Wonton Hearts filled with Spicy Beef

Total time: 45 to 60 minutes

I like to come up with heart shaped dishes for Valentine's Day and thought of filling easily available wonton wrappers with spicy beef, Italian style, meaning I'd serve them with a drizzle of good olive oil and fresh parmigiano cheese.

 

WHAT YOU NEED

 Appetizer for 4 people

• Wonton wrappers
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cube chicken broth
• Freshly grated parmigiano
• Olive oil drizzle

For the filling:

• 1/2 lb lean ground chuck
• 1 table spoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
• A pinch cinammon
• A pinch all spice
• A pinch cayenne pepper
• A pinch cumin

HOW IT IS DONE

STEP 1 - Preparing the Filling

1. Prepare the filling by heating the oil in a non-stick pan, adding the garlic and the meat and let brown for about 4 minutes.
2. Add all the spices and herbs and cook for another minute.
3. The meat should be crumbly by now. 
4. Let cool.

STEP 2 - Preparing the Hearts

1. On a non-stick working surface like roul'pat place 12 wonton wrappers next to each other.
2. Place a small amount, less than 1 tablespoon, of the meat filling in the middle of the wonton wrapper.
3. Brush a little bit of the egg around all four sides of the wrapper.
4. Place a wrapper on top of a prepared wrapper and make sure both wrappers stick together.
5. Take a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out a heart. 
6. Let the cut out heart rest for about 5 minutes.
7. Repeat until all wrappers or the filling are done. 

STEP 3 - Cooking the hearts

1. In a large pot, heat water and add the chicken broth cube.
2. When the water is boiling, add the first batch of hearts. Depending on the size of your pot, cook 10 hearts or less at a time.
3. After about 2 to 3 minutes, take a slotted spoon and carefully (!) remove the hearts from the pot and keep them warm.
4. Repeat the above and work in batches, keep the water boiling.

STEP 4 - Serving

Divide the hearts onto plates, drizzle with olive oil and serve with fresh parmigiano.

 Guten Appetit!
-- Elke♥