Tofu Vegetable Dumplings Food

VEGETARIAN STEAMED DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Cut the tofu in half horizontally and lay between layers of paper towels. Place on a plate, top with another plate, and place a weight on top (a 14-ounce can of vegetables works well). Let stand 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, cut the tofu into 1/4-inch cubes and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the carrots, cabbage, red pepper, scallions, ginger, cilantro, soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, egg, salt, and pepper. Lightly stir to combine.
• To form the dumplings, remove 1 wonton wrapper from the package, covering the others with a damp cloth. Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with water. Place 1/2 rounded teaspoon of the tofu mixture in the center of the wrapper. Shape as desired. Set on a sheet pan and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat procedure until all of the filling is gone.
• Using a steaming apparatus of your choice, bring 1/4 to 1/2-inch of water to a simmer over medium heat. Spray the steamer's surface lightly with the non-stick vegetable spray to prevent sticking. Place as many dumplings as will fit into a steamer, without touching each other. Cover and steam for 10 to 12 minutes over medium heat. Remove the dumplings from the steamer to a heatproof platter and place in oven to keep warm. Repeat until all dumplings are cooked.

VEGETABLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger and sesame oil (if using) until the sugar dissolves. Cover and set aside.
• Make the filling for the dumplings: In another small bowl, stir together the scallions, soy sauce, hoisin sauce and ginger. Add 2 teaspoons canola oil to a large nonstick frying pan. Turn the heat to medium and warm up the oil for 2 minutes. Carefully add the cabbage, mushrooms and carrot and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the scallion mixture and stir to combine. Transfer the dumpling filling to a medium bowl and let cool to room temperature. Wipe out the pan or clean it if necessary.
• Once the filling has cooled, assemble the dumplings: Put 1 cup water in a medium bowl. Sprinkle a large rimmed baking sheet with 2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch, using your fingers to evenly distribute it.
• Lay 1 wonton wrapper on a clean work surface. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the dumpling filling in the center of the wrapper. Dip your fingers in the water and lightly moisten the edges of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper in half (if using squares, fold the wrapper in half diagonally to form a triangle) and press the edges together to seal. Place the dumpling on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with additional wrappers and the remaining filling until you've used up all the filling. (At this point, you can freeze some of the dumplings in a single layer on the baking sheet. Once they are frozen, transfer them to a resealable plastic bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Don't thaw them before cooking, but add a few minutes to the cooking time.)
• Cook the dumplings: Brush the same frying pan with 2 teaspoons canola oil, set the pan over medium heat and warm up the oil for 2 minutes. Adding one dumpling at a time but working quickly, dust off excess cornstarch and add as many dumplings as will comfortably fit in a single layer in the pan (don't crowd them or they won't cook evenly). Let cook (no stirring!) until browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs, gently flip the dumplings. Carefully pour about 1/2 cup water into the pan (it will bubble up and steam!). Cover and cook until the water is mostly absorbed, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the dumplings to a serving platter and cover lightly with aluminum foil to keep warm. Repeat to cook the remaining dumplings, brushing the pan with 2 teaspoons canola oil before each batch.
• Serve dumplings warm, with the dipping sauce.

TOFU VEGETABLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Place shitake mushrooms in heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water, and set aside for 20 minutes. Drain, freezing liquid for your next batch of veggie broth. Remove and toss stems in compost. Mince mushrooms.
• In saucepan on medium-low heat, combine the shitake, garlic, ginger, anise, carrots, fresh mushrooms, bok choy and oil. Cover and cook for 5 minutes stirring frequently.
• Meanwhile, mix crumbled tofu, soy sauce, scallions and hoison sauce in a bowl.
• Add tofu mixture to saucepan and cook for 3 minutes, mixing everything.
• Assemble your dumplings. Moisten the outer edges of a wrapper. Place a rounded teaspoon of tofu-vegetable mixture in center of it. Fold one corner of wrapper over to the diagonally opposite corner to form a triangle. Press edges together to seal the dumpling. This can be done quickly with friends assembly line style.
• Place filled dumplings on a large platter and cover with plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.
• Cook dumplings in one of the following ways: Gently simmer dumpings in broth (such as miso) for 5 minutes. OR saute them in a skillet prepared with 1/2 teaspoon of oil for 2 minutes on each side. Pour in 1/4 cup water, cover and steam for 4 minutes. OR Steam the dumplings in a steamer basket over boiling water for 7 minutes.