This is the classic Chinese dumpling, loosely based on the recipe of Ben Wang – Burlington’s own master dumpling maker. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture. I guess I will have to make them again soon so I can. Oh, too bad!
Makes 50 or so
2 cups Napa cabbage, sliced finely and chopped coarsely
1 t salt
½ t baking soda
bring 2 quarts of water to a boil
boil cabbage, rinse with cold water, drain and gently press
1 lb ground pork
3 shallots, minced
1 egg
1 t salt
1 T sugar
1 T ginger, minced
1 T rice wine
1 T soy sauce
1 T sesame oil
combine all and stir
The filling can be prepared the day before and kept in the refrigerator.
Take 1 package round wonton wrappers out of the freezer at least one hour before you are ready to start making the dumplings.
To make the dumplings:
Shortly before you are ready to steam them, make the dumplings. Hold the dumpling wrapper in the palm of your hand and place one rounded teaspoon of filling in the center. Wet the edges of the wrapper with water and fold in half, pressing the two sides together – making a half circle. There are many fancier ways to wrap these, but difficult to explain without pictures. Google “how to wrap pork dumplings” and look at images.
You can put wax paper between layers if you want to stack them.
Fill the pan under the steamer with enough water to almost reach the bottom of the steamer basket and begin heating. Lightly oil your steamer basket and place dumplings in basket ½ inch apart. When the water is getting close to boiling lower steamer into pan, cover and steam until the dumplings are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
Serve with Ginger-Soy Dipping Sauce.