Crunchy Shrimp Wontons With Green-Onion Dipping Sauce

Recipe courtesy Gloria Bradley, Naperville, IL. who won a trip to Las Vegas for this recipe. Be careful while eating these wontons as they gush out juice as you bite into them!

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Yields: 24 wontons

Ingredients

• 1  cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1⁄3 cup  coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, plus
• 24  sprigs fresh cilantro, leaves and tender stems
• 1  tablespoon lemon zest
• 2  tablespoons  minced fresh ginger, plus
• 2  teaspoons  minced fresh ginger
• 2  tablespoons  toasted sesame oil
• 24  large  shell-on shrimp (20 to 24 per lb.)
•  vegetable oil (for frying)
• 24  square wonton wrappers
• 1⁄4 cup  orange juice
• 3  tablespoons lemon juice
• 2  tablespoons orange marmalade
• 3  tablespoons  finely chopped green onions

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup soy sauce, chopped cilantro, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons ginger, and 1 tablespoons sesame oil.
2. Peel shrimp, leaving tails on, and devein. Add to soy mixture and marinate, covered, 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature.Drain shrimp in a colander, spread out on paper towels, and pat dry. (I make a horizontal slit, 3/4 of the way through the shrimp, in the middle of the curve of the shrimp so that it will straighten out.).
3. Pour oil into a deep, heavy pot to a depth of 3 inches and heat to 375°F Meanwhile, spread out wonton wrappers. Working with one wrapper at a time, put several cilantro leaves and stems along wrapper edge nearest you. Top them with a shrimp, arranging shrimp lengthwise so that tail extends beyond wrapper. Fold the wrapper edge opposite the tail over shrimp. Brush far edge of wrapper with water and, starting with near edge, roll wrapper loosely around shrimp, forming a package. Press seam firmly to seal.
4. Preheat oven to 200°F and put a shallow rack in a baking pan. When oil reaches 375°F fry wontons in several batches so as not to crowd them, flipping midway through cooking, until medium golden brown, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. If shrimp begin to brown to quickly, reduce temperature. Lift shrimp out with tongs, draining excess oil, and transfer to baking pan; keep warm in oven.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, the orange and lemon juices, marmalade, green onion, and 2 teaspoons ginger. Serve wontons hot, with dipping sauce on the side.