STEAMED CHINESE DUMPLINGS RECIPES

Steps:

• Mix ingredients for dipping sauce and set aside.
• Lightly oil a large bowl.
• Put the flour and salt in another large bowl, piled up.
• Make a dent in the top of the pile, and crack the egg into it.
• Mix the egg into the flour.
• Add enough water to the mixture to make a thick dough.
• The consistency should be like bread dough.
• In any case, don't add too much water--it shouldn't be like batter at all!
• Turn the dough out onto the flour-dusted counter, and form into a ball.
• (It helps to flour your hands first).
• Place the dough into the oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap (cellofane).
• Let stand 1 hour.
• Meanwhile mix all ingredients for filling and place in the fridge.
• Next, remove dough and place on flour-dusted counter (or work surface).
• Knead a bit and flatten until very thin (but not see-through or falling apart).
• Using a large, round cookie-cutter (or bottom of coffee can or top of glass) cut three-inch rounds.
• Don't place them on top of each other, as they could stick together!
• Knead the leftover pieces together again and cut more rounds until there's no dough left.
• Spoon a bit of the filling into the center of each round and fold in half (to make a semi-circle shape).
• Seal edges with a bit of water, and use tongs of a fork to decorate the edge.
• To prepare, either steam the dumplings (if you have a steamer) for 15 mins, or boil for 10 mins.
• If you boil, add some oil to the water and don't overcrowd the pan--make them in batches.
• If you like, you can fry the dumplings in a skillet or wok to brown them before serving.
• Handle gently!

Steps:

• To start dough, add starter ingredients in a small bowl. Stir together and let sit for 30 minutes until it foams.
• Mix starter with other dough ingredients except flour. Stir together well and then slowly start to add flour. Once all the flour is added, bring the dough together in a ball.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until the dough is very soft, about 10 minutes. If the dough is ever very sticky, knead in more flour.
• Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl to rise until it triples, about 2.5-3 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce and filling. For the sauce, just mix together ingredients and chill until needed.
• For the filling, mince scallions, ginger, and cilantro very fine. Then stir with other filling ingredients and set aside until needed.
• To make dumplings, punch dough and then cut it into quarters. Working with one quarter at a time, stretch it out and flour it lightly. Then cut the dough into 12 pieces. It's okay if they're not perfectly even.
• Working with one piece at a time, add about a tablespoon of filling to the middle of the dough and then fold the ends up and over the filling. Twist the top of the dough so it sticks together.
• Once you have 12 dumplings done, let them rest for 20-30 minutes before steaming them.
• Add the dumplings to a bamboo steamer, leaving some space between each dumpling to prevent them from sticking together, and steam them over a pot or wok until they are cooked through, about 18 minutes. To make sure the dumplings don't stick to the steamer, lightly oil the steamer or lay down some lettuce leaves in the bottom of the steaming racks.
• Let the dumplings cool briefly when they come out of the steamer and then serve them immediately with the sauce.
• Tip: As an optional filling, try diced ham and cheddar cheese. Serve with mustard.