Ming Tsai Fuses East and West Flavors on The Kitchen and Previews His Upcoming Family Reach Event

Get the recipe for Ming Tsai's seasonal wontons, and find out more about his upcoming charity event in New York City.

By: Maria Russo

Show: The Kitchen

Guest Ming Tsai, right, demonstrates his Kabocha Squash and Shiitake Wontons with Pomegranate-Vinegar Syrup for host Geoffrey Zakarian as seen on Food Network's The Kitchen, Season 7.

With fall in full swing, the time is now to take advantage of the best seasonal produce autumn has to offer. Just a few weeks ago, The Kitchen's Katie Lee and Marcela Valladolid showed off their tricks for transforming in-season squash, and on this morning's all-new episode, renowned chef and restaurateur Ming Tsai dropped by to offer another go-to recipe, this time one that fuses together the flavors of the East and West.

To make his Kabocha Squash and Shiitake Wontons with Pomegranate-Vinegar Syrup, Ming starts with roasted kabocha squash, the flesh of which he scoops out of the vegetable and mixes with shiitake mushrooms to create the base of the dumpling filling. Once these two-bite beauties have been fried and are golden brown and crispy on the outside, he drizzles them with a sweetened rum sauce studded with ruby-red pomegranate seeds for a burst of color and freshness.

Ming Tsai's Kabocha Squash and Shiitake Wontons with Pomegranate-Vinegar Syrup are seen on the set of Food Network's The Kitchen, Season 7.

Ming mentioned that next week he'll be making these dumplings at an extra-special event, Cooking Live from New York, which he's hosting for the Family Reach Foundation. Dedicated to providing critical financial assistance to families who are battling cancer, Family Reach gives stipends to cover the costs of such basic home essentials as running water and electricity, as well as the transportation and housing bills that add up during cancer treatment. In New York City on Monday, November 2, when Cooking Live from New York will kick off at The Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park, Ming will be joined by other A-list chefs, including Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and past Cutthroat Kitchen: Superstar Sabotage competitor Johnny Iuzzini, and two celebrity sous chefs: The Office's John Krasinski and his wife, Emily Blunt, who's currently starring in Sicario. With the help of Krasinski and Blunt, the chefs will be cooking up a live culinary demo, and then ultimately serving an impressive five-course meal. Want to see what goes down onstage? You can watch the live stream of the event from 7 to 9 p.m. EST on Monday.

Click the play button on the video below to watch Ming's visit to The Kitchen and learn more about Family Reach.