Fried wonton or gyoza wrappers, available in the frozen section of most Asian markets, make fantastic chips to scoop up savory ingredients. They are delicious served with any Asian-inspired tartare or seviche, with Asian Guacamole (p. 66), or as a garnish for just about any salad that would benefit from crunch and nutty sesame seeds.

Ingredients

　　2 egg whites, beaten

　　Black and white sesame seeds, for garnish

　　Vegetable oil, for frying

　　Defrost the wrappers and peel them apart. Stack and cut them in half (some are round and some are square; it doesn’t matter). Brush them with a little egg white and sprinkle with black and white sesame seeds. Heat 2 inches of oil to 350°F in a saucepan or wok and gently drop in the crisps, a few at a time. If they start to curl, straighten them with tongs. Turn them once, and when they are light golden brown (about 30 seconds), remove and drain them on paper towels. When the crisps are cool, place in an airtight container or Ziploc bag; they will stay crisp for several days.

　　From Crescent City Cooking by Susan Spicer Copyright (c) 2007 by Susan Spicer Published by Knopf.Susan Spicer was born in Key West, Florida, and lived in Holland until the age of seven, when her family moved to New Orleans. She has lived there ever since, and is the owner of two restaurants, Bayona and Herbsaint. This is her first cookbook.Paula Disbrowe was the former Cowgirl Chef at Hart & Hind Fitness Ranch in Rio Frio, Texas. Prior to that, she spent ten years working as a food and travel writer. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Food & Wine, and Saveur, among other major publications.