Pages

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Dumplings: like little Humpty-Dumptys

Note:  I've been nominated for Babble's 100 Top Food Blogs!  I have 21 more votes to get into the top 50.  If you like what I've done here, would you follow the side link to Babble and vote for me?  I am on page #2 "Snippets of Thyme"




It's always fun to bake cookies with your kids. However, when you have teenagers, the sands of tradition shift somewhat.  Somewhat? O.K., they shift greatly.  Would  teen parents agree?  So many good changes come with having teens in the house like "Sweetheart, can you run to the store for milk and eggs?"  

They are  wanting to feel independent.  They crave traditions but want to break free at the same time.  I thought I would lure one of my kids into the kitchen by proposing we make something that seems exotic and foreign to our table.  

It worked.  I had a great afternoon making one of my daughter's favorite foods - dumplings.


We love all types of Asian foods.  I do, however, feel intimidated to recreate these dishes in my kitchen. I saw these dumplings on a food blog that I admire, Almost Bourdain, and decided this will be our first foray into Asian cooking.









Ginger root, like my beloved vanilla bean, is becoming another scent that tickles and delights my nose.  Fresh ginger is now a must in my kitchen.  I always fretted about buying a ginger root and then not using all of it and throwing it away.  I learned recently that you can freeze ginger and use more of it as needed.  Cool.


The filling was a combination of pork and shrimp.  This was an unusual pairing for us but these little bundles have a delicious flavor.  Making the petite dumplings was a good pick to do with my daughter. At this point, making cookies can seem a bit childish.  The dumplings have all of the "cuteness" factor of cookies but look exotic, foreign, and sophisticated for a teen.



Folding them was so easy and fun!  We giggled over the little pillow bundles that piled up.  We reminisced about when we lived in Japan.  So many times we gathered with our Japanese friends and made all sorts of origami flowers, birds, and shapes.  


Folding the little dumpling wrappers around the filling seemed daunting at first.  We carefully followed the step-by-step directions that Almost Bourdain included in her blog post.  After the first few awkward looking dumplings, we clipped along watching them pile up ready to be boiled.



This could become a new tradition in our house.  Dumplings are quick and easy to make but most of all, they are fun to assemble!  They could easily be made ahead of time and just pulled out ready to boil when guests arrive.  









Szechuan Red Oil Wonton  Recipe
Makes 24 (Serves 6)
Ingredients:
24 wonton wrappers
2 tbsp chopped spring onions
Wonton fillings:
150 g pork mince (or 75 g pork mince and 75 g chopped or minced prawns)
1 tbsp chopped spring onions
1/2 egg, lightly beaten
1.2 tsp grated ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp Shaoxing wine
Dash of white pepper
Dipping Sauce:
3 tbsp Szechuan chilli oil
2 tsp minced garlic
5 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp Chinkiang black rice vinegar (Snippet's Notes:  I couldn't find this "black" variety so I used regular rice vinegar and they tasted good)
1/2 tsp ground Szechuan pepper
1 tsp castor sugar


To Make Wonton Filling:
Mix all ingredients until well combined.


To Cook Wontons:
Heat a big pan of water until it's boiling. Drop a few wontons at a time and cook for 3-4 minutes until the filling is cooked (Dumpling will surface and float on top of the boiling water). Remove and set aside to keep warm. Repeat until all wontons are cooked.


17 comments:

  1. Dumplings are so fun to make (and even more fun to eat), but I never think to, and I don't know why! Thanks for reminding me that I need to get my dumpling on more often -- yours look delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Agreed - it is a lovely thing when teenagers start to turn into the people they are going to be...
    Those chopsticks are beautiful - they remind me of a set I brought back from China - that I always seem to forget that I have.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So beautiful Sarah! I'll bet delicious too. Best of luck with your nomination - you certainly have my vote!

    ReplyDelete
  4. A simply delicious post!!
    fabulous images too!!!!!
    xox
    lila

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is my favorite post thus far. I love picturing the kiddos (or Patrick) working in the kitchen with you. And I know how precious your time in Japan was for everyone. :-)

    And can we make these when the girls and I visit? :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think you did a good job with the dumplings! P.S. I voted. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. oh wow! i had no idea this was how to make these! I'm definitely saving this recipe -thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I grew up with dumplings. I loved the ones my Mom used to make. I have always thought they are hard to make so I never tried. Yours look delicious. You gave it a new light, maybe I will try it too. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love dumplings, they look gorgeous :) You captured everything perfectly, i'm off to vote now...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good luck with the nomination! These dumplings look absolutely perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank-you for this! The visuals are so helpful when even thinking of making such delicacies!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a stunning job you all did! The dumplings look beautiful, and most of all, absolutely delicious =)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gorgeous dumplings... and clicks too :D...
    Good luck with the nomination :D

    ReplyDelete
  14. What cute little things :) I love the photos of all the details. I bet Tastespotting and Foodgawker are changing their minds about your photos now:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. You have such a brave kitchen spirit!!! These dumplings look delectable!
    xo J~

    ReplyDelete
  16. Holy moly these look so good!!!
    I must remember to always come here AFTER I have had something to eat. That little bowl of cereal I had an hour ago is so long gone, now I am wanting to eat my computer screen.

    These are simply gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mesmerizers!!! Sarah, you make me want to have this right NOW! They look truly delicious and I hope this first step into Asian cooking is going to be followed by many more!

    ReplyDelete

How wonderful to hear from new friends...