The only type of dumplings I ever had growing up were boiled dumplings because my mom always said it was the healthiest and didn’t need any extra oil. It was also the fastest and easiest method to cook them when you’re whipping up a large batch to feed a family of 5! When I moved out from home, I learned how to pan-fry them from my fellow dumpling-loving friends. Pan-frying takes a little extra effort, but the yummy crunchiness is worth it. I find boiling is best for dumplings that have a filling with a stronger flavour such as my lamb and onion dumplings. Pan-frying is better in fillings with a lighter flavour such as these vegetable dumplings where you can notice the extra fried toastiness.
Every Asian household tends to have their own little variation in how they cook their dumplings and there are a few methods to cooking them. In this entry, I’m sharing the two ways I cook my dumplings: pan-fried and boiled.
You’ll need a flat wok or pan with a lid for this method. The method is essentially first steaming the dumplings with a bit of water and oil. The steam from the water cooks the filling and the skin of the dumpling, then the remaining oil cooks the bottom of the dumplings for crispiness. 👌
1. Heat up a flat wok or pan on MED heat. Add a drizzle of neutral oil and place the dumplings fat side down on top of the oil then add in 1cm of water.
Try not to crowd the dumplings so they don’t stick together and makes it easier to flip.
2. Put a lid on over the wok and let the dumplings steam.
3. Once all of the water evaporates, remove the lid and check the bottom of the dumplings for a golden brown colour and flip them over. If they’re not yet golden brown, continue cooking the dumplings.
4. Once the bottoms are golden brown, flip them over and cook the other side of the dumplings until golden brown. You can add a little oil to the pan so they brown up a little faster.
5. Serve while hot with your favourite dipping sauce!
This method is a lot more straight-forward. You’re essentially boiling the dumplings until the insides are cooked. Make sure your dumplings are sealed well, otherwise the filling will fall out in the boiling process. Try not to over boil it, or else the skin will become too soggy and break apart. If your dumplings are stuck together from the freezing process, just throw them in the pot altogether. Do not try to break them apart of else the skin will break. They will naturally separate in the pot.
1. In a large pot, fill 2/3 of the pot with water and bring it to a boil.
2. Once the water is boiling (we want a big boil where the water is moving vigorously, not just a simmer), gently drop in the dumplings, careful not to splash yourself!
3. When the water starts boiling again, add in a cup of cold water.
4. When the water starts boiling again, add in ANOTHER cup of cold water.
5. When the water boils a fourth time, the dumplings should be ready. The dumplings should be floating and you’ll see little pockets of air under the skin to signify the inside is cooked. If not, boil them for a little longer.
(See in the photo how the dumplings are floaty and pillowy with small pockets of air in them –>)
6. When the dumplings are cooked, strain them from the pot and transfer to a plate. Add a drizzle of sesame oil (or neutral oil) and mix it around to prevent them from sticking together. Serve with your favourite dumpling dipping sauce!
How do you know when dumplings are done? Most recipes will give you a time to cook them—the one I use says 10 minutes without a lid on the pot and then 10 minutes with a lid, so 20 minutes total in simmering soup broth. To test, take one out and open it up—if it's done in the middle, it's done.
How to pan-fry frozen dumplings. In a nonstick pan over medium-high heat, add ½ cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Place the frozen potstickers flat side-down and cover the pan with a lid for 8 to 12 minutes, until all the water has evaporated and the flat side of each potsticker is golden.
There are two general categories of Chinese dumplings. The crescent-shaped dumplings are called gao.And the more purse-shaped and round ones are called the bao.
Set your dumplings on the flat bottom of a large microwave-safe bowl so they're spaced out evenly. Then, just pour in enough water to cover the bottom half of the dumplings. Steaming in the microwave works great for cooking frozen dumplings if you don't have a steamer.
For boiled dumplings, bring a stockpot two-thirds full of water to a boil over high heat. Add uncooked dumplings and stir once to prevent them from sticking. Let water return to a boil, add 1 cup cold water, and return to a boil again. Repeat process 3 times, adding 4 cups cold water in all.
Do your dumpling calculation planning on about 20 dumplings per adult. It sounds like a lot, but this way you're properly prepared in the case of some broken dumplings, which there will likely be. Plus, it's always better to have a few extras than not enough!
I find boiling is best for dumplings that have a filling with a stronger flavour such as my lamb and onion dumplings. Pan-frying is better in fillings with a lighter flavour such as these vegetable dumplings where you can notice the extra fried toastiness.
Cover and simmer the dumplings over medium heat for 15 minutes. Turn the heat down on the stove so the liquid doesn't overflow the pot. Cover the pot to trap the remaining heat in, then set your timer. The dumplings will be soft and flavorful when they're done.
Dumplings: Mix 2 cups Bisquick and ⅔ cup milk until soft dough forms. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto stew (do not drop directly into liquid). Cook uncovered over low heat 10 minutes. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer.
Add 1/2 cup water, cover and cook for 3 minutes; uncover and cook until the liquid has evaporated completely and the bottoms are crisp and golden brown, about 2 more minutes. Repeat with remaining dumplings, adding more vegetable oil as needed. Serve immediately.
In a large, non-stick pan, heat 1-2 tbsp. of oil over medium heat. Place the dumplings in the pan and fry on both sides until golden brown (you will need to do this in batches). Once golden brown, add a few tablespoons of water and cover with a lid to steam for about 3-5 minutes until the pork is cooked through.
Dumplings such as siu mai and har gow have delicate skins so they should be packaged carefully. I freeze uncooked siu mai just like pot stickers but I store them in a freezer container. Har gow are usually precooked before being frozen, but their wheat starch-based wrappers require special handling.
Dumplings can be cooked in a variety of ways: simmered, steamed, poached, baked, pan- fried, deep fried, and broiled. Simmered or poached dump- lings are quite popular. In fact, most dumplings are initially cooked by poaching.
I find boiling is best for dumplings that have a filling with a stronger flavour such as my lamb and onion dumplings. Pan-frying is better in fillings with a lighter flavour such as these vegetable dumplings where you can notice the extra fried toastiness.
The best side dishes to serve with Asian dumplings (East Asia) are ramen, tomato and egg stir fry, fried greens, chilli miso steamed aubergine, pork belly fried rice, cucumber salad (Oi Muchim), tahini miso noodles, and claypot tofu.
Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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