Shao Mai Pork Dumplings Wtih Spicy Dipping Sauce Recipes

SHAO MAI (PORK DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Combine the pork, water chestnuts, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, sugar, ginger, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well to combine (hands work well for this). Place a dumpling wrapper in the palm of one hand and cup it loosely. Place a generous tablespoon of filling in the center of the wrapper. With your free hand, gather the sides of the wrapper around the filling, letting the wrapper pleat naturally. Squeeze the middle gently and tap the dumpling to flatten the bottom so that it can stand upright. The meat filling will show a little at the top. Make the remaining dumplings in the same manner.
• Arrange filled dumplings about 1/4 inch apart in two steamer trays that have been lined with wet cheesecloth. (At this point, you can refrigerate dumplings, covered, for 24 hours.)
• When ready to steam, fill a wok or lower part of a steamer with water so that it comes within an inch of the steamer tray, and bring to a rolling boil. Stack the steamer trays in the wok or steamer, cover tightly, and steam dumplings for 20-25 minutes over high heat, reversing the trays after 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer dumplings to a platter and serve with Spicy Dipping Sauce.
• Combine ingredients in a small bowl and serve with Pork Dumplings.

STEAMED PORK AND MUSHROOM "SIU MAI" DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the filling: In a large bowl, combine the pork, ginger, rice wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, mushrooms and scallions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix well.
• For the dumplings: Take 1 wonton wrapper and place 1 heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center. Then gather up the sides of the wonton wrapper and mold around the filling into a ball shape, leaving the center exposed. Dip your finger in some water and run it around the top of the wonton wrapper. Fold the excess wrapper down and pinch the wonton wrapper around the filling firmly to prevent it from opening up and separating from the filling when cooked. Top each dumpling with a goji berry.
• Oil the bottom of a bamboo steamer and/or line it with a piece of perforated parchment paper. Place the dumplings in the steamer, cover with a lid and place over a pan or wok of boiling water (making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the steamer). Steam the dumplings until cooked, 7 to 8 minutes.
• For the dipping sauce: Meanwhile, combine the chili and soy sauces in a bowl. Serve with the dumplings.

DUMPLINGS WITH GINGER DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. In a small bowl, mix the dipping sauce ingredients, stirring until the sugar dissolves; set aside. In a medium bowl, mix the pork, scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, sherry, gingerroot and garlic.
• Place the wonton skins on a work surface and cover them with a damp towel. Remove the wonton skins 1 at a time and place about 1 teaspoon filling in the center; do no overstuff or the wontons won't seal securely. Moisten the edges of the wontons with water. Bring 2 opposite corners to the center, pinching the points to seal, then bring remaining 2 corners to center, pinching the points to seal. Repeat with the remaining wonton skins and filling.
• Add the wontons in batches (if you add too many at once they may stick together) to the boiling water. Stir gently with a wooden spoon and bring back to a boil; boil 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the wontons to a platter. Serve with a dipping sauce.

PORK DUMPLINGS WITH SOY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim away top of onion, then cut in half, leaving the root intact; peel away and discard the skin. Lay halves flat on a cutting board, then make vertical slices, stopping at the root so the onion half stays intact. Then slice crosswise to a small, uniform dice. Place in a bowl and set aside. Smash, peel, and finely mince garlic. Add to the bowl with the onions. Use a peeler or spoon to remove ginger skin. Slice into thin coins, then julienne as thinly as possible. Cut crosswise to mince. Add to bowl with onions and garlic.
• In a large sauté pan, heat 1 teaspoon of oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions, garlic, ginger, a pinch of salt, and a few cranks of black pepper until slightly caramelized, 4-5 minutes. Meanwhile, finely mince garlic chives. Stir aromatics, then cook 1-2 more minutes.Make the dipping sauce: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and brown sugar. Whisk to combine. Add star anise and set aside. Add minced chives and another pinch of salt to the aromatics. Cook until chives begin to soften, about 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a plate or bowl to cool completely, 30 minutes. (Alternatively, cool in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.)
• Once the aromatics have cooled, finish the dumpling filling: In a large bowl, add pork. Place tofu in a small strainer set over a second bowl; use a wooden spoon to gently press excess water out of the tofu. Add drained tofu to the pork, along with the aromatics, hoisin sauce, salt and pepper. Mix well. (Use your hands for quicker, more even mixing.) In a skillet, heat ½ teaspoon oil over medium heat. Cook a small patty of the dumpling filling; taste and adjust seasoning with hoisin sauce or salt as needed.
• Fill and fold dumplings: Fill a small bowl with water and place it nearby. Place a tablespoon of filling in a wrapper. Use your finger to "paint" a little water halfway around the edge of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper shut and pinch to close, making a half moon shape. (Optional: Make a pleat in the middle, or pleat all the way around.) Wrapper edges should be flush and completely sealed, and there should be no air bubbles in the dumpling. Place each finished dumpling on a sheet pan, and repeat until you've used all the filling. (Optional: Freeze any dumpling mixture you want to save for another time; defrost before using.) To store uncooked dumplings, place in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze completely; then pack them into plastic freezer bags. Frozen dumplings will last 2-3 weeks. (Note: They do not refrigerate well.)
• Cook dumplings: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add just enough oil to coat the bottom, about 1 tablespoon. Add dumplings in an even layer, about 10. Brown the dumplings on one side, 2-3 minutes. Then carefully add about ¼ inch of water, and immediately place the lid on top of the pan; steam until nearly all the water evaporates, 3-5 minutes. Remove the cover and allow the dumplings to fry again, just long enough to fully brown. Once they are fully browned, flip to slightly crisp the other side, about a minute. Plate and serve the dumplings immediately with dipping sauce. (Note: To cook frozen dumplings, follow the same procedure, but with slightly more water so they steam a little longer and cook through.)

THAI-STYLE DUMPLINGS WITH CORIANDER DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the filling:
• In a bowl combine well the scallion, the pork, the gingerroot, the bell pepper, the cabbage, the garlic, the oil, the soy sauce, the coriander, the egg, and salt and pepper to taste and chill the filling for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Put about 1 heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center of 1 of the wrappers and moisten the edge of the wrapper. Gather the edge of the wrapper up and around the filling and form a waist with the wrapper, pushing the dumpling from the bottom and keeping the filling level with the top of the wrapper. (The filling should not be enclosed.) Continue to make dumplings with the remaining wrappers and filling in the same manner and arrange them in one layer on a baking sheet lined with wax paper dusted lightly with the cornstarch. (The dumplings may be prepared up to this point 8 hours in advance and kept uncovered and chilled or 1 month in advance and kept covered tightly and frozen. If the dumplings are frozen, do not thaw them in advance.)
• Make the sauce:
• In a bowl whisk together the naam pla, the lime juice, the vinegar, the sugar, the gingerroot, the mint, the coriander, salt and pepper to taste.
• In a large non-stick skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it fry half the dumplings, flat sides down, over moderately high heat for 1 minute, or until the undersides are golden. Add 1/2 cup water and steam the dumplings, covered, over moderate heat for 3 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through. (If using frozen dumplings, fry them, frozen, for 1 minute, or until the undersides are golden, and steam them, adding 3/4 cup water per batch, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through.) Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet and cook the remaining dumplings in the same manner. Garnish the dumplings with the coriander sprigs and serve them with the sauce.