This is a generational recipe that is great to try with your family on a weekend. This is a great dish for an appetizer or snack.
Dumplings provide a great source of protein and are low in fat.
Ingredients
Dumplings
Dumpling-Wrappers
- 1 (16-oz) package round wheat dumpling wrappers (preferably Twin Marquis brand)
Napa-Cabbage
- 8 leaves (about 4 cups), thinly sliced
Salt
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
Chives
- 1 cup (can use garlic chives), minced
Ginger
- 1 Tablespoon, minced
Pork
- 1 lbs ground pork(try to find 96% lean; alternately use ½ pound ground pork and ½ lbs shrimp, chopped)
Soy-Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce Low Sodium
Sesame-Oil
- 2 teaspoons
Dipping-Sauce
Scallions
- 2, white and green parts finely chopped (about 2 Tablespoons)
Garlic
- 1 medium clove, minced
Sugar
- ½ teaspoon
Black-Chinkiang-Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons (can substitute Balsamic vinegar)
Soy-Sauce
- 1½ Tablespoons Soy Sauce Low Sodium
Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Canola OR other vegetable oil
Sesame-Oil
- 1 Tablespoon
Chili-Oil
- 1 Tablespoon (optional)
Black-Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper(optional)
Sriracha
- 1 Tablespoon (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Thinly slice cabbage and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the salt and toss well. Set aside for 10 minutes.
Step 2
Chop chives and mince ginger.
Step 3
Add chives, ginger, pork (and shrimp if using), soy sauce and sesame oil. Mix thoroughly with your hands until well combined. Set aside.
Step 4
Take the cabbage in your hands and squeeze as hard as you can. You will be amazed by the amount of water that comes out. Squeeze out as much water as you can.
Step 5
Add the cabbage to the pork mixture and mix again.
Step 6
Fill a small bowl with warm water. Put a stock pot of water on high and bring to a boil.
Step 7
Lay a dumpling wrapper on a clean work surface and scoop about 1 tablespoon of the filling into the center of the wrapper.
Step 8
Dip your finger in the water and paint all around the edge of the wrapper to moisten. Fold the wrapper over in half to look like a half-moon. Pinch just the top of the wrapper together, leaving the sides exposed and open.
Step 9
Start pleating the left side of the dumpling: hold the dumpling on the top, fold a pleat on one side of the wrapper about halfway down the arc toward the center of the dumpling and press it into the facing side of the wrapper.
Step 10
Repeat the pleating almost to the bottom of the arc so that you have two pleats on the left side of the dumpling.
Step 11
Repeat the pleating process on the right side of the dumpling, again pleating toward the center.
Step 12
When the dumpling is completely pleated, you should be able to sit the dumpling on its bottom and it will look like a little love seat. The smooth side of the dumpling will be the seat and the pleated side will be the back of the couch.
Step 13
Continue with the rest of the dumpling wrappers and filling until the filling has been used up.
Step 14
Drop the dumplings a few at a time into the boiling water. Cook them until they float and are cooked through. (The internal temperature should reach 165°F.) Remove from water with a slotted spoon and repeat until all dumplings are cooked.
Step 15
o make the dipping sauce, chop the scallions finely (or use kitchen scissors to cut). Mix all remaining sauce ingredients together.
Step 16
Dip dumplings in sauce and enjoy!
Notes
A link to the suggested dumpling wrappers: HERE
To reduce sodium (salt) choose low sodium soy sauce, omitting the soy sauce, or don't use dipping sauce at all. The dumplings are delicious on their own! Sodium will also likely be lower than stated, as much of the added kosher salt will be removed when squeezing out the cabbage.
Basic Dipping Sauce Nutrition Information (amount per serving based on 7 servings): Calories 39 | Fat 3.9g | Saturated Fat 0.4g | Sodium 149mg | Carbohydrates 0.9g | Fiber 0.1g | Protein 0.4g