Mandoo Recipes

MANDOO (KOREAN DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix pork, zucchini, ginger, pepper, salt, scallions and egg.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add about 1 teaspoon of the meat mixture to the center of a dumpling wrapper. Moisten edges of wrapper with a fingertip dipped in water. Fold over to create triangle or semicircle, depending on the shape of your wrappers. Gently pinch wrapper together using thumbs and forefingers so that the wrapper hugs the filling, checking that edges are aligned and sealed.
• Cook in batches, carefully dropping several mandoo into the boiling water at a time (nine should fit comfortably in a stockpot). Cook for about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove from water. Briefly drain cooked dumplings on paper towel before placing on a plate.

KOREAN DUMPLING (MANDU)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large mixing bowl , gently combine the ground beef or ground pork, onion, cabbage, tofu, and noodles.
• In a separate small bowl, combine the garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper.
• Pour seasoning mixture over meat and vegetables and mix with hands to combine.
• Place about 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of a dumpling wrapper.
• Dip your finger in water and wet the perimeter of half of the wrapper.
• Fold the wrapper in half, pressing to seal and then crimp the edges. Repeat until the filling is gone.
• You can steam, boil, fry, or sauté the dumplings as you wish.
• Serve with a basic dipping sauce or a spicy sauce .

MANDU

Steps:

• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a medium-size bowl. Quarter the block of tofu, and place in the strainer. Cover with a bowl, and place 1 or 2 canned goods in the bowl to weigh it down. Set aside for 1 hour to press water from tofu.
• Place the bean sprouts in a medium bowl. Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Toss to combine. Set aside for 1 hour.
• Line four baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot, and season with 1 tablespoon salt. Blanch the watercress for 10 seconds. Spread out onto one of the baking sheets in a single layer, and allow to cool, then squeeze out any excess water, and chop finely.
• Squeeze out the tofu to remove any excess liquid, then crumble finely into a large bowl. Squeeze out bean sprouts, chop finely, then add to tofu. Add watercress, pork, kimchi, garlic, ginger, scallion whites, garlic chives, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, black pepper, mirin and 1 teaspoon salt. Use your hands to combine the mixture vigorously for about 90 seconds, until the pork becomes tacky and sticks to your palm.
• Preheat a small frying pan, and add 1 teaspoon neutral-tasting oil. Make a thin, silver-dollar-size patty of filling and cook it through on both sides. Taste and adjust salt, garlic, ginger and soy as needed. The filling should be pleasantly savory.
• Lightly dust remaining baking sheets with flour. Fill a small bowl or spray bottle with cool water.
• Place a wrapper in the palm of your hand and spoon in 2 teaspoons or so of filling. Lightly spray or brush water onto the edges of the wrapper, then fold the edges over to seal, squeezing out air bubbles as you go. If using square wrappers, fold corner to corner to form a triangle. (You could stop here, if you like.) Holding the dumpling in one hand, use the index finger of your other to gently poke an indent into the center of its base (the bottom of the filling). Folding the dumpling around the indent, draw both of its bottom corners together to form a fortune-cookie shape. Overlap the corners and press to seal them together. Place onto floured tray in a single layer. Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers.
• Alternate version: To form cigar-shaped dumplings, spread 2 teaspoons filling in a line along the center of a square wrapper, then roll wrapper around the filling, leaving the last 1/2 inch of the wrapper unrolled. Pinch the ends of the dumpling to seal. Connect five cigars by nestling each onto the unrolled edge of the previous one and pressing to adhere. Carefully lift and place onto floured tray.
• At this point, dumplings can be cooked or frozen. To freeze, freeze in a single layer until solid, then pack into zip-sealed freezer bags. Freeze for up to 2 months.
• If using bamboo steamer, fill a pot with same dimensions as basket with 2 inches of water. Bring water to a simmer. Cover steamer and set atop pot. If using a metal steamer insert, set inside large pot, and add water just until it starts to come through the bottom of the insert. Cover pot, and bring to a simmer. Steam for 7 minutes until dough is tender. Serve hot.
• To steam-fry the dumplings, set a cast-iron or nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add just enough oil to coat the bottom, then carefully place a single layer of dumplings into the pan. Fry until bottoms are golden brown, about 4 minutes, then carefully add about 1/4 cup water to the pan and cover. Steam for 3 minutes until dough is tender and the water has evaporated. Serve hot with soy dipping sauce.

KOREAN DUMPLINGS: MANDU

Steps:

• Heat wok over medium-high heat, add 2 ounces of oil and stir-fry meat until brown, mashing with a fork to break into small pieces. Drain off fat and set meat aside. Wash pan and dry thoroughly.
• Heat 1 ounce of oil over high heat for 1 minute. Add onions and saute for 2 to 3 minutes or until limp.
• Add cabbage and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another 2 to 3 minutes or until cabbage is crisp-tender.
• Add bean sprouts, scallions, and tofu, mix well and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Remove pan from heat and pour cooked mixture into a colander to drain excess liquid.
• In a large bowl, combine meat, vegetables, hoisin, salt, and pepper and mix well.
• Place 1 wonton skin on a flat surface. Cover remaining skins with a slightly damp kitchen towel (not terry cloth) so they won't dry out. Brush the edges of skin with a beaten egg. Place about 1 teaspoon of filling mixture just above the center of skin. Fold skin in half over filling to form a triangle and press edges together to seal. Repeat with remaining skins.
• Fill and preheat fryer to 375 degrees F. and deep-fry dumplings until golden brown. Serve immediately with vinegar-soy dipping sauce.
• For vinegar-soy sauce: Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir to dissolve sugar.