The Chinese New Year, also known at the Lunar New Year, is this Saturday, January 25, marking the beginning of the Year of the Metal Rat, signifying wealth and financial new beginnings. This is the most important holiday in Chinese cultures, which is a time of celebrations and family reunions, fireworks, and the gifting of wealth in red envelopes as good luck.
“Gong hei fat choy” is the most common Chinese New Year greeting in Cantonese, which is spoken in parts of southern China and Hong Kong. It directly translates to “wishing you great happiness and prosperity.” In Mandarin, the same greeting is “gong xi fa cai.”
In celebration, Aunt Sandy is sharing her recipe for cannabis-infused wonton soup. So let’s put on our aprons and get to cooking!
Wontons
Ingredients:
- Wonton wrappers (square)
- 1 cup of lean pork
- 1 tablespoon of ginger, finely grated
- 2 shallots
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of sesame oil
- 2 grams of concentrate shatter
Directions:
- Place all the ingredients, except for the wonton wrappers, in a bowl and use a potato masher to mash the ingredients together until the filling mixture is fairly smooth.
- Lay wonton wrappers on a flat, work surface. Use a teaspoon to put the filling in the center of each wonton. Work in batches of 5 wontons to start out, and up to 20 after some practice.
- Brush two adjacent edges of the wonton wrappers with water. Fold the dry corner to the wet corner, pressing the edges of the wrapper together and pressing the air out. Do not leave any air inside the wonton when you fold it.
- Placed the wontons in a covered container so they don’t dry out as you work on the broth.
Broth
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of chicken broth
- 2 garlic cloves
- ⅓ piece of ginger
- 1 ½ tablespoons of soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- 1 cup of torn cabbage
Directions:
- Place all the ingredients in the chicken broth, in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.
- Pick out garlic and ginger before serving.
When Ready to Serve
Directions:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place wontons in water and cook for 4 minutes or until they float.
- Remove the wontons with a slotted spoon and place into serving bowls. Ladle the broth over the wontons and serve hot.
- Add cilantro or other garnishes to your liking.
If you want to learn more recipes of the edible variety, look no further than Aunt Sandy’s Medical Marijuana Cookbook: Comfort Food for Mind and Body. And see you next time in Aunt Sandy’s Kitchen!
