Crab Rangoon
Crispy, golden-fried wontons filled with a creamy mixture of crab, cream cheese, and savory seasonings. This popular Chinese-American appetizer is a crowd-pleasing favorite, perfect for parties.
For 4 servings
4 steps. 15 minutes total.
- 1
Step 1
- a.Prepare the Filling
- b.In a medium bowl, use a spatula to beat the softened cream cheese with the garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and sugar until smooth and creamy. This prevents lumps.
- c.Gently fold in the well-drained, flaked crab meat and finely chopped scallions. Mix just until combined to maintain the texture of the crab.
- 2
Step 2
- a.Assemble the Rangoons
- b.Place a wonton wrapper on a clean surface in a diamond orientation (one corner pointing towards you).
- c.Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the filling into the center. Do not overfill.
- d.Dip your finger in the small bowl of water and moisten all four edges of the wrapper.
- e.Bring the bottom corner up to meet the top corner, forming a triangle. Press the edges firmly to seal, pushing out any air bubbles.
- f.Moisten one of the bottom corners of the triangle, then bring the two bottom corners together, overlapping them slightly, and press to seal. This creates the classic tortellini-like shape.
- g.Place the finished rangoon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover with a damp cloth to prevent drying while you assemble the rest.
- 3
Step 3
- a.Fry the Crab Rangoons
- b.In a heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer, heat the vegetable oil to 350-360°F (175-180°C). Use a thermometer for accuracy.
- c.Carefully add 4-5 rangoons to the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. This helps maintain the oil temperature.
- d.Fry for 2-3 minutes, turning them over halfway through, until they are a deep golden brown and crispy.
- e.Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to remove the rangoons from the oil.
- f.Transfer them to a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- 4
Step 4
- a.Serve
- b.Serve the crab rangoons immediately while they are hot and crispy.
- c.Pair with your favorite dipping sauce, such as sweet and sour sauce, duck sauce, or a sweet chili sauce.
What to keep in mind.
6 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1Ensure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature for a smooth, lump-free filling.
- 2Thoroughly pat the crab meat dry with a paper towel before mixing to prevent a watery filling, which can make the wontons soggy.
- 3Don't overfill the wontons. About 1 teaspoon is perfect to prevent them from bursting open during frying.
- 4Seal the wonton wrappers very tightly. Any gaps can cause the filling to leak out and the oil to splatter.
- 5Fry in small batches to keep the oil temperature consistent. A drop in temperature can lead to greasy, soggy rangoons.
- 6For easy filling, transfer the mixture to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off.
Adapt it for your goals.
Baked Crab Rangoon
For a lighter version, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the assembled rangoons on a baking sheet, spray them lightly with cooking oil, and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
Air Fryer Crab RangoonAir Fryer Crab Rangoon
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the rangoons in a single layer in the basket, spray with oil, and air fry for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp.
Spicy Crab RangoonSpicy Crab Rangoon
Add 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the cream cheese filling for a spicy kick.
Shrimp RangoonShrimp Rangoon
Substitute the crab meat with an equal amount of finely chopped cooked shrimp for a different seafood flavor.
Why this is on our healthy list.
Source of Protein
The crab meat and cream cheese provide a good amount of protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, making enzymes and hormones, and is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.
Provides Calcium
Cream cheese is a dairy product that contains calcium, a mineral vital for maintaining strong bones and teeth, as well as for proper muscle and nerve function.
Frequently asked questions
A single deep-fried crab rangoon contains approximately 80-100 calories, depending on its size and the amount of oil absorbed. A serving of 6 pieces would be around 500-600 calories.