In the Kitchen: Basic Chinese dumplings {recipe}

September 16, 2010

I love dumplings.

Yes, I love dumplings of almost any size, shape, and ethnicity (gyoza, veriniki, pierogies, etc.).  I particularly like savory dumplings and fried dumplings are the best (though you’ll find this recipe below actually uses light frying and steaming).
My friend, Kent was visiting Singapore and he was gracious enough to teach me how to make Chinese style pork dumplings from scratch (I’ve added a few seasoning revisions).  He learned this recipe from his grandmother and mom and was a pro at making this at our house parties in France and Singapore.
Freshly fried, homemade dumplings are so seriously delicious.
If you ever have a few friends over, I’d recommend this as a fun and edible activity (the dough part is actually a bit tedious since it needs to be kneaded smooth).

Basic Chinese Dumplings (makes about 30-50 dumplings depending on the size of your wrappers)

Ingredients:
  •  1.5 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup water plus up to 1/3 cup of water for steaming each batch
  • 1/8 cup canola oil plus 1-2 tablespoons for cooking each batch
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  •  3/4 pound pork or other meat
  • 1/2 inch ginger (minced)
  • 1 stalk green onion/scallion (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce plus 2 tablespoons for sauce
  • 1.5 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon rice wine
Note: Feel free to add chopped cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, eggs, tofu etc. to balance out or replace the meat
Tip: Don’t have time to make the dumpling wrappers?  Save a few hours and grab a pack from a Chinese or Asian supermarket – note that many store made dumpling wrappers tend to be thin so be careful!
Tools
  • Large mixing bowl
  • small bowl for sauce
  • chopping board
  • floured surface or cutting board for rolling wrappers
  • plates for holding freshly wrapped dumplings
  • rolling pin
  • skillet
  • cover for skillet
Preparation
Dough prep
1. Make the dough by combining first 4 ingredients (only half of salt) in a large bowl.  Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are combined.
2. Create a large ball of dough with some flour at the periphery of your kneading surface.
3. Knead dough with palm of hand – spread dough with the heel of your hand from the middle and upward so dough is spread thin
4. Continue until dough is smooth.  This make take up to 10 – 15 minutes.

5. Roll dough into several (our case 4) logs about 3/4 inch thick and about 10″ long.

6. Cover dough to keep moist.

Meat prep

7. Mix pork, remaining salt, sesame oil, and about 80% of the ginger, scallion, two tablespoons of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and rice wine.

8. Cover mixture and keep it ready.

Dumpling assembly

9. Cut off about 1.5 – 2″ of dough from a log.

10.Roll into a ball form. Use a floured rolling surface and rolling pin to flatten and roll out the dough.  Roll outward from center and flip over.

11. Gather a bit more of a tablespoon of meat (too much will make the dumpling first so start small and add a bit) into the center of the rolled skin. Start folding dumpling into a crescent shape by gathering the circle, folding in half, and pinching at the top.

12. Form small pleats by gathering 1/4″ of dough and pushing towards other side to create a fold.

13.Pleat both sides and place on a tray/plate (ok there were circular shapes thrown in for fun).
Cooking
14. Heat up your skillet on medium heat and pour in the tablespoon of oil.

15. Place dumplings in a circular pattern.

16. Pour in 1/8 – 1/4 cup water (1/8 cup at a time).  Water will dissipate in a few seconds.  Pour in remaining water and cover for about 5 minutes.

17. Voila – freshly cooked dumplings in a few minutes!

Sauce assembly
18. Combine remaining soy sauce, ginger, scallions, and dash of sugar to create the sauce.

Dip, eat, and enjoy!

little luxury list

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  • shari @ little blue deer September 16, 2010 at 10:19

    Oh, yummy and fun! I went to a sushi-making party once, it was so cool! This would be great, especially for fall! XX!

  • anna and the ring September 16, 2010 at 10:40

    Yum! So going to try this out (well maybe after the wedding!)

  • Ines September 16, 2010 at 12:03

    Amazing!

  • BigAppleNosh September 16, 2010 at 12:28

    Yum! I love making dumplings, so nostalgic! 🙂

  • Erika ~TiptoeButterfly~ September 16, 2010 at 12:41

    looks SUPER yum! – i wouldn’t make mine with meat tho – not really a fan – i’m a seafood or veggie girl :o)

  • Tanvi September 16, 2010 at 13:22

    this sounds relatively easy to make. I haven’t tried my hand at it. Will do now Thanks!

  • PartyPlannerGal September 16, 2010 at 13:26

    Wow, those look amazing! I think I’ll have dim sum for lunch now 🙂

  • Fashion, Art and other fancies September 16, 2010 at 13:34

    One of my favourite – boiled and fried dumplings of the West Indies ( Caribbean ).
    Am hopeless at making dumplings, though;-)

  • Couture Carrie September 16, 2010 at 13:36

    So yummy, darling!
    Thanks for the recipe!

    xoxox,
    CC

  • Fashion, Art and other fancies September 16, 2010 at 14:03

    One of my favourite – boiled and fried dumplings of the West Indies ( Caribbean ).
    Am hopeless at making dumplings, though;-)

  • Jaime @ La vie...J'aime September 16, 2010 at 14:47

    Yummy- I love them too! So impressed you made them from scratch!!

  • Salt September 16, 2010 at 15:03

    Those are beautiful! They sound easy, but I’m sure I will find a way to make them into some kind of disaster.

    LOVE dumplings though!

  • Brunch at Saks September 16, 2010 at 16:01

    Wow these look delicious!!! Great job making them from scratch too! xoxo

  • honey my heart September 16, 2010 at 16:12

    the dumplings look so delicious, great job!

  • Erika September 16, 2010 at 17:10

    I am definitely going to make these – or at least attempt to make these. I LOVE dumplings!! 🙂

  • Café Bellini September 16, 2010 at 18:08

    OMG how yum!!! I adore dumplings, too, but I’ve never made them myself.

  • drollgirl September 16, 2010 at 20:32

    YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!!!!

    i wish i was eating these right now!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • The Girlie Blog September 16, 2010 at 20:42

    Love dumplings! I’ve been looking for a good recipe.

  • this free bird September 16, 2010 at 21:28

    did someone say dumplings?? yes please!! i’m ukrainian and make homemade pierogies all the time. yummy!! these look divine.

    xoxo,
    carrie

  • E September 17, 2010 at 01:30

    Totally saving this recipe. I love dumplings and these look sooo delicious!

  • MizzJ September 17, 2010 at 06:55

    Mmm am drooling now! Those look delicious and fun to make.

  • Pratishtha Durga September 17, 2010 at 08:23

    From one dumpling fan to another… This is such a delicious post. It’s lunch time, and I am hungry, looking at these pictures. Take care, and have a great weekend.

  • PearlsAndGreenTea September 17, 2010 at 12:50

    wow..you even make your own dough! I usually just buy them but these look delish!

    http://pearlsandgreentea.blogspot.com

  • THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE September 17, 2010 at 15:29

    YUM!!! I’m so going to give this a shot. Hope I can do it 🙂

  • Jay September 18, 2010 at 07:27

    Wow, I LOVE dumplings and these look stunning.
    I bet they taste as good as they look!!

    Jay Rowden – Photographer

  • Jessica September 20, 2010 at 11:26

    These look so tasty – I’ve added this post to my recipe folder. Now I need to remember to make them!

  • Miranda September 20, 2010 at 19:01
  • Mrs T September 21, 2010 at 05:26

    I LOVE dumplings. These look so good. But I think I am too lazy – maybe you can make them for me?

  • […] http://www.chicncheapliving.com/2010/09/recipe-basic-chinese-dumplings.html – and this is the lovely blog from which I got this delicious recipe. Try it. It’s awesome. […]

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