Shepherd's Purse Wonton Filling Recipe: Chinese Tradition

In a nutshell: Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is a beloved ingredient in Chinese cuisine, where it's known as jì cài (荠菜). This recipe for shepherd's purse wonton filling is a classic of Chinese home cooking — delicate, savory, and deeply satisfying.

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Ingredients

For approximately 40 wontons:

• 300g fresh shepherd's purse — washed and finely chopped
• 200g ground pork — or tofu for vegetarian version
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger — grated
• 2 cloves garlic — minced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch — mixed with 2 tablespoons water
• 40 wonton wrappers

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Preparation

Step 1 — Prepare the Shepherd's Purse (10 min)

1. Wash shepherd's purse thoroughly (3 times in cold water)
2. Blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes
3. Drain, squeeze out excess water
4. Finely chop

Step 2 — Make the Filling (10 min)

1. In a bowl, combine ground pork, chopped shepherd's purse, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, sugar, and white pepper
2. Mix in one direction until sticky and well combined
3. Add cornstarch slurry, mix again
4. Refrigerate 15 minutes

Step 3 — Wrap the Wontons (15 min)

1. Place 1 teaspoon of filling in the center of each wrapper
2. Wet the edges with water
3. Fold in half, press edges to seal
4. Bring the two corners together, press to seal

Step 4 — Cook (5 min)

Option A: Boiling — Boil in salted water for 3-4 minutes until they float

Option B: Pan-frying — Pan-fry in oil until bottoms are golden, add 1/4 cup water, cover and steam 3 minutes

Option C: Soup — Add to hot broth and cook 3-4 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes | Difficulty: Medium | Servings: 4

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Tips

• Squeeze the greens well — Excess water makes the filling soggy
• Mix in one direction — This creates a sticky, cohesive filling
• Don't overfill — Too much filling makes wontons burst during cooking

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Nutritional Values

Per serving (10 wontons)

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