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Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cups will impress your guests! Plump shrimp, creamy avocado, and crunchy wonton cups provide a wonderful contrast in textures. Cook down the bold marinade for a fabulous finishing drizzle
This post and recipe card updated September 21, 2020
This post was originally sponsored content, and I received complimentary products.
When it comes to entertaining, whether I’m hosting or going to a friend’s home, appetizers are the way to go. They’re portable and easy to eat. And you can be really creative or super simple, and prepare a variety of options.
Pigs in an Everything Blanket is my kicked up version of the classic. Easy Pan Fried Mushrooms are a burst of flavor in every bite. And Bacon Wrapped Chicken Meatballs are a fabulous combination of sweet & salty.
I love bold Asian flavors, so this was the perfect opportunity to create a fun and delicious new appetizer. Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cups
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
- They’re easy, bite-sized appetizers
- You can make the wonton cups ahead, and assemble when ready
- Cook down the marinade at the end for a delicious finishing drizzle
My goodness, these Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cups are fabulous…I was literally dancing around my kitchen after the first bite! The bold shrimp pairs beautifully with the creamy avocado.
SHRIMP TIPS
I almost always buy frozen shrimp. Why? Because it’s most likely more fresh than the fresh shrimp behind the counter!
- Fishermen put the shrimp into ice almost as soon as it comes out of the water, and it’s frozen quickly afterward.
- “Fresh” shrimp at the seafood counter of the store is always previously frozen, sometimes days before.
- Unless you know for sure how fresh the shrimp at the counter is, go for the frozen
I use 21/25 shrimp for this recipe, which means 21-25 shrimp per pound. Don’t rely on the labels like Large/XL/Jumbo shrimp, as that is not consistent across brands. Instead, look for the count.
To thaw frozen shrimp: Place it in a sealed container in the fridge for about 8 hours until thawed. For quicker thawing, run the shrimp under cold, running water for about 10 minutes.
INGREDIENT TIPS FOR SHRIMP AVOCADO WONTON CUPS
I use store-bought Wonton Wrappers. Could you make your own? Probably. Am I going to do that? Nope.
Marinate the shrimp in a simple combination of low sodium soy sauce, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. I marinate the shrimp while I make the wonton cups, so it’s about 20-30 minutes. But in a pinch, 10 minutes will do.
Don’t discard the marinade! Reduce it slightly to create an intense sauce to drizzle over Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cups.
I swear avocado starts to turn brown within minutes of cutting it. I’ll usually dice it while the marinade cooks down, and also add a little lime juice as well.
Fresh basil adds such a wonderful pop of flavor. I use 1/2 piece per wonton cup.
MAKING THE WONTON CUPS
I can’t tell a lie…this was by far the hardest part of the recipe!
- Regular muffin pan – the wonton tips didn’t brown properly and the bottom was too soft.
- Paper cups in the muffin pan – didn’t help at all
- Mini Muffin Pan – problem solved!
You will need to sort of manipulate the wrapper into the cups and fold them over a little bit. But it works and the results are great. Don’t worry if the wonton cups don’t look perfect. They don’t need to!
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Add shrimp, stir to fully cover, and rest in the fridge to marinate.
Gently press the wonton wrappers into each cup of a mini muffin pan. You’ll need to manipulate the wrappers a little, and fold them over each other some, but not to worry.
Bake the wonton cups for 8-10 minutes. Remove the wonton cups from the pan immediately and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes per side, until just cooked through. Remove the shrimp and set aside.
Add the marinade to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Add a little cornstarch, whisk into the marinade, and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
Assemble the Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cups
- Place the wonton cups face-up on a platter
- Put one piece of shrimp in each wonton cup
- Top with a few pieces of avocado and, if desired, a little extra red pepper flakes
- Drizzle with the reduced marinade
- finish with a basil leaf and a squeeze of fresh lime juice
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you make Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cups ahead? You can prepare the wonton cups a few hours ahead. But I recommend making the shrimp right before serving
Can you use smaller shrimp? Absolutely! Just remember, smaller shrimp cooks more quickly. If you do small shrimp, you can add a few pieces per cup.
Do I have to cook down the marinade? Yes, because you don’t want used marinade on cooked food. Plus, this thickens the marinade slightly and intensifies the flavor.
MORE DELICIOUS APPETIZERS
- Baked Green Bean Fries
- Homemade Sausage Rolls
- Baked Pumpkin Spice Wontons
- Marinated Steak Vegetable Roll Ups
- Easy Pan-Fried Mushrooms
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Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cups
Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cups will impress your guests! Plump shrimp, creamy avocado, and crunchy wonton cups provide a wonderful contrast in textures. Cook down the bold marinade for a fabulous finishing drizzle
Ingredients
- 24 wonton wrappers
- 24 large shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- red pepper flakes, to taste
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 avocado, diced
- 12 fresh basil leaves, sliced in half lengthwise
- Fresh squeezed lime juice
Instructions
WONTON CUPS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Using a mini muffin pan, gently press one wonton wrapper into each muffin cup. You may need to fold over some of the wrappers to make them fit, but that will create a great cup look. Don't worry if it doesn't look pretty!
- Bake wonton wrappers for 8-10 minutes, until the top edges are golden brown. Let them cool for about 1 minute, and then remove the cups from the muffin pan and set aside.
SHRIMP
- In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, garlic, and red pepper flakes. The amount of pepper flakes is up to you, but remember, less is more! You can always add more at the end
- Add the shrimp to the bowl and mix together
- Put the shrimp into the fridge to marinate. I usually marinate them for about 30 minutes, but in a pinch 10 minutes will do. Remove the shrimp from the fridge after 20 minutes, so they come back to temperature.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. When the butter starts to foam, add shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes per side, until just cooked through. Remove the shrimp and set aside.
- Add the marinade to skillet, turn heat to medium and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, whisk into the marinade, and cook for 3-4 minutes
- Add one piece of shrimp and a few pieces of diced avocado to each cup. Drizzle with soy sauce reduction, and finish with fresh basil and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. If desired, add a few more red pepper flakes
Notes
A mini muffin pan is your best bet for making the wonton cups. You'll need to fold the wrappers into the cup and they may not look perfect...but that's okay!
I use 21/25 shrimp for this recipe, which means 21-25 shrimp per pound. Don’t rely on the labels like Large/XL/Jumbo shrimp, as that is not consistent across brands. Instead, look for the count.
To thaw frozen shrimp: Place it in a closed container in the fridge for about 8 hours until thawed. For quicker thawing, run the shrimp under cold, running water for about 10 minutes.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 4 wonton cupsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 104Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 587mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 5g
Nutrient values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product availability and food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients, etc
swathi says
These are not only cute but also great appetizer that we can put together with few ingredients. I love the spicy touch going with shrimp and avocado.
Olivia @ Olivia's Cuisine says
How cute are those? Perfect party food and a great appetizer for the holidays!
Karyl says
Thanks Olivia! The hardest part is not eating them all before the guests arrive 🙂
Sarah says
These look delicious! I love the idea of making wonton cups, a fun way to use wonton wrappers!
Karyl says
Thanks Sarah! Yes, there are so many fun ways to use the wonton cups
Jessica | PetiteStyleScript says
These look absolutely delicious! I cannot wait to try making them! Thanks for sharing!
Karyl says
Thanks Jessica! They are super simple to make, and really delicious
Sarah says
How yummy! I’m allergic to avocado but the rest sounds delicious!
Karyl says
Thanks Sarah! You could easily do them without the avocado, and I think they would still be fabulous.
Albert Trotter says
woton cups sounds amazing..definitely try your recipe
Karyl says
Thanks Albert! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do
Trupti says
Love this, avocado and shrimps my two fav ingredients but never really tried them together. You know I ate at PF Chang’s for the first time in January this year in Dubai and simply fell in love with food. Didn’t know they had their own line of ready sauces too ??????
Thanks for sharing this quick recipe
Karyl says
Trupti, the sauces are pretty new, and I’m super excited they have them too! I can’t wait to make my way through all of them. The avocado and shrimp work really well together.
Veronika says
I think this will be a perfect idea for upcoming holiday parties! Perfect size and perfect flavor combination!
Karyl says
Yes Veronika I agree! The hardest part is just not eating them all before the guests arrive!!
Veena Azmanov says
I love avocado and I love spicy!! Love the flavors you have going here too! These look so pretty. They would make fancy appetizers for a dinner party too!
Karyl says
Thanks Veena! Yes, these are perfect party appetizers, and the flavors all work really well together
Noel Lizotte says
I love appetizers, too! This recipe looks easy enough to whip up for any gathering … I like recipes that are easy and don’t take impossible to find ingredients. This is perfect.
Karyl says
Yes I so agree with you Noel! I get discouraged if I have to go to a million different stores to get all the ingredients.
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
These sound and look so tasty! I love PF Changs, but never tried any of their sauces from the store. I’ll have to give them a try!
Karyl says
The sauces are still very new Joanna! I’m so glad I discovered them, because they are delicious. I’m excited to try all the rest of them
Catherine says
I love your wonton cups! Such a tasty treat and great for game day too!
Karyl says
Thanks Catherine! Yes, they would work fabulous for gameday
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Won ton cups are so much fun. With all the holiday parties starting, these are the perfect little apps to get the party started. Fun to make and eat….it’s a win for sure.
Karyl says
Yes Gloria, I agree! These are sure to be a hit at every party
Adriana Lopez Martn says
You got me at spicy and avocado =) both are my kind of ingredients. This cups look like a great option for easy appetizers for a fall party. Must try them soon, yummy!
Kathy McDaniel says
What a fabulous and easy appetizer. I cannot wait to try the PF Chang Sauces. So incredibly convenient!!
Karyl says
Thanks Kathy! The sauces are very convenient, and make it so easy to pull together a quick meal
Leah says
YUM!! These are adorable and look amazing! So unique and yummy at the same time. Thanks for sharing!
Karyl says
Thanks Leah! Yes, they are really, really delicious and I had to stop myself from eating them all
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
It’s like the Goldilocks story of the muffin pans! I’m glad you found one that would fit. I’m loving this shrimp avocado combo and I’m going to have to look for those sauces. How convenient to have PF Chang’s sauce at home!
Karyl says
Haha I love your Goldilocks comparison! So true. Yes, the sauces will definitely be a game changer
Nicole Banuelos says
OMG its only 8am and my mouth is literally salivating… these look so good!
Karyl says
Haha!! Thanks Nicole, I appreciate it.