Hong You Chao Shou is a beloved Sichuan street snack: delicate pork wontons drenched in a glossy, fiery red chili oil sauce perfumed with Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, and ginger. The wontons are silky-soft while the sauce is boldly spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet, making every bite vivid and addictive.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time40 mins
Servings4
Yield4 servings (about 24 wontons)
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (estimated)
- 430 kcalCalories
- 22 gFat
- 5 gSaturated Fat
- 34 gCarbs
- 2 gFiber
- 4 gSugar
- 24 gProtein
- 880 mgSodium
- 380 mgPotassium
- 60 mgCalcium
- 3 mgIron
- 4 mgVitamin C
- 80 mcgVitamin A
Ingredients
For the wonton filling and wrappers
- 1 lb (450 g) ground pork (about 20% fat)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 scallion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 package (about 24) square wonton wrappers
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten (for sealing)
For the red oil sauce
- 1/3 cup neutral oil (such as canola or grapeseed)
- 2 tablespoons Sichuan chili flakes (with seeds)
- 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
- 3 tablespoons Chinese black vinegar (Chinkiang)
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, finely grated
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 cup warm chicken stock or water
For garnish
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon crushed roasted peanuts (optional)
- 1 small handful chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
- Make the filling: In a bowl, combine ground pork, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, ginger, garlic, scallion, sesame oil, and white pepper. Stir in one direction for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes sticky and cohesive; refrigerate 15 minutes.
- Prepare the red oil sauce: Toast Sichuan peppercorns in a dry pan over low heat 2 minutes until fragrant, then crush coarsely. Heat the neutral oil in a small saucepan to about 325°F (160°C); remove from heat, stir in chili flakes and crushed peppercorns, and let steep 5 minutes until deep red.
- Stir vinegar, both soy sauces, sugar, grated garlic, ginger, and warm stock into the chili oil. Divide the sauce among 4 serving bowls.
- Wrap the wontons: Place 1 teaspoon filling in the center of each wrapper. Brush edges with egg, fold into a triangle, then bring the two outer corners together and overlap to seal, forming a classic ingot shape. Keep covered with a damp towel.
- Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil. Add wontons in batches and stir once so they do not stick. Cook 4-5 minutes until they float and the filling is cooked through; lift out with a slotted spoon.
- Place 6 wontons into each sauce bowl, spoon a little of the cooking water (about 2 tablespoons) over them to loosen the sauce, and top with scallions, sesame seeds, peanuts, and cilantro. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Cook’s Notes
- Bloom the chili flakes in oil cooled to about 325°F to keep the sauce ruby-red without turning it bitter or muddy.
- Authentic Hong You Chao Shou uses very little broth; the wontons are drenched in sauce rather than floating in soup.
- For extra numbing heat, double the Sichuan peppercorns and grind them finely before steeping.
- Pork with at least 20% fat keeps the filling juicy and tender after boiling.
- Make sure wontons are tightly sealed or they may open during cooking and lose their silky texture.










