Friday, March 4, 2016

Steamed Chinese Pork Dumplings

 
 
 
Dear Readers, thank you for taking the time to stop by my little corner of the world that has been really quiet lately.  Today I bring to you a recipe for Pork Dumplings.  You will love it because you can make it up in a flash in a bamboo steamer.  They are delicious and such a fun treat to make.
 
Years ago I received a steamer from a co-worker for a wedding present.  As the years went by, and we had many moves, it disappeared.  I never, ever used the steamer.  Recently I dropped by World Market and picked a steamer up to make some Pork Dumplings for a Chinese Feast we were holding.
 


Chinese Pork Dumplings
Inspired by Leeann Chin, author of Betty Crocker's Chinese Cookbook; we have used her recipes for years.
 
 
Pork Dumplings:
 
1 pound ground pork
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (include some green)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 egg white
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt (depending on whether salt has been added to pork)
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Round wonton skins
 
Sauce
 
Note:  We have also used Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce
1/4 cup light soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
 
In a medium-sized bowl, mix the pork, onion, cilantro, egg white, corn starch, salt, soy sauce, sesame oil and ground pepper.  Mix well.
 
Place one tablespoon pork mixture in the center of the circle.  Bring edges of the wontons up around the pork mixture, pleating the wontons as you work around the pork; leave the top open.  Note:  If you do not pleat enough the wonton skin will pull away from the pork as it steams.
 
 
Here is a picture of the pleating process.  Don't worry.  The process goes quite quickly.
 

 
Place steamer in a non-electric wok.



 
Place a single layer of lettuce in the bottom of the steamer; the lettuce will help so that the dumplings will not stick to the bamboo steamer.  You can also buy liners for this purpose, but lettuce works just fine.  



 
Add water to the bottom of the wok, making sure that the water level does not reach the bottom of the bamboo steamer.  Bring the water to a boil and then add the covered bamboo steamer.  Steam for about 15 to 18 minutes until pork is done.  You will have to add more water.
 
The dumplings happily cooking in the steamer.
 
 
 
I hope you try making these dumplings, and I hope you try cooking with a steamer.  Thank you for dropping by my Red Couch.
 
 



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