How to Make Pan-Fried Dumplings
Updated: Jan. 09, 2020
Traditional Chinese fried dumplings are as fun to make as they are to eat. We'll walk you through the recipe.
Fried dumplings, commonly nicknamed pot stickers (or jiaozi in Mandarin Chinese), are a traditional Chinese cuisine that can be served as an appetizer, main course or side dish. Traditionally, they’re a Chinese New Year specialty, but now you can find them year round. We’re so glad.
During the New Year feast, dumplings are eaten to symbolize good fortune; just another reason to love them. According to ancient Chinese legend, the amount of money you will pocket in the coming year can be foreseen by how many dumplings you devour—the more the better! (To taste what all the fuss is about, try our chicken pot stickers or sesame-beef ones.)
This recipe for pork fried dumplings is quick, easy and delicious, so you can be feasting on them in minutes.
What are fried dumplings made of?
Fried dumplings are typically made with a filling of ground meat and vegetables wrapped into a thin piece of dough. They can be eaten alone but taste even better when dunked in a soy or sesame sauce. If you actually have leftovers, you can use them in a pot sticker soup.
How to Pan-Fry Dumplings
This recipe from Marisa Raponi of Vaughan, Ontario, yields 5 dozen tasty dumplings.
Ingredients
- 2 medium carrots, finely chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup water chestnuts, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh chives, minced
- 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
- 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound ground pork
- 60 pot sticker, wonton or gyoza wrappers
- 3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
- 1 cup chicken broth, divided
- additional reduced-sodium soy sauce, for dipping (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Make the filling
In a large bowl, combine the carrots, onion, water chestnuts, chives, egg white, soy sauce and pepper. Add the ground pork and mix it well into the veggie and egg white mix.
Step 2: Fill the wrappers
Place a tablespoon of your filling in the center of each wrapper.
Editor’s tip: Cover the remaining wrappers with a damp paper towel until you’re ready to use them. They’ll be hard to work, and might even crack, with if they dry out.
Step 3: Shape the dumplings
Lightly moisten the wrapper edges with water. Gently fold the wrapper over the filling. Seal the edges by pleating the front side several times to form a pouch. Stand the dumplings on a work surface to flatten the bottoms. To create a crescent moon shape, curve them slightly.
Step 4: Pan-fry the pot stickers
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Arrange one-third of the dumplings flat side down in concentric circles in the pan. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. Add 1/3 cup of broth carefully, so it doesn’t splatter.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue to cook, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes or until the broth is almost fully absorbed and the pork filling is cooked. Remove the cover from the pan and cook the dumplings for about 1 minute until the bottoms are crisp and the broth is completely evaporated. Repeat with remaining oil, dumplings and broth.
Step 5: Enjoy!
Let the dumplings cool slightly, and serve with additional soy sauce. Eat with your fingers or chopsticks at your next Chinese New Year party, or any time.
Can you freeze the dumplings?
Yep, you can freeze dumplings to enjoy a delicious meal or snack at a later time! Just arrange any of the uncooked dumplings on waxed paper-lined baking sheets and freeze. This will keep them from getting stuck together. Once they’re frozen, transfer them to plastic freezer bags and pop them back in the freezer.
When you’re ready to whip up a batch, cook the frozen dumplings according to the instructions above, increasing the broth amount to 1/2 cup and the simmering time to 4 to 6 minutes.
Want to try more Asian dumpling recipes?
Dumplings
According to ancient legend, the number of dumplings you eat during the Chinese New Year predicts the amount of money you'll make in the upcoming year. The more, the better! While pork is the most common dumpling filling, you can also opt for shrimp, chicken or vegetables.
Longevity Noodles
Be sure to serve these if you host a Chinese New Year party! Known as changshou mian, which means "long-life noodles," these noodles are up to two feet long. According to Chinese tradition, the longer the noodle, the luckier you'll be. Just be careful not to accidentally break one while you're cooking—that's bad luck because it represents a life cut short.
Tray of Togetherness
Often divided into six or eight compartments (the number six symbolizes luck, while eight symbolizes fortune), the round Tray of Togetherness represents peace and family harmony. Fill the tray with an assortment of small treats like dried fruit, nuts or candy. You could also include these homemade almond ginger cookies.
Spring Rolls
Resembling bars of gold, spring rolls bring wealth and good fortune. You can stuff these deep-fried rolls with various fillings, including pork, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, cabbage and assorted other veggies. The difference between egg rolls and spring rolls is that egg rolls have a wonton or yeast dough wrapper, while spring rolls have a thinner wrapping.
Oranges and Other Citrus
Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year food gifts because they're believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine closely resemble the words for luck and wealth. The gold color also symbolizes prosperity. Far from family for this year's celebrations? You can still send a gift of oranges.
Sweet Rice Balls
These sweet rice balls are a common Chinese New Year food for good reason: The round shape signifies unity. These gooey balls also represent harmony and family togetherness because their name (tang yuan) sounds like the word "reunion" in Chinese (tuan yuan).
Fish
In Mandarin, the pronunciation of the words for fish and abundance sounds similar. To ensure success in the coming year, steamed fish is a regular dish on the Lunar New Year table. Particularly, crucian carp and mud carp are homophones for good luck and good fortune.
Year Cake
The Chinese word for this cake—nian gao—is pronounced exactly like the word for "higher year," which makes this dessert lucky. The sticky rice flour cake was originally used as an offering during ritual ceremonies. Now, people eat nian gao on the first day of the year to bring health, wealth and happiness.
Eight Treasure Rice
This traditional dish is made with sticky rice and adorned with eight "treasures"—a variety of seeds, nuts and fruits like plums, jackfruit and raisins. Eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture and eating desserts on this holiday represents sweetness for the year ahead.
Prosperity Cakes
These steamed rice flour cakes (fa gao) are known for their split tops. According to tradition, the more segments the top of your cake has, the luckier you'll be in the new year. Fa gao translates to "prosperity cake," so it's no surprise that these treats are a popular Chinese New Year food.
Almond Cookies
Chinese almond cookies are thought to bring financial luck into the new year. Their round shape resembles that of a coin which symbolizes wealth and good fortune.
Whole Chicken
Serving an entire chicken (head and feet included) celebrates wholeness and prosperity in the new year. The Chinese word for chicken, jī, is a homophone for good luck and great wealth and also symbolizes unity.Originally Published: January 09, 2020
