Serve with Shanxi mature vinegaror gyoza, teriyaki or soy saucefor dipping.
Add some chile crisp for a little heat if you like.
Over talk, over conversation, over shared work.
Photo:Christine Ma
Stuffing, shaping, then freezing or cooking add hours more.
But, as we all learn in adulthood, home is what yourfamilymakes it.
I never mastered the art of from-scratch dumpling-making.
Christine Ma
I don’t roll dough out well nor evenly and my pleats are equally varied and sloppy.
But that’s the thing about family recipes, right?
This recipe is a taste of a different kind of home.
Christine Ma
Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or up to 3 days.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper.
(If using parchment paper, sprinkle it with flour.)
Christine Ma
Place 1 heaping teaspoon of filling in the middle of a dumpling wrapper.
Wet a finger with water and run it around the inside edges of the wrapper.
Press the edges together to seal.
Christine Ma
No need to pleat with this cheat!
Be careful not to overstuff to avoid tearing the wrapper or having the dumplings burst.
Repeat to make 48 dumplings.
Christine Ma
(If you plan to freeze them, place the filled dumplings on a large floured baking sheet.
Take care that they do not overlap too much lest they stick to one another.
Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 10 months.
Proceed with Step 4; no thawing needed.)
To cook dumplings: Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Carefully add 8 dumplings.
Cook, flipping once, until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
Add water to the pan, filling to halfway the height of the dumplings (about 1 cup).
Uncover and continue cooking until the water has completely evaporated.
Transfer to a platter and repeat to cook the remaining dumplings.
Ingredient Notes
Chinese chivesare pungent, sharp and fiercely strong in flavor.
Look for it in Asian markets.
MSG (monosodium glutamate)is a flavor enhancer used in savory foods, including Asian and packaged foods.
MSG is said to be the source of our fifth taste qualityumamiwhich translates to “pleasant savory taste.”
It’s worth seeking outdumpling wrappersmade by Twin Marquis, Dynasty or Twin Dragon.
Look for them in the refrigerated or frozen section of your Asian market.
They are thinner than other brands and stick together better.
The quickest way to reheat them is to add them to a microwave-safe container with a little water.
Cover the dumplings with a damp paper towel and microwave them, checking for doneness every 30 seconds.
They should be heated to your desired temperature in about 2 minutes.
Alternatively, reheat them in a skillet with a little oil for approximately 3 minutes.
Spread uncooked fresh dumplings on a sheet tray and freeze them for about 30 minutes.
After frozen, transfer them to airtight freezer bags, labeling each bag with the date.
Store them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Slice them into noodle-like shapes and crisp them in a skillet.
Use them in soups, as a salad topping or as crackers.
Even a simple green salad would pair well.
- Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
FoodData Central.Sliced water chestnuts in water.
