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Ultimate Crab Rangoon

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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: appetizer, crab
Prep Time: 1 hour
Servings: 0 30-35 pieces

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. cream cheese, softened (1½ packages)
  • 1/4 C red pepper, diced
  • 1/4 C green onions, diced
  • pinch kosher salt
  • ½ C imitation crabmeat, flake style, diced
  • 1 lg. egg, beaten
  • 1 package wonton wrappers
  • peanut oil for frying

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the first five ingredients. I like to use my hands for this step to make sure everything is well mixed! Once combined, set the mixture aside. Start heating 4-5 inches of peanut oil in a large pot or deep fryer until it reaches 350°F.
  • Now it's time to invite all your friends (or family) and set up an 'assembly area.' Cover a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper, then place the bowl of crab mixture in the center. Give everyone a paper plate to work on, and as each wonton is assembled, line them up on the cookie sheet, ready for frying.

Assembling the wontons:

  • 1. Brush one wonton wrapper with the beaten egg to help it seal.
  • 2. Add a small amount of the crab mixture to the center of the wrapper (a small cookie scoop is the perfect tool for this).
  • 3. Fold the wrapper over to create a triangle*, pressing the edges together to seal. Place the completed wonton on the cookie sheet and move on to the next one!
  • Once the oil is ready for frying (you can test the temperature by tearing off a small piece of bread and dropping it into the oil—look for nice, small bubbles surrounding the bread), carefully add the wontons to the hot oil. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan; fry the wontons in batches to ensure they cook evenly.
    Cook the wontons for about 5-8 minutes, turning them over when one side reaches a beautiful caramel color. Once both sides are evenly fried and crisp, remove the wontons with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil.
  • Serve the freshly fried crab rangoon with your favorite sweet and sour sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

Note: Feel free to get creative with the shapes of your wontons! You can follow the instructions on the wonton package for ideas, or simply create a pocket. As long as the edges are sealed, they’ll fry up beautifully.
 

Air Frying Instructions

If you prefer a lighter version, you can also make these crab rangoons in an air fryer.
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F.
  2. Assemble the wontons as described earlier, making sure they are well sealed.
  3. Lightly spray the assembled wontons with cooking spray or brush them with a little oil to help them crisp up.
  4. Place the wontons in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket; you may need to cook them in batches.
  5. Air fry the wontons for 6-8 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and crispy.
  6. Remove from the air fryer and allow them to cool slightly on a wire rack or paper towels.