What's up everyone?
Today we're making
Wonton Noodle Soup!
My name is Randy
And we are the Laus.
We're on a mission to celebrate
And pass down our Chinese heritage
One meal at a time.
After 50 amazing years as a Chinese chef
My dad's finally retired
And he's here to teach you all of his secrets
To make the perfect Wonton Noodle Soup
A dish he's made thousands of times.
Hello, my friends!
What we're going to learn today
Is Wonton Noodle Soup.
The noodles are made using egg noodles.
A whole pack of egg noodles is around 15 oz.
The amount of noodles depends on the number of people eating.
One clump of these noodles is enough for each person.
Around 5 oz of noodles for each, it's quite a big portion.
We're feeding the whole family
So I'll make more, this is 15 oz of noodles.
Wonton Noodle Soup is one of my all-time favorites
And it was actually one of the recipes I really wanted to share
When we started this channel, because my parents made this
Basically every other day for me as a kid.
Like many of you, this dish brings up a ton of nostalgia for me.
In Cantonese, wontons are pronounced wàhn tān
Which roughly translates to "swallowing a cloud".
They're a staple of Cantonese cuisine
And in places like Guangzhou and Hong Kong
It's almost impossible to NOT run into a restaurant or food stall
That sells a cheap, heartwarming bowl of wonton noodle soup.
In last week's video, we shared my dad's recipe for making wontons
And this video focuses entirely on how to cook the noodles and broth.
Usually when we cook at home, we'll add vegetables to the soup.
We'll use bok choy.
Cut it into quarters.
We're not stir frying, so don't chop it into small pieces.
We're using 12 oz bok choy.
You can add more if you like.
Wonton noodles served in restaurants will only have 2-3 stalks at most.
Usually for home cooking, I'll add more vegetables.
The soup will taste a lot better with vegetables added.
We'll also add green onions to the soup.
That's all the chopping.
To make it more visually appealing for the video
I'll add some shrimp to the noodle as garnish.
And it'll also taster better, right?
It's optional but recommended to use about 7-8 shrimp here.
They're not only tasty but also give the soup broth a nicer flavor.
I also wanted to make a special shoutout to thank all of our
Wonderful Patreon supporters to help bring this video to life.
If you enjoy our videos and are interested in supporting us directly,
Head on over to patreon.com/madewithlau to learn more!
To cook the noodles, you must use boiling water
And also use more water to cook, so the noodles cook faster.
First, loosen the noodles.
Because you don't want them to stick together?
Loosen them so it'll be easier to cook, right?
Okay, we're cooking 3 servings of noodles (15oz)
So I'll split it to cook twice, once will be too much.
Set the stove to high heat.
And let the noodles cook in the boiling water for about 60 seconds.
Don't have to cook it for too long.
We'll scoop out the noodles now.
Then, we'll soak the noodles in cold water.
This is what they call "shocking".
Is there tips to make the noodles more bouncy and chewy?
The difference between less and more water
Is less water takes more time to cook
So the noodles will absorb more water and become too soft, right?
That's why it's less bouncy and chewy.
After shocking the noodles
We'll drop the noodles in boiling water again.
Noodles cooked like this will be more chewy.
After quickly dunking them in cold water
We'll place the noodles in the pot again for about 15-20 seconds.
We don't need to put the noodles in cold water a second time.
Put them in a bowl.
These noodles will be very chewy.
The noodles cooked in restaurants will be mixed with pork oil
But I don't use pork oil, olive oil works too.
The noodles will be smoother this way.
Making wonton noodles from scratch is an art form
That generations of people have devoted their whole lives to.
It's a dying tradition
But one of the original methods involves
Smashing the noodle dough by bouncing your body on a bamboo lever
Which creates a more springy and chewy bite than you'd get from a machine.
For most of us, it's a lot easier to just buy fresh wonton noodles
Which most Asian grocery stores carry.
If you don't live near an Asian grocery store
I've included a few links to buy dried wonton noodles online
And my parents share how to adjust the cooking method for dried noodles.
Can we use dry noodles to cook wonton noodles?
Yeah, you can.
Are they cooked the same way?
Do you still remember I mentioned it in the Soy Sauce Chow Mein video?
It's the same cooking method, loosen the noodles and cook them.
Then, shock the noodles in cold water after the noodles are cooked.
Like how I did just now.
The noodles will loosen on their own after a bit
You can't use high heat when cooking dried noodles?
The water has to be boiling.
Moderate temperature.
Why?
Because dried noodles are not as wet as fresh noodles.
It'll take more time for the noodles to absorb water.
Dried noodles take alonger time to cook.
I think dried noodles need 1.5x the time.
The noodles loosen only after it's cooked.
Once the noodles loosen, then we cook it to soften the noodles.
Back in China, we rarely had fresh noodles to eat - mostly dried.
We used dried noodle to make noodle soup, lo mein.
We rarely had stir fried noodle, most of the time just lo mein, right?
Okay, let's cook the other half of the noodles
Since we're preparing for so many people, right?
You could cook less for fewer people.
Just this is enough for 2 people, right？
It'll be done when the water starts to boil.
Okay, shock them in cold water.
It's called "gwo láahng hòh".
Which helps make the noodle more chewy.
Next, we'll soak them in the hot water again.
Then, it's done.
Drizzle some olive oil over the noodles to make them smoother, tastier.
Mix them well.
How much olive oil do you add?
Around 1 tsp olive oil, it doesn't really matter.
Okay, the noodles are cooked.
Let's make the soup now.
We'll use 4 cups of water and a can of chicken broth.
Cover the pot.
Add the vegetables after the water boils.
Okay, the water is boiling.
We'll add a little oil to the pot before adding the vegetables
So the vegetables stay green and won't turn yellow.
Around 1 Tbsp oil.
What kind of oil are you using?
It's olive oil.
Also add 1 tsp salt.
Whoa!
It's like that after you add the salt.
Add the vegetables to the pot when the water boils.
Stephen from Patreon asked
What additional dressings can you add to the wonton noodle soup?
Spices? Oil?
Chili sauce and vinegar.
The noodles are alkaline, so vinegar can neutralize the alkalinity
And make it easier for digestion.
Cover the pot.
With our stove still set on high heat
We'll let the bok choy cook for about 1-2 minutes.
Until the pot returns to a boil.
It's boiling now, let's have a look.
Wow!
See, the vegetables look beautiful, right?
This is fish sauce, the same as this.
Adding fish sauce to the soup will give it more umami flavor.
Add 1 Tbsp fish sauce.
Let's taste the soup first.
You try it too.
Taste good?
Uh-huh.
It tastes good.
Because it has chicken broth and fish sauce in it, so it's delicious.
Also add a little sesame oil to the soup.
Add 1 tsp sesame oil, just a little is enough.
The soup will be more fragrant.
Add a little bit of white pepper too.
Okay, we'll add 1/2 cup of hot water to the pot.
We have all of these ingredients listed on our blog at madewithlau.com
Along with step-by-step instructions and video clips
To guide you as you make the recipe at home.
Many people wanted to know
Dominic and 3 other people I can't say except for @eeenricaaa
Want to know the secret to restaurant-like broth.
Traditional wonton soup has many ingredients, like dried flounder.
For home cooking, you must add bok choy, chicken broth, fish sauce…
Yeah, somebody said anchovies.
Do you use anchovies ever?
Yeah, you can but we don't.
Restaurants usually use bones to make soup, often chicken bones.
Traditional soup, right?
Like when you go to a Vietnamese restaurant, like a…
Pho!
Vietnamese pho.
Wow! That soup is traditional, just like Chinese.
A lot of good stuff - cow bones, pork bones, fish, chicken, and seafood.
That's really nutritious.
We don't have time to do that kind of soup.
If you want to create a more nuanced and flavorful broth
Our friends Chris & Steph over at Chinese Cooking Demystified
Have a really great video on Wonton Noodle Soup
Where they make their own broth, wonton wrappers
And noodles entirely from scratch.
Hi Randy, thanks for the shoutout
So the wonton noodle soup was an old video of ours.
The soup and the fillings are pretty decent
But the noodle dough needs a lot of improvement.
It should be a lot drier and should use duck eggs straight (no water).
And a little bit of lye water.
So I wouldn't trust the noodle in that video.
Sorry about that.
They said they plan on revisiting the noodle recipe at some point
So I'll be sure to update the description when they do.
Hmm, nice!
We'll add more noodles to the bowl.
We can always add more noodles to the bowl if it's not enough.
Okay, we'll place the vegetables on top of the noodles first.
Lay them on top.
Add the shrimp into the pot.
Shrimp cooks fast, it'll take just a moment.
Place the vegetables on top.
The shrimp only need about a minute to cook.
You can tell they're ready when they turn orange.
Scoop out the shrimp first.
This dish is called wonton noodle soup so I'll add some wontons.
If you're wondering how to make wontons
Then please look at our video last week about making wontons.
Now, we'll reheat the cooked wontons.
These wontons are already cooked, but if you're starting with raw wontons
You'll boil them for about 3-5 minutes until they start floating.
We have some additional pro tips for cooking in our wonton video
So be sure to check the video out if you haven't seen it already.
Okay, it's done.
The wontons and noodles are all set.
Now, we'll pour the soup to the bowl.
Add the green onions as garnish.
Wonton Noodle Soup is ready to serve!
Hong Doy, time to eat!
Your face looks so cute!
Say "Hi, I'm back".
-Wow! -Oh, yeah!
That's a good one!
I am my father's son!
Cheers! Wonton Noodle Soup!
Time to eat!
Eat noodles.
When I was about 11-12 years old
I always went to a bookstore in Guangzhou City.
I could smell the wonton noodle soup from half a block away.
It smelled so good but actually I never got the chance to try it.
For me, the enjoyment is just the smell.
Did you save money?
No money!
Oh.
♪Laughter♪
We didn’t have a lot when I was 11-12 years old.
When I was young in Guangzhou
A bowl of noodles (no meat & vegetable) alone cost 5-6 cents, right?
Really?
Just plain noodles with no wonton, those with wontons cost 15 cents.
That's considered expensive or cheap?
It's not something everyone could afford at that time.
Okay, Sylvia and Belinda, and one other person asked
What brand of noodle do you use and how do you pick good ones?
I usually use Gam Hong Factory's noodles for stir-fry.
This is a local brand.
Because the restaurant I worked at
Also used noodles from the same noodle supplier.
That's why I use those noodles.
Store-bought noodles and wonton wrappers are good too.
Any noodles that don't stick together
And stay chewy even after sitting for long are good choices.
If it's not this brand
How do you pick a good noodle brand?
Store-bought noodles aren't bad.
Just try any brand.
Are the noodles for wonton noodles all made with eggs
Yeah, they are made with eggs.
Okay, someone was saying on Instagram
I love all noodles except for egg noodles.
♪Laughter♪
I think some of the noodles contain no egg.
Is it like against the rules to use rice noodles?
Wonton Rice Noodles can work too, you don't have to use noodles.
You can adjust the recipe yourself.
Your sister likes to eat wonton rice noodles but you prefer wonton noodles.
Restaurant sell wonton rice noodles too.
If you order wonton rice noodles then they will serve you that.
It doesn't have to be noodles.
Is there tips to make the noodles more bouncy and chewy?
First, boil a pot of water.
Fill the pot with as much water as possible.
Put the noodles in once the water boils
And use chopsticks to loosen the noodles.
Use a colander to scoop out the noodles and shock them in cold water.
Then, soak them in the hot water again.
Next, drizzle some oil to the noodles and mix them together.
If they sit for too long
The noodles will absorb the soup and turn soft.
Then, it's impossible for them to be chewy.
It tastes better when it's just cooked, right?
Do you use high heat when cooking the noodles?
Of course you'll use high heat when cooking noodles!
When cooking rice noodles, you don't have to use high heat.
Because rice noodles cook fast.
Rice noodles are different from noodles.
You packed some wonton noodles for me to store in the fridge.
Is the cooking method the same?
It's the same after you defrost them, I also have a lot…
Let him see.
I have a big box of noodles, around 10 lbs.
I also just stored them in the freezer.
I'm back!
You changed the diaper?
Yeah, I changed his diaper.
These here have 2 servings of noodles.
It looks like this if you take them out from the box.
Around 3 oz for each serving of noodle.
The noodles are portioned out when you buy them.
I don't want to freeze it all together
So I separated them into smaller packs with 2 servings each.
Where did we buy the noodles?
We had someone deliver it to our house.
This noodle, I love the smell of it before it's cooked.
Yeah, because they're alkaline.
Oh, it smells so good.
The one I gave you is just like this.
Want to take some home?
Okay, yeah.
Normally, one serving per person is enough.
2 servings for 2 person, 3 servings for 3 person.
Put them in a plate to defrost first.
If you want it for lunch
Defrost them in the morning.
Or usually I'll just heat it in the microwave for 2 minutes.
Then, it should be defrosted.
But the best is to take them out a couple of hours before lunchtime.
Once they're thawed, you can cook them like I just did.
For good quality, put them in the freezer.
Because if you don't, then it'll get moldy.
These noodles are the ones I just used.
We always buy this brand.
The wonton noodles brand.
♪Laughter♪
What does it say in Chinese？
Gam Hong is the name of the noodle factory.
Okay, okay.
The first 2 characters say the name of the factory?
It says "Gam Hong Noodles Factory" & "Wonton Noodles".
Cam Cam! Hi Cammy.
Baby on the loose, baby on the loose.
Oh, stinky face.
Why does bok choy taste so good in this soup?
Great follow up.
Is it? Oh, okay.
@echauzhu from Instagram asked
What veggies go well in wonton soup?
Bok choy.
Choy sum and bok choy can be used.
If you have your own preference, you can use it too.
Restaurants usually put bok choy in wonton noodle soup.
Because the bok choy looks appealing.
Bok choy is available all year long, you can buy it in any season.
So nostalgic!
I remember almost everyday I ate this growing up.
That's a breakfast for you.
You cooked this for me as breakfast everyday?
Breakfast and lunch.
He's gonna make it for Cam Cam now.
Cam Cam, you want some soup?
As a kid, didn’t I eat this often for breakfast?
Yeah, you always ate wontons and noodles.
I made wontons quite often.
-Oh! -How did you have so much time…
Oh my god!
You said, "Give me that wonton soup!"
Making stinky face again.
Look at him.
That face is a little funny, huh?
You gonna give something to Yeh Yeh (grandpa)?
Thank you for watching our wonton noodle!
Hello, dear friends and audiences!
This video is really useful, practical for home cooking.
Thanks again for watching!