SAVOY SAUCE RECIPES

Steps:

• Make the cabbage rolls: Combine the bread and milk in a small bowl and soak 5 minutes. Squeeze the excess milk from the bread and transfer to a large bowl. Add the pork, beef, parmesan, eggs, parsley, cognac, oregano, garlic, nutmeg, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix with your hands until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water. Carefully separate the cabbage leaves (you will need 12 large leaves, or you can use 2 small leaves to make a large one). Working in batches, blanch the leaves until pliable, about 45 seconds, then remove with tongs and transfer to the ice water. Remove from the ice water, shake dry, then layer between paper towels to soak up the excess moisture. Trim the tough center stem from the bottom of each leaf.
• Shape the meat mixture into twelve 4-inch-long sausages. Lay out a cabbage leaf, then put a sausage on top lengthwise. Fold in the short ends of the leaf, then tightly roll up the leaf like a burrito. Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves and sausages. Transfer the rolls to a plate and refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Fit a large, wide pot with a steamer insert and fill with 2 inches of water; bring the water to a boil. Arrange the cabbage rolls in the steamer insert, cover and reduce the heat to medium low; steam until the filling is cooked through, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, about 6 minutes. Add the cognac and simmer until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water, the oregano and 3/4 teaspoon salt; bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until mostly smooth, then return to the pot; thin with up to 1/2 cup hot water, if desired. Season with salt. Bring just to a simmer and stir in a splash of cognac.
• Serve the cabbage rolls topped with the sauce, parmesan and parsley.

Steps:

• Put the spring onions, cabbage, ginger and garlic in a food processor, and whizz to a fine mix (or finely chop by hand).
• Add the water chestnuts and pulse to chop, but not too finely – these will add a nice crunchy texture. Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sake, sesame oil and a pinch of salt, and whizz again.
• Tip the ingredients into a bowl and add the minced pork or chicken. Mix by hand until well combined. Chill until ready to use.
• Have a pot of water to hand. Sprinkle the cornflour onto a plate. To assemble the gyoza, hold the dumpling skin in the palm of one hand and put a heaped teaspoon of the filling onto the centre of the skin.
• Dip your finger in the water and wipe around the edge of the skin – this will moisten it and help the edges stick together.
• Bring the edges of the skin together. Pinch pleats along one side, then press each pleat against the opposite flat side of the skin. With each pinch make sure that you are sealing the parcel and keeping the filling in the centre. Put each gyoza onto the plate dusted with cornflour. Can be covered with cling film and chilled for up to 8 hrs.
• Cook the gyoza in batches. Heat a non-stick frying pan with 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Brush off any excess cornflour from the bases of the dumplings. Fry the gyoza on one side only – don’t turn them over, you just want one crispy side. They should be golden brown after about 2 mins.
• Add a good splash of water to the pan and cover with a steaming lid or a large sheet of foil with a few holes poked in the top. Cook over a medium heat for 3-5 mins until the water has evaporated and the gyoza filling is cooked through. Set aside while you cook the rest.
• Mix all the dipping sauce ingredients and serve alongside the dumplings in dipping bowls. You can serve with both or just one dipping sauce.