WATER CHESTNUT STIR FRY RECIPES

Steps:

• To make the pastry, either put the plain flour and butter into a food processor with a generous pinch of salt and pulse until it resembles breadcrumbs, or rub it in by hand. Add all but a tablespoon of the egg yolk and just enough chilled water to bind it together. Shape into a ball, wrap in cling film, and chill in the fridge until you are ready to roll it. Reserve the remaining egg yolk for egg wash later.
• To make the filling, put the butter in a large saucepan and melt over a low heat. Add the leeks and cover. Fry for 5 minutes.
• Turn up the heat slightly and add the mushrooms. Cook for a further 4–5 minutes, then add the garlic and thyme. If using, drain the rehydrated mushrooms, reserving their soaking liquor, and roughly chop. Add to the saucepan.
• Add the flour and stir until you can see a roux has formed around the vegetables.
• Stir in the mustard, then add the marsala and stir until it is well incorporated. Gradually add the stock and the mushroom liquor, if using. (If not using the mushroom liquor, use the larger quantity of stock.) Bring the mixture to the boil, then turn down and simmer, continuing to stir, until it has thickened. Add the chestnuts, cover, and remove from the heat. Leave to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5.
• Divide the pastry into two pieces, one slightly bigger than the other. Roll out the larger piece of pastry and use it to line a pie dish. Add the cooled filling.
• Roll out the remaining piece of pastry and top the pie, wetting the edges with the egg wash, making sure they are well crimped together. Cut a couple of slits in the pie to let steam escape and brush with egg wash.
• Bake in the oven for around 40–45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Serve in slices.

Steps:

• If you’re making your own dough, tip the flour and 1 tsp salt into a bowl. Bring a kettle to the boil and measure 150ml boiling water. Slowly pour the water over the flour while mixing with a spoon to form a stiff dough. When the dough is cool enough to handle, tip onto a surface and knead for 10 mins until smooth. Wrap the dough and chill for at least 1 hr. Alternatively, you can use 25-30 shop-bought gyoza skins.
• Meanwhile, coarsely grate the cabbage, mushrooms, carrot and water chestnuts, if using, then tip into a bowl. Add the ginger, garlic and spring onions. Heat the oil in a wok, then tip in all the veg and stir-fry over a high heat for 3 mins until softened. Drizzle over the soy sauce and sake, and cook for 2-3 mins. Season to taste. Tip back into the bowl to cool completely.
• Divide the dough in two. Scatter a surface generously with cornflour and roll one ball of dough out until paper-thin. Use a 10cm cutter to cut out rounds of dough and pile them up (they won’t stick because of the cornflour). Repeat with all the dough, re-rolling the trimmings until you have about 25 skins.
• To assemble, sprinkle cornflour on a tray and have a bowl of cold water ready. Hold a skin in the palm of one hand and put a teaspoon of the filling in the centre. Dip your finger in the water and wipe around the inside edge of the skin. Bring the edges of the skin together, pinching pleats along one side. Space them out on a baking tray and freeze, then tip into a bag and put back in the freezer. Will keep for three months. Can be cooked from frozen.
• Heat a drizzle of oil in a non-stick frying pan with a lid. Fry, flat-side down, for 2 mins until golden. Add 100ml water to the pan and cover. Cook over a medium heat for 3-5 mins until the water has evaporated and the gyoza is cooked through. Remove the lid and leave the gyoza to sizzle on the bottom for a minute. Mix the dipping sauce ingredients together, then serve with the gyoza.