Money Bags

A money bag is a bag (normally with a drawstring) of money (or gold) used to hold and transport coins and banknotes from/to a mint, bank, ATM, vending machines, businesses or other institutions (Wikipedia). Thus, a money bag signifies wealth. Symbolically money bags can be one of the lucky foods to bring to the dining table to celebrate such as auspicious occasion as Chinese New Year.


Ingredients:

• 150 g minced meat
• 20 pieces round wanton skin
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 pieces Shiitake mushrooms
• 1 piece 2-inch carrot
• 1 stalk of green onion
• 1 small bunch of coriander
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper powder
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp shaoxing cooking wine
• 1 tbsp wheat flour
• 1 tsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp water (for sealing)
• Cooking oil
• 20 strands of green onion

Method:

• Chop the garlic.

• Soak the Shiitake mushroom. Chop them up when they have softened.

• Chop the carrot.

• Cut the green onion into small pieces.

• Chop up the coriander.

• Add the minced meat to a mixing bowl.

• Add the wheat flour to the meat.

• Add the garlic, mushrooms, carrot, green onion and coriander to the mixing bowl.

• Mix the ingredients up till they are evenly combined.

• Add the seasonings - salt, pepper powder, sesame oil and shaoxing cooking wine to the bowl.

• Mix so that the seasonings are incorporated into the meat mixture.

• Grease a plate and set it aside.

• Take a piece of wanton skin and put it on your palm.

• Take a spoonful of meat mixture and put it in the centre of the wanton skin.

• Dip your finger into the corn flour mixture. Run it on the wanton skin (about 1.5 cm from the edge) outside the meat

• Gather the side of the wanton skin where you have applied the corn flour mixture and press them so that they stick.

• Place it on the greased plate.

• Repeat until all meat and wanton skin are used up.

• Heat up the cooking oil in a wok.

• When the oil is hot, put the money bags in gently one by one.

• Use the spatula to turn them gently so that all sides are fried.

• Dish out the money bags once they turn golden brown onto a kitchen towel to soak out excess oil.

• Boil a pot of water and blanch the 20 strands of green onion.

• Use these strands to tie a ribbon round the money bags.

• Serve while hot.