Fromage Blanc Dumplings Recipes

HERBED FROMAGE BLANC

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the fromage blanc, sour cream, scallions, dill, chives, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour (or overnight) for the flavors to blend. Serve in a small bowl surrounded by crackers and/or fresh vegetables like crudites.

PORK-AND-SHRIMP CHIVE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Make the filling: Heat the corn oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until caramelized, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bouillon powder, sugar, 1 tablespoon salt and the white pepper in a small bowl. Mix the pork, shrimp and potato starch in a large bowl, then stir in the seasoning mixture. Fold in the chives, sesame oil and the onion-garlic mixture. (Chinese chives, also called garlic chives, have a strong garlic flavor. It's worth seeking them out for this recipe.)
• Form the dumplings: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filling onto a potsticker wrapper. (Keep the remaining wrappers loosely covered with a damp paper towel as you work.) Dip a finger in water and run around the edge of the wrapper, then fold into a half moon; press the edges with your fingers. Transfer to a baking sheet and repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
• Pan-fry the dumplings in batches: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and coat with 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons corn oil. Add a single layer of dumplings and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on the bottom, 1 to 2 minutes. Carefully add enough water to the pan until it reaches about one-third of the way up the side of the dumplings. Loosely cover the skillet and cook until the water evaporates and the dumplings are cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Uncover the skillet, flip the dumplings and cook, adding more corn oil if needed, until golden brown on the other side, 1 to 2 more minutes.

FROMAGE BLANC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine first four ingredients until well coated with butter. Press into bottom of 4 inch ring molds. Chill.
• Combine 1/2 cup sugar and fromage blanc in large bowl, whisk over a hot water bath until sugar has dissolved. Squeeze all water out of gelatin sheets and add to warm fromage mixture, stir until gelatin has dissolved. Cool slightly over a water bath until slightly thickened. Whip yolks in mixer with second 1/2 cup of sugar until thick and pale, fold into fromage mixture. Carefully fold in whipped cream. Fill 4-inch ring molds, smooth tops and chill until set.
• Serve with strawberry mint salsa.
• Bring sugar and water to a boil in a heavy sauce pan. Brush down sides of pan with a water to prevent sugar from crystallizing. Cook until amber in color and water has evaporated. Carefully stir in butter with a wooden spoon until completely blended. Quickly stir in almonds and remove from heat. Immediately pour onto a greased 1/2-inch sheet pan. Cool.
• Yield: 3 cups

CLEAR FRUIT DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the strawberry puree dipping sauce: Combine the strawberries, sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, then uncover and continue to cook until the mixture has the consistency of syrup and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender and blend on low speed until the mixture has a jam-like consistency, about 1 minute. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, pressing with a metal spoon. The sauce can be served at room temperature or refrigerated for about 30 minutes and served chilled.
• For the clear fruit dumplings: Combine the cold water, sugar and agar-agar powder in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to boil, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the butterfly pea flowers if using. Reduce to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar and agar-agar powder dissolve, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and discard the butterfly pea flowers with chopsticks or a spoon.
• Divide the mixture between two 9-inch square nonstick baking pans. Set aside at room temperature until the mixture sets into a firm jelly, about 30 minutes.
• Use a 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter to make 4 dumpling wrappers per pan, leaving them in place in the pans. Remove one round from the pan and place it in the palm of your hand. Place 3 teaspoons of the chopped fruits of your choice in the center of the round. Fold the wrapper over like a taco. Do not press down the edges or the dumpling will break. Place the dumpling on a serving plate and repeat with the remaining 7 dumpling wrappers, varying the combination of fruits as desired.
• Squeeze a couple of drops of lemon juice over the dumplings just before serving with the strawberry puree dipping sauce on the side.

HOMEMADE FROMAGE BLANC

Steps:

• In a large, heavy saucepan, add the milk and the cream for a richer fromage blanc. In a mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk and lemon juice and stir to combine well. Add the buttermilk-lemon juice mixture to the milk and begin to heat the milk, over low heat and very slowly, to 175 degrees F. While the milk is heating, stir only twice, making 2 strokes each time, with a heat-proof spatula or other flat utensil. Check the temperature often. As soon as the temperature reaches 175 degrees F, remove the pot from the heat and allow to sit, undisturbed, for 10 minutes.
• Line a large colander with 2 layers of fine cheesecloth and set over a large bowl. Gently ladle the curds and whey into the colander and allow to drain until the drips of whey slows, about 2 minutes. Tie the corners of the cheesecloth together to form a hanging pouch, and hang pouch over a bowl and allow to drain until the cheese reaches the desired consistency.
• Serve as is, with preserves, honey or fresh fruit, or add salt or fresh herbs, to taste, and enjoy as a savory appetizer. If a rich cheese is desired, spoon or pour a bit of heavy cream over the top before serving. Also, if a very smooth product is desired, beat the cheese briefly with an electric mixer before serving.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 1 week. If cheese is marinated in oil with fresh herbs, it will keep, refrigerated, for up to 1 month.