Best Superfood Dumplings Recipes

PORK-AND-SHRIMP CHIVE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Make the filling: Heat the corn oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until caramelized, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bouillon powder, sugar, 1 tablespoon salt and the white pepper in a small bowl. Mix the pork, shrimp and potato starch in a large bowl, then stir in the seasoning mixture. Fold in the chives, sesame oil and the onion-garlic mixture. (Chinese chives, also called garlic chives, have a strong garlic flavor. It's worth seeking them out for this recipe.)
• Form the dumplings: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filling onto a potsticker wrapper. (Keep the remaining wrappers loosely covered with a damp paper towel as you work.) Dip a finger in water and run around the edge of the wrapper, then fold into a half moon; press the edges with your fingers. Transfer to a baking sheet and repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
• Pan-fry the dumplings in batches: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and coat with 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons corn oil. Add a single layer of dumplings and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on the bottom, 1 to 2 minutes. Carefully add enough water to the pan until it reaches about one-third of the way up the side of the dumplings. Loosely cover the skillet and cook until the water evaporates and the dumplings are cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Uncover the skillet, flip the dumplings and cook, adding more corn oil if needed, until golden brown on the other side, 1 to 2 more minutes.

CLEAR FRUIT DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the strawberry puree dipping sauce: Combine the strawberries, sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, then uncover and continue to cook until the mixture has the consistency of syrup and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender and blend on low speed until the mixture has a jam-like consistency, about 1 minute. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, pressing with a metal spoon. The sauce can be served at room temperature or refrigerated for about 30 minutes and served chilled.
• For the clear fruit dumplings: Combine the cold water, sugar and agar-agar powder in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to boil, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the butterfly pea flowers if using. Reduce to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar and agar-agar powder dissolve, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and discard the butterfly pea flowers with chopsticks or a spoon.
• Divide the mixture between two 9-inch square nonstick baking pans. Set aside at room temperature until the mixture sets into a firm jelly, about 30 minutes.
• Use a 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter to make 4 dumpling wrappers per pan, leaving them in place in the pans. Remove one round from the pan and place it in the palm of your hand. Place 3 teaspoons of the chopped fruits of your choice in the center of the round. Fold the wrapper over like a taco. Do not press down the edges or the dumpling will break. Place the dumpling on a serving plate and repeat with the remaining 7 dumpling wrappers, varying the combination of fruits as desired.
• Squeeze a couple of drops of lemon juice over the dumplings just before serving with the strawberry puree dipping sauce on the side.

VEGETABLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• In large bowl combine carrots, scallions, cabbage, garlic and ginger. Add bean sprouts. Stir and add egg white to bind. Spoon vegetable mixture in center of wonton wrapper. Wet edge of wrapper with fingertips. Pull sides up to form a bundle and pinch together to seal. Repeat with remaining filling. In a large pot of boiling, salted water add dumplings. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes until dumplings float to surface and are cooked through. Drain and serve with soy sauce for dipping.

PAP'S HAM AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the dumplings: Whisk together the eggs and milk in a large bowl. Mix in the flour, chives and nutmeg. Set aside to rest until ready to use.
• For the ham, cabbage and sauerkraut: Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and ham steak and cook until the onions begin to sweat, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the cabbage with the coriander, red pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt and cook until the cabbage begins to melt and break down, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beer, turkey stock and sauerkraut, bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Spread the dumpling batter in a line down the back of a sheet tray or small cutting board. Dip a bench scraper in the boiling water, then use it to "cut" the dumplings into the pot, dipping the bench scraper in the boiling water in between each cut. Cook the dumplings until they begin to float to the surface, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the dumplings to the Dutch oven with the cabbage. Mix in the parsley and mustard and any additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve.