How to Make Chinese Dumplings
Mix the flour, salt, and water in a large bowl., Let the dough rest for 10 minutes., Place the dough on a flat surface., Make each circular wrapper., Store or use the wrappers immediately., Buy wrappers if you don't want to make your own., Shred the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Mix the flour
Mix the ingredients together until you make a nice, smooth dough.
Use a wooden spoon to stir the ingredients together until they are fully incorporated.
This recipe should make about 20 wrappers., This can help the ingredients settle together.
As you wait for the dough to rest, you can cover the bowl with cling wrap.
You can start to make the filling for the dumplings while you wait. , A cutting board will work here.
Then, cut the dough into about 20 or more equal pieces for the dumplings. , Simply use your hand to pick up each piece of dough and pound it into the board to make a small circular disc.
Then, use a rolling pin to smooth out each disc until it's about 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter.
They don't have to all be exactly the same size, but it can help to get them as close to the same size as possible.
You can add some flour to the rolling pin to keep the wrappers from sticking. , You should either fill the wrappers immediately, or you can store them in the fridge to keep them fresh while you make the filling.
You can store them for a few days in the fridge, or you can even freeze them to store them long-term.
Just make sure to coat them with flour so they don't stick to each other. , If you don't have the time or energy to make your own wrappers, then you should know that two types of wrappers are readily available in supermarkets and Asian food stores.
Wonton wrappers (also called skins) are delicate and paper-thin, usually about a thirty-second of an inch thick.
They typically come in three-inch squares and are made from flour, eggs, and salt.
These wrappers, which are Chinese in origin, are suitable for boiling, steaming, deep-frying, and pan-frying. , If you'd like to be extra thorough, then you can add a dash of salt to the cabbage and let it sit in a bowl for 10 minutes; this will allow the salt to soak up the excess moisture in the dumplings. , Ground meat is meat finely chopped by a meat grinder.
The process of mincing is usually done manually.
Continue mixing the cabbage and meat together until they are thoroughly blended.
Pork and lamb are generally preferred for Chinese dumplings, but beef, chicken, and turkey may be used as well.
In South Asia, both lamb (mutton) and goat meat are popular. , Repeat the process until you've thoroughly mixed in the remaining ingredients.
If you'd rather use mixing spoons instead of your hands, that will work too, but you have to be really thorough. , This will help dry out the mixture a bit.
While you massage the mixture, if you feel that there is not enough vegetable oil, then you should add more. , Just use a spoon to scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture in the center of every wrapper.
You don't have to use the exact same amount in every wrapper; just make sure you have enough to use for all 20 or so of the wrappers. , You should wet the edge of each wrapper with a damp finger and then fold the sides together, crimping (pressing together) the dough with your fingers to seal the contents inside.
To do this, first fold it in half and press together the top of the edge.
Then press each side together, while crimping it.
Simple mechanical "dumpling presses" are also available to simplify this process. , This will keep them from sticking to the surface and will make your dumplings ready to either boil or fry—it's your choice! , To make sure that they are thoroughly cooked, one method used in China is the "3 boil" method.
To do this, add the dumplings to boiling water, and return the water to a boil.
Then, add 1 or 2 cups of water (it can be cold or at room temperature).
Wait for it to boil the second time, then add water again.
After the water boils the third time, your dumplings should be good to go.
Alternately, you can boil the water, place the dumplings in it, wait for the water to return to a boil, and cook the dumplings for 10 more minutes at a simmer. , You can use a slotted spoon to take out the dumplings or close the lid over the pot and pour out the water before removing the dumplings.
Though they are done at this point, you can go for a boiling/frying combo if you'd like to transfer them to a skillet with hot oil and fry them for just a minute or two, until they're a bit crispy, for an added touch. , Serve these tasty dumplings while they're warm.
You can enjoy them with a dipping sauce of your choice. , You should cook about 8 dumplings at a time, if the size of the pan allows it.
Once the oil heats up, you should place the first 8 dumplings on the pan while trying to move them apart enough so that they don't stick together.,, Cover the skillet and let it steam until the water has completely evaporated.
Then, turn the heat back to medium to continue frying the dumplings. , Once you've finished frying these dumplings, remove them from the pan and place them on a plate with a paper towel on it to absorb the excess oil.
You can also remove the dumplings with a slotted spoon and shake the extra oil back into the pan. , Then, cook the remaining 12 or so dumplings in two batches.
Do exactly what you did with the previous batch of dumplings, adding more oil when necessary. , Serve the dumplings while they're warm with your favorite dipping sauce. -
Step 2: and water in a large bowl.
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Step 3: Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
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Step 4: Place the dough on a flat surface.
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Step 5: Make each circular wrapper.
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Step 6: Store or use the wrappers immediately.
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Step 7: Buy wrappers if you don't want to make your own.
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Step 8: Shred the cabbage and put into a stainless pot.
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Step 9: Mix the cabbage and minced meat together by hand.
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Step 10: Add the remaining filling ingredients to the bowl and mix again.
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Step 11: Massage the cabbage mixture with your hand for 10 minutes.
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Step 12: Scoop the filling onto each wrapper.
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Step 13: Fold the sides of the wrapper together.
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Step 14: Place the wrapped dumplings on a floured surface.
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Step 15: Put the dumplings in boiling water.
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Step 16: Transfer the dumplings carefully from the pot to a plate.
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Step 17: Serve.
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Step 18: Heat cooking oil in a medium-sized pan over medium heat.
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Step 19: Fry the dumplings for 2-3 minutes
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Step 20: until their bottoms are light brown.
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Step 21: Add 50 milliliters of water to the pan and heat it over high heat.
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Step 22: Add some oil to the pan and fry the dumplings until they are crispy with golden brown bottoms.
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Step 23: Cook the remaining dumplings.
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Step 24: Serve.
Detailed Guide
Mix the ingredients together until you make a nice, smooth dough.
Use a wooden spoon to stir the ingredients together until they are fully incorporated.
This recipe should make about 20 wrappers., This can help the ingredients settle together.
As you wait for the dough to rest, you can cover the bowl with cling wrap.
You can start to make the filling for the dumplings while you wait. , A cutting board will work here.
Then, cut the dough into about 20 or more equal pieces for the dumplings. , Simply use your hand to pick up each piece of dough and pound it into the board to make a small circular disc.
Then, use a rolling pin to smooth out each disc until it's about 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter.
They don't have to all be exactly the same size, but it can help to get them as close to the same size as possible.
You can add some flour to the rolling pin to keep the wrappers from sticking. , You should either fill the wrappers immediately, or you can store them in the fridge to keep them fresh while you make the filling.
You can store them for a few days in the fridge, or you can even freeze them to store them long-term.
Just make sure to coat them with flour so they don't stick to each other. , If you don't have the time or energy to make your own wrappers, then you should know that two types of wrappers are readily available in supermarkets and Asian food stores.
Wonton wrappers (also called skins) are delicate and paper-thin, usually about a thirty-second of an inch thick.
They typically come in three-inch squares and are made from flour, eggs, and salt.
These wrappers, which are Chinese in origin, are suitable for boiling, steaming, deep-frying, and pan-frying. , If you'd like to be extra thorough, then you can add a dash of salt to the cabbage and let it sit in a bowl for 10 minutes; this will allow the salt to soak up the excess moisture in the dumplings. , Ground meat is meat finely chopped by a meat grinder.
The process of mincing is usually done manually.
Continue mixing the cabbage and meat together until they are thoroughly blended.
Pork and lamb are generally preferred for Chinese dumplings, but beef, chicken, and turkey may be used as well.
In South Asia, both lamb (mutton) and goat meat are popular. , Repeat the process until you've thoroughly mixed in the remaining ingredients.
If you'd rather use mixing spoons instead of your hands, that will work too, but you have to be really thorough. , This will help dry out the mixture a bit.
While you massage the mixture, if you feel that there is not enough vegetable oil, then you should add more. , Just use a spoon to scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture in the center of every wrapper.
You don't have to use the exact same amount in every wrapper; just make sure you have enough to use for all 20 or so of the wrappers. , You should wet the edge of each wrapper with a damp finger and then fold the sides together, crimping (pressing together) the dough with your fingers to seal the contents inside.
To do this, first fold it in half and press together the top of the edge.
Then press each side together, while crimping it.
Simple mechanical "dumpling presses" are also available to simplify this process. , This will keep them from sticking to the surface and will make your dumplings ready to either boil or fry—it's your choice! , To make sure that they are thoroughly cooked, one method used in China is the "3 boil" method.
To do this, add the dumplings to boiling water, and return the water to a boil.
Then, add 1 or 2 cups of water (it can be cold or at room temperature).
Wait for it to boil the second time, then add water again.
After the water boils the third time, your dumplings should be good to go.
Alternately, you can boil the water, place the dumplings in it, wait for the water to return to a boil, and cook the dumplings for 10 more minutes at a simmer. , You can use a slotted spoon to take out the dumplings or close the lid over the pot and pour out the water before removing the dumplings.
Though they are done at this point, you can go for a boiling/frying combo if you'd like to transfer them to a skillet with hot oil and fry them for just a minute or two, until they're a bit crispy, for an added touch. , Serve these tasty dumplings while they're warm.
You can enjoy them with a dipping sauce of your choice. , You should cook about 8 dumplings at a time, if the size of the pan allows it.
Once the oil heats up, you should place the first 8 dumplings on the pan while trying to move them apart enough so that they don't stick together.,, Cover the skillet and let it steam until the water has completely evaporated.
Then, turn the heat back to medium to continue frying the dumplings. , Once you've finished frying these dumplings, remove them from the pan and place them on a plate with a paper towel on it to absorb the excess oil.
You can also remove the dumplings with a slotted spoon and shake the extra oil back into the pan. , Then, cook the remaining 12 or so dumplings in two batches.
Do exactly what you did with the previous batch of dumplings, adding more oil when necessary. , Serve the dumplings while they're warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
About the Author
Jean Hart
Writer and educator with a focus on practical practical skills knowledge.
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