Spicy Pork And Spinach Dumplings With Soy 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.)

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.

SIMPLE SOY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Add a pinch of hot red pepper flakes if you like heat.

JADE DUMPLINGS WITH SOY-SESAME DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• For dipping sauce:
• Stir all ingredients in small bowl to blend.
• For dumplings:
• Finely mince ginger and garlic in food processor. Add asparagus and next 5 ingredients; using on/off turns, process until asparagus is finely chopped but not pureed.
• Sprinkle baking sheet with flour. Place 1 wonton wrapper on work surface. Spoon 2 teaspoons asparagus mixture into center. Moisten edges of wrapper with water; gather corners together over filling. Twist edges of wrapper together, enclosing filling completely. Place dumpling on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. (Sauce and dumplings can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
• Place steamer rack in large pot. Pour enough water into pot to reach depth of 1/2 inch. Line steamer rack with lettuce leaves. Bring water to simmer. Working in batches, arrange dumplings side by side (but not touching) on rack. Cover and steam 15 minutes.
• Serve dumplings with dipping sauce.

SHRIMP AND SPINACH DUMPLINGS WITH ASIAN DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Cook spinach in 1 inch simmering water in a small saucepan, stirring, until wilted, about 5 seconds. Drain in a sieve and rinse under cold water until cool. Squeeze to remove as much moisture as possible. Finely chop spinach and stir with remaining filling ingredients until blended.
• Fill wrappers and steam dumplings:
• Stack a few wonton wrappers (keep remaining wrappers covered) and cut into rounds with a 2 1/2-inch cutter. Spread 1 slightly rounded teaspoon filling onto each round, spreading up to but not over edge. Bring up edge of each round, pleating to form a cup and leaving open at top.
• Bring enough water to a boil in a wok so that bottom rim of steamer (not basket) rests in water. Line steamer rack with lettuce. Arrange dumplings over lettuce, making sure dumplings do not touch each other. Cover with steamer lid and steam until filling is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Make dipping sauce:
• Stir together all sauce ingredients.