)
- High-heat oil for frying (i.e., vegetable oil, corn oil)
- Confectioners’ sugar (icing sugar) for sprinkling
Directions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water to make an egg wash.
- On a clean, dry surface lay 1 wonton wrapper down with a point toward you, like a diamond. Place 1 piece of chocolate near the top end of the wrapper. Brush a very thin layer of the egg wash on the edges of the wrapper.Fold the bottom corner of the wrapper up to create a triangle and gently press to remove all air from the middle. Press the edges to adhere the sides. Make sure the wrapper is sealed completely.
- Repeat with the remaining wrappers and chocolate pieces. Keep the folded chocolate wontons covered under plastic wrap or a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying.
- In a wok or medium pot, pour in 2 inches (5 cm.) of high-heat oil. Heat the oil to 350º F (180º C) and gently slide a few of the chocolate wontons into the hot oil. Make sure you don’t crowd the chocolate wontons. Fry the wontons for 1 ½ minutes, then flip over and fry another minute until both sides are golden brown and crisp.
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I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
mmmm pho! my favourite vietnamese dish.
okay fine its probably the only one i know and like
yeah i think its pronounced something like 'fur'
learnt from my vietnamese friend!
yours is looking fantabulous btw
Always fun to cook other countries recipes. I applaud your efforts as I am not sure I would have even tried the soup recipe.
Joyce
I love pho, but there is a lot of spices in it and can be an acquired taste. I think you did a great job with the pho and the wontons.
I love able to try something new! The chocolate wontons sounds really, really yummy!
Oooo, the chocolate wontons look great!! Good job on the challenge!
Ahh that's great that you gave it a try!
And nutella filled dumplings? Way to go!
oh it all looks soooo good! I want to eat at your daring table!
The chocolate wontons sound really yummy! Sorry you didn't like the soup.
The wontons look and sound amazing.
oh yummy! i want to eat it all!
Yes, the taste of this broth was quite unusual… Your wontons look delish, I'll definietly make them in the nearest future
Cheers!
Broth and veggies look so yummy. I can see where the spices might be unusual in a soup but I think I would like this.
Chocolate won-tons! How neat!
Barbara:
I've never posted the popover recipe. Do you want me to email it to you?
Barbara
The chocolate wontons sound delectable
I have found that the spices you are talking about are a slippery slope. Once you try them you become more and more hooked. Despite not liking it, yours looks great.
Fried chocolate wontons!! Yum!!
It all looks so good, Barbara. Too bad that you didn't care much for it. I've not tried this soup before, but it does sound interesting. The chocolate wontons look wonderful!
I would love to try this soup with those spices. Feel free to send a cup of it along with my swirl cookies!
I can handle the chocolate wontons!They would be best fresh so dont send any of those. LOL
Great looking pho! And the nutella-filled wonton sounds so yummy!
your pho and fried wontons look great, I didn't like mine that much either because like you, I was missing some spices too but I enjoyed the challenge just like you did too. Have a nice day!
Looks great! Congrats for stepping outside of your spice comfort zone!
I've never cooked Vietnamese either, but it would be nice to try this. The chocolate wontons – yum! Doesn't nutella make everything better?
Love Pho….love the spices too …guess we are familiar with them. However, not familiar to the chocolate wontons…grin. Love the idea. Must try them!
I've only had Pho once and thought it was good, but you are right the seasonings are different. The wontons sound mighty tasty.
Yum…chocolate wontons! Never heard of that before. It all looks very delicious!
I had Pho in Vietnamese cafes before and it is very tasty. You've made it exactly the way I had it in the cafes.
Chocolate Wontons. Who would've thought? I have to try this.
Please stop by my blog and pick up a reward.
I'm sorry you didn't love it – Everything looks amazing!
That is too funny! Could've skipped the soup and gone straight for those amazing fried nutella-filled wontons! I would like to try this soup though.
Wow, Barb..your Pho looks amazing even though you didn't like it. From hereon in, just send me whatever you make and don't like..K? LOL BTW, HELLO to Nutella filled wontons. I just ate a half a jar of the stuff yesterday!