I’m almost embarrassed to admit this but…even though I’m Chinese, I’d never made dumplings at home before. I was keen to try them though, as they’re a traditional Chinese New Year dish, so when this video appeared in my email feed, I was inspired to have a go…
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I followed the instructions for the filling provided in the video, but I bought wrappers rather than making my own. At just $1.69 for 32 pieces, these locally made ones were silky smooth to work with…
The ingredients list for the filling was quite long, and we made some substitutions based on what was available in our garden. Our dumplings were filled with:
- 400g free range pork mince
- bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- cornflour (cornstarch)
- fine sea salt
- sugar
- white pepper
- water
- dry sherry
- dark soy
- light soy
- sesame oil
- chopped bok choy
- minced garlic
- garlic chives
- baby perennial leeks
The ingredients were all combined in a large bowl and stirred together with a pair of chopsticks. Make sure you add enough water to give the mixture a soft, scoopable texture…
A little cornflour was mixed with water and used to moisten the perimeter of each wrapper before folding…
Pleating the skins takes a little practice. The video provides clear instructions, but I’d previously had a lesson from Carol’s son Nick, the Grand Poobah of dumpling shaping…
As I made the dumplings, Pete cooked them.
His tip for cooking the perfect potsticker is to slowly fry the dumplings in a little oil until the bottoms are very brown and the skins start to puff up (which means the filling is starting to boil and cook). Then add half a cup of water (it will sizzle like crazy) and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. The water will evaporate away in a minute or so, and the dumplings will be ready…
We made nearly sixty dumplings, and ate them all for dinner that night. We’ll definitely be making them again – the boys loved them!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I am absolutely going to make these. yum!!
They’re fun to make! :)
I have made them in the past, always with purchased wrappers. They are yummy and the best part is that they freeze well so can be done ahead.
Mo, I’ve had a few friends tell me to freeze them, I’m definitely going to have to try next time.
Brilliant Celia, my daughter will love making these with me – she’s been wanting to ever since they made a version for Chinese New Year at school. Thank you x
ps yours are so beautifully folded, ours won’t come near that perfection!
Andrea, of course they will! Mine are still a little bit wonky, but I’ve promised to make more for my folks this weekend, so I’ll be getting in more practice! :)
Celia, they turned out PERFECT! I tried making them once, also with store-bought wrappers, but my folding technique was…. let’s see, how should I put it? Pathetic? Yeap, pathetic will do.
I gotta watch the video and try it again, I must have Chinese genes because this type of dumpling is my number one favorite food ever. Ever. Forever.
Sally, the video has really clear instructions, and they work really well! I think you DO have Chinese genes! :)
These look awesome! Shall have to give them another go as it has been too long!
Thanks Debby! Making them was quite meditative.. :)
So amazing to make your own! I need to practice my skills with chopsticks for stirring and cooking :)
Tandy, the Chinese always stir with chopsticks when they’re cooking – I remember watching Ming Tsai do it on his show as well!
These are divine. I can totally see vegetarian versions of these and meat ones for the carnivores. Did you do a dipping sauce? M
Maz, I dipped them in chilli sauce (Lingams), but the boys dipped in light soy.. xx
Oh wow they look absolutely amazing – I think I’m feeling inspired again by you (if I can track down some wrappers)!
Chica, they’re usually available in Chinese grocery stores, but if not, the video has easy instructions on how to make your own. I was just being lazy.. :)
Your dumplings are so beautifully shaped on top: AMAZING, Celia! x
Thanks Sophie! xx
:)
Love the video! Your dumplings look so professional Celia, I can’t believe that was your first go at making them, it looks like you’ve been making them for years. Drooling here!
Danielle, it’s my first attempt to make them from scratch, but I did help Carol fill hers a month ago (which is when I had the lesson on pleating from Nick). She inspired me to try making them from scratch!
Well, for your first time, these are outstanding and I could just grab some chopsticks and dive in, love!
Thanks darling, they were great fun to make. Trying again this weekend!
Better late than never! Looks very good Celia :)
Thank you! :)
They certainly look the business Celia- especially with such even pleats on top! I can’t believe you haven’t made these before? I bet now you know how easy-and yummy- they are, you will be making them a lot :) xox
Becca, I know. I’ve certainly eaten enough of them! My mother used to make wontons for soup when I was growing up, that’s the next thing to try, I think…
Beautifully pleated dumplings. Have not made dumplings in a long while you just inspired me, thanks.
Norma, they’re perfect eating in almost any weather! I’d love to know what you put in yours!
I have been making dumplings for some time now and freeze a batch so we have instant ingredients for soup, what a time saver and John loves them so much when I mention soup he gets animated!! He is always animated Celia.
Roz, I so want to make wonton soup next! Love your John! xx
I LOVE the look of your dumplings! Great work for a first-timer!!!!!!
Thanks Sandy! They were great fun to make, we’re trying again this weekend!
For a while we had a Chinese cleaner who loved to make dumplings. One of her jobs was always to make a big pile of dumplings for us so at the end of the day we would have a clean home and lots of yummy dumplings. The kids loved it. She made her own dough and was so skilled with it. Her filling always had shredded wombok (Chinese cabbage) mixed with the pork mince. It made for a lighter filling. Ahhh just remembering them makes me hungry.
You’re too funny, I can just see you saying, “ok, don’t worry about the bathrooms, just make sure the dumplings are made..” :)
You pleat like a professional Celia. Doesn’t seem to matter how many dumplings you make they always get eaten. I’m a big fan of Jamie’s Food Tube too.
Nancy, isn’t it great? And the River Cottage guys have just joined in as well. I love that it’s only ever a five minute clip, and everything feels so approachable!
G’day and congrats Celia and making something “on the list” :)
Love your pleating and love dumplings too! YUM!
Craving some right now!
Cheers! Joanne
I don’t believe in having a “list”, Jo… :) But thank you, they were great fun to make!
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2013/04/03/a-retrospective-bucket-list/
you must be joking that you’ve never made dumplings before! Those look amazing….and delicious.
So inspiring!
I had a dumpling shaping lesson a month ago at Carol’s house from her son Nick, but yep, first time we’ve ever tried to make our own. The video made it seem so easy!
May I say that even though you didn’t do the dumplings before, your first try is a masterpiece… they are perfect!
Thank you! I’m hoping I can repeat it on the weekend when my folks come over! :)
I’m starving. I’d love to eat a platter of these right now. I’m sure I could make them but I don’t know about the pleating. I’d love to give these a try because these are very, very moorish xx
Charlie, you’d nail these in a heartbeat – the video is very clear. The only thing we did differently was to wet the rim of each skin with a little cornflour slurry – it helps the edges to stick together.. xx
Hi Celia, the diversity of your skills is amazing … though … you are Chinese. However, that does not account for your bread making skill or your cake making skills or your chocolate tempering skills or your …
Glenda, my mother is always disappointed that I’m not MORE Chinese. But hey, I’ll get there.. ;-)
Poor mums! If every child turned out just like they imagined, it would be a boring world
Where did you find the locally-made wrappers, Celia? (Although maybe I don’t want the answer… it would just encourage me to make, then eat, several dozen in one sitting ;O))
Jacqueline, I bought them in Flemington at one of the Asian supermarkets there (the one opposite the duck shop in the arcade). You can buy them almost anywhere though, I think! :)
Right Celia…that is it…if I can find Gow Gee Pastry at my supermarket I am making these! They look so delicious and so perfectly made too! x
Jane, if you can’t find them, you could always make the dough – the video clip has very clear and simple instructions! I was just being lazy.. :)
Perfect pleats! The baking soda must be what makes the meat so wonderfully tender in dumplings. I will have to give this a try.
Thank you! According to the video, the combination of baking soda and cornflour give the filling its velvety mouthfeel…
Lovely dumplings. Such nice even pleats! I make something similar using only mince and lots of finely chopped onions and sometimes cubed potatoes; plus spices. These are steamed, then eaten.
Manuela, we’re yet to try straight steamed ones, might give them a go on the weekend. Pete is keen to try different fillings, so we’ll have a go at that next.
Celia you are so artistic!
Thanks hon. Not artistic, just pretty good at copying! :)
I have made dumplings but I’ve never “tied” my own. I always use a dumpling press. I’m very impressed. :)
My mum used to have a dumpling press too! I think the boys stole it years ago for playdough, and it’s never been seen since.. :)
Oh my they are so wonderful – I really really want to make dumplings like you – Do you think, this sounds crazy, but, in my freeezer I have packets of home made tortelloni filling, which are languishing waiting for me to make pasta and I haven’t done it, do you think I could use that filling just as a sort of practice run?
Of course you could try! I’m not sure how it would taste, but definitely worth experimenting with! It’s just fun to pleat them, a bit like origami! :)
We are eating them now, with my capaletti filling,chicken and pork and spring onion for extra luck, lip smacking going on :-)
Hi Celia, when I have time I make a big batch of prawn dumplings which I then freeze which makes for quick dinners when we are too tired to cook. I have always been quite chuffed at my efforts but looking at your lovely dumplings with the pretty pleats I’ve been put to shame! I make very basic looking ones in comparison :) I will have to try this method.
Stefanie, until Nick showed me how to make them, I had no idea how they were done. It’s worth giving them a go – the technique is actually quite easy, but it does make us look clever..(and it will impress an Asian mother!).. ;-)
There is something about the names of certain foods that make them all the more irresistible – and ‘potsticker’ dumplings fall full face into that category – don’t you agree? We’re big dumpling lovers in this house, though i haven’t made them for a while. Might just have to make up for lost time at the weekend. Thanks for the nudge!
Rachel, I’m hoping to make more this weekend too – might even have a go at stocking up the freezer with some! :)
Beautifully folded dumplings Celia! I always try to have a stash of home made dumplings in the freezer, they are perfect for a quick, easy and healthy dinner on the fly :)
Jas, thank you, I’m going to have to give the freezer thing a go. I quite like the idea of being able to defrost some for a quick lunch. Wouldn’t work for dinner though – the boys need a huge batch, and I’m not sure my freezer is big enough! :)
These are yet another thing I have never made and I’ll buy some wrappers the next time I get to a Chinese supermarket (we don’t have one locally).
I love them!
Pat, hope you enjoy making them as much as I did! The video is really good!
Yum :) I love dumplings but it never occurs to me to make them, I leave it to the experts… but then you are one most definitely one of those :)
You’re kind love, thanks, but not an expert yet! Still practicing! :)
Do you have some sort of video feed into my kitchen Celia? My husband thankfully does the grocery shopping for me as the huge supermarkets are just too much for me to maneuver & I had planned on making some sort of enchilada. I asked him to get the wrappers but he brought home these small one & now I know exactly what to do with them. I’ve never tried anything like this before so wish me luck!
You won’t need luck! Honestly Di, the video is really good – I wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of making them at all! :D
I love dumplings but have never made them. Thanks for sharing your recipe, it’s pinned to try soon!:)
Nancy, I hope you enjoy them – not my recipe, but it really IS a goodie! :)
I’ve made them before (actually I used to quite a bit) but not for many many moons…years. Gosh, maybe a decade?
They look the business Celia :-)
Thanks hon! I’ve been asked to make more over the weekend! :)
These dumplings look wonderful, I always envied the folding technique ;)
Thank you! Don’t envy, it’s not very hard, it just looks a bit tricky! :)
:D
Celia these look so good…Happy New Year..belated!
Thanks Norma! Hope you’re well! xx
I was in the grocery store yesterday, and I couldn’t help buying two bags of frozen potstickers! I just couldn’t get them out of my head after seeing this post. There is a ton of snow outside as I write this, and since we will be staying indoors this will be our treat today. Thanks for the idea! Your dumplings look so professional and that filling sounds wonderful. Well Done! xx
Emilie, it looks so cold where you are, do stay warm! Hope you enjoy your potstickers! :) xx
One of Katherine’s favorites. I need to try these.
Cheers Greg! Hope she likes them! :)
You are so clever!
The dumplings look absolutely perfect. I can’t imagine being able to do such a good job… these are hubbies favourite food at the moment.
Thanks Julie! I’m planning to make a stack this weekend and stash them in the freezer!
Hello again Celia. I made these last night and they were delicious. I couldn’t establish a great pleating technique and as it was quite warm I didn’t want the pork mince sitting on the bench for too long. So, I simply joined the edges, without the pleating, this was fine but perhaps did not look as professional as it could have! I added a little chopped coriander, not strictly Chinese but a tasty addition. I bought the wrappers…I was very happy to see them in my local Colesworth.
I have made dumplings before but I think the addition of baking soda and cornflour is a ‘game changer’ for me. Once again you have pointed me towards a great recipe, a useful resource in that video and something new x
Oh I knoew you’d be good at that pleating cause I’ve seen you fold Chinese lanterns!. Wow you must have had a really yummy dinner
[…] at pot stickers and wontons – I can’t think what inspired me to make these? Maybe something to do with a certain Sydneysider… and the fact that we have a fantastic Chinese supermarket in Eastville where you can buy […]
Hi Celia, a great big fat thanks for the link to that video. Best I’ve seen in my research to date. Thanks for mentioning you moistened the wrapper before folding, the the dumpling sisters (great name) didn’t do that and I wondered. Got the pork mince, these are in the queue! Cheers, Maree.
Maree, here’s my refined recipe:
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2014/03/16/my-dumpling-recipe/
That video was really helpful, wasn’t it! :)
Thanks, I’ll report back!