Wonton Mee or Wanton Min is a dish steeped in as much history as it is broth. Translated as ‘swallowing clouds’ Wonton Mee is a popular noodle dish in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and China. This dish is well worth trying and experimenting with. Whether you cook it at home, go to a restaurant, or order through Deliveroo, it is a great comfort meal for friends and family alike.
Originating in Cantonese cooking it is traditionally made up of wonton noodles in a broth, with leafy greens, and dumplings. Chinese Kale is the most common green although others can be substituted. However, it is not always served in the broth with a ‘dry’ version more common in Singapore and Malaysia. The dry version comes with smaller wontons and broth on the side. While it sounds simple enough, Wonton Mee is a dish with a lot of complexity and skill so finding a good recipe or restaurant option is a must.
The noodles are a central theme with desired texture of ‘al dente’ yet soft requiring a skilled hand. Like most Asian cooking; the vegetables must be cooked but still fresh and crunchy. The protein must be rich but not greasy and the sauce, the unifying agent for all these components.
The basic recipe requires some concentration but once mastered is easy to follow. First the wanton is cooked, and placed in the dish. Then the noodles are boiled in hot water for 10 seconds and blanched under cold water. After adding the noodles to the dish a broth is prepared and poured over the noodles, continuing the cooking process. The broth can be whatever you like but is traditionally made from dried flounder and served hot. Leafy greens and proteins can be added as desired with a sprinkling of freshly chopped spring onion added as a final garnish. As for the sauce, each region and recipe calls for something different be it Oyster sauce, Soy, chilli ketchup, or vinegar.
Furthermore this dish can be eaten anytime of the day with some restaurants specialising in breakfast, lunch, or dinner wanton.
If this sounds like too much work then don’t fear there are loads of good wonton to sample. Try this site for a comprehensive list of the best Wanton Mee in Singapore. Otherwise you can always try your local restaurant or better yet order a takeaway and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. Wanton Seng’s Noodle Bar in Singapore’s Chinatown is a must with wide selection available. Whether you crave barbecued pork belly, shrimp, or even vegetarian options like the shiitake mushroom wanton, you’ll find the wonton to suit you. After all a dish with as much history and as much reach is simply too good to not try.
