Martin Yan’s Hot and Sour Sauce
With Mini Chicken Wontons
Martin Yan is a celebrated chef, cookbook author, and television host. He is best known for his popular cooking show “Yan Can Cook,” which debuted in 1982. His energetic personality, impressive knife skills, and iconic catchphrase, “If Yan can cook, so can you!” have made him a beloved figure in culinary television. In fact, he has hosted over 3,500 episodes of cooking shows aired worldwide. His charismatic teaching style has inspired generations to cook Chinese and Asian cuisine at home.
In addition to Quick Mussels over Angel Hair and Quick Wonton Soup, for another time-saving tasty recipe, here I pair the Chef’s Hot and Sour Sauce with frozen Mini Chicken Cilantro Wontons from Costco. The wontons are simply boiled for a few minutes according to package instructions.
Regarding the garnish, it is worth noting that Dendrobium orchids are beautiful, edible, and non-toxic. They have a mild, slightly sweet flavor that is mostly neutral. However, while a single orchid brings a colorful pop to the presentation, it is used more for its visual appeal than for taste and is not meant to be eaten.
Martin Yan’s Hot and Sour Sauce Recipe
- 1/4 c. soy sauce
- 2 T. cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 T. scallions, finely chopped
- 2 T. sweet chili sauce
- 2 T. rice vinegar
- 2 t. hot chili oil
- 1 t. garlic, finely chopped
- 1 t. ginger, finely chopped
Stir all ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
- frozen mini wontons (such as bibigo)
- cilantro sprigs
Cook wontons according to package instructions. Drizzle with sauce. Serve extra sauce on the side. Garnish with cilantro sprigs.
The Hot and Sour Sauce recipe is from Food & Wine February 2025 issue.