Shao Mai Pork Dumplings Wtih Spicy Dipping Sauce Food

PORK DUMPLINGS WITH SOY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim away top of onion, then cut in half, leaving the root intact; peel away and discard the skin. Lay halves flat on a cutting board, then make vertical slices, stopping at the root so the onion half stays intact. Then slice crosswise to a small, uniform dice. Place in a bowl and set aside. Smash, peel, and finely mince garlic. Add to the bowl with the onions. Use a peeler or spoon to remove ginger skin. Slice into thin coins, then julienne as thinly as possible. Cut crosswise to mince. Add to bowl with onions and garlic.
• In a large sauté pan, heat 1 teaspoon of oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions, garlic, ginger, a pinch of salt, and a few cranks of black pepper until slightly caramelized, 4-5 minutes. Meanwhile, finely mince garlic chives. Stir aromatics, then cook 1-2 more minutes.Make the dipping sauce: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and brown sugar. Whisk to combine. Add star anise and set aside. Add minced chives and another pinch of salt to the aromatics. Cook until chives begin to soften, about 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a plate or bowl to cool completely, 30 minutes. (Alternatively, cool in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.)
• Once the aromatics have cooled, finish the dumpling filling: In a large bowl, add pork. Place tofu in a small strainer set over a second bowl; use a wooden spoon to gently press excess water out of the tofu. Add drained tofu to the pork, along with the aromatics, hoisin sauce, salt and pepper. Mix well. (Use your hands for quicker, more even mixing.) In a skillet, heat ½ teaspoon oil over medium heat. Cook a small patty of the dumpling filling; taste and adjust seasoning with hoisin sauce or salt as needed.
• Fill and fold dumplings: Fill a small bowl with water and place it nearby. Place a tablespoon of filling in a wrapper. Use your finger to "paint" a little water halfway around the edge of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper shut and pinch to close, making a half moon shape. (Optional: Make a pleat in the middle, or pleat all the way around.) Wrapper edges should be flush and completely sealed, and there should be no air bubbles in the dumpling. Place each finished dumpling on a sheet pan, and repeat until you've used all the filling. (Optional: Freeze any dumpling mixture you want to save for another time; defrost before using.) To store uncooked dumplings, place in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze completely; then pack them into plastic freezer bags. Frozen dumplings will last 2-3 weeks. (Note: They do not refrigerate well.)
• Cook dumplings: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add just enough oil to coat the bottom, about 1 tablespoon. Add dumplings in an even layer, about 10. Brown the dumplings on one side, 2-3 minutes. Then carefully add about ¼ inch of water, and immediately place the lid on top of the pan; steam until nearly all the water evaporates, 3-5 minutes. Remove the cover and allow the dumplings to fry again, just long enough to fully brown. Once they are fully browned, flip to slightly crisp the other side, about a minute. Plate and serve the dumplings immediately with dipping sauce. (Note: To cook frozen dumplings, follow the same procedure, but with slightly more water so they steam a little longer and cook through.)

SHAO MAI (PORK DUMPLINGS) WTIH SPICY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• In a food processor, fitted with a metal blade, combine the pork, garlic, green onions, water chestnuts, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, ginger, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Place a dumpling wrapper in the palm of one hand and cup it loosely. Wet the edges of the wrapper with your free finger and then place a generous tablespoon of filling in the center of the wrapper. With your free hand, pinch the wrapper in the middle around the filling, and press the dumpling closed down each side. Tap the dumpling to flatten the bottom so that it can stand upright. Repeat the process to make the remaining dumplings in the same manner. STEAM: Line a large steamer with the cabbage leaves. Place the steamer in a wok. Fill the wok with enough water to touch the bottom of the basket. Cover the steamer and steam for a couple of minutes to steam the cabbage leaves. Arrange the dumplings on the leaves and cook until the dumplings are tender, about 6 to 8 minutes, or translucent in color. Serve the warm dumpling with spicy sauce. PAN-FRY: Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a skillet on medium heat. Arrange the dumplings in the pan and cook until the bottoms are nicely browned. (Cook in batches to avoid dumplings touching each other in the pan). Knock over the dumplings. Add 1/3 cup of water to the pan. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for five minutes. Remove cover. If there's still liquid in the pan, continue cooking uncovered until the liquid evaporates. Transfer to a plate and serve with dipping sauce. SPICY DIPPING SAUCE Combine all ingredients (soy, vinegar, chili, sugar and garlic) in bowl and serve with dumplings.

SHAO MAI (PORK DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Combine the pork, water chestnuts, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, sugar, ginger, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well to combine (hands work well for this). Place a dumpling wrapper in the palm of one hand and cup it loosely. Place a generous tablespoon of filling in the center of the wrapper. With your free hand, gather the sides of the wrapper around the filling, letting the wrapper pleat naturally. Squeeze the middle gently and tap the dumpling to flatten the bottom so that it can stand upright. The meat filling will show a little at the top. Make the remaining dumplings in the same manner.
• Arrange filled dumplings about 1/4 inch apart in two steamer trays that have been lined with wet cheesecloth. (At this point, you can refrigerate dumplings, covered, for 24 hours.)
• When ready to steam, fill a wok or lower part of a steamer with water so that it comes within an inch of the steamer tray, and bring to a rolling boil. Stack the steamer trays in the wok or steamer, cover tightly, and steam dumplings for 20-25 minutes over high heat, reversing the trays after 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer dumplings to a platter and serve with Spicy Dipping Sauce.
• Combine ingredients in a small bowl and serve with Pork Dumplings.

SICHUAN BOILED DUMPLINGS WITH SPICY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Editor's Note: Hot bean paste is a savory, spicy combination of fermented soybeans and chiles. Look for jars at Asian markets.
• For the filling, combine the pork, shrimp, soy sauce, vegetable oil, cilantro, scallion, mushroom, sesame oil, white pepper, and 1/3 cup water in a medium bowl. Mix well. Cover, and freeze for 1 hour (or refrigerate overnight) to firm the mixture and make it easier to handle.
• Dissolve the cornstarch in 3 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl to make a paste. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and sprinkle it with cornstarch. Moisten the edges of a dumpling wrapper by dipping your finger into the paste and running it over the edge of the wrapper. Using a blunt knife as a scoop, place about a tablespoon of the filling in the center of the wrapper. Bring the edges of the wrapper up to meet at the top of the filling and pinch them closed, squeezing the dough. Place the dumpling on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining filling and wrappers. (The uncooked dumplings can be made ahead, covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerated for up to 1 day. Or freeze them for up to 3 months. To freeze, place them in a single layer in a plastic storage container or plastic storage bag, arranged so that the dumplings don't touch one another. When you are ready to cook them, the frozen dumplings will be easy to remove, one by one.).
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add the dumplings and cover the pan. Cook until the filling is cooked through and the dumplings are floating on top of the water, about 4 minutes.
• While the dumplings are cooking, make the sauce: Heat a wok or medium skillet over high heat. Add the oil and heat until it shimmers. Add the scallions, garlic, and black pepper, and stir-fry for 20 seconds. Transfer to a small bowl. Add the sugar, vinegar, hot bean paste, soy sauce, sesame oil, and hot chile oil to the scallions, and mix well. Divide the sauce among four soup bowls.
• Carefully drain the dumplings in a colander. Place the dumplings on top of the sauce in the bowls, and serve immediately.

STEAMED PORK DUMPLINGS WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix first seven ingredients (pork through ginger). Place 2 teaspoons mixture in each wrapper. Fold in half, and pinch edges with tucks to form a standing half-moon shape. Seal the edges with a bit of cold water.
• Place the dumplings on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper and refrigerate.
• Oil the steamer, or line the bottom with cabbage leaves so the dumplings won't stick. Place dumplings in steamer, and steam at medium heat for 20 minutes. Makes 46 dumplings. Drizzle with Garlic-Soy Dipping Sauce. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and cilantro, if desired.
• To make Garlic-Soy Dipping Sauce, combine ingredients and stir. Let stand 5-10 minutes before using to give the garlic time to permeate the soy sauce.