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Steamed Chinese Vegetable Dumplings

17/11/2023

I can provide you with a recipe to prepare steamed Chinese dumplings, also known as “dumplings” or “jiaozi”, with a vegetable filling. Here’s how to proceed:

Ingredients

  • 250 g of wheat flour
  • 120 ml of lukewarm water
  • 1 teaspoon of seed oil
  • Salt to taste.

For the vegetable filling:

  • 200 g of Chinese cabbage (or savoy cabbage)
  • 100 g of carrots
  • 50 g of mushrooms (shiitake or button mushrooms)
  • 1 spring onion
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 2 cm of fresh ginger root
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the dough for the dumplings: pour the flour into a bowl, add a pinch of salt and gradually pour in the lukewarm water mixing it with the oil. Knead the dough until you get a smooth and elastic ball. Cover it with a damp cloth and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.

  2. For the filling, finely chop the cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, spring onion, garlic and ginger. Sauté the mixture in a pan with a drizzle of oil, until it has softened. Add the soy sauce and sesame oil, mix, and adjust with salt and pepper. Let cool.

  3. Roll out the dough for the dumplings with a rolling pin until you get a thin sheet, then use a cookie cutter or a glass to cut out circles.

  4. Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each dough circle. Moisten the edges with a little water and fold in half, sealing the edges well, you can pinch them to give the typical shape of Chinese dumplings.

  5. Line the basket of a steamer with perforated parchment paper or lettuce leaves to prevent the dumplings from sticking. Arrange the dumplings in the basket without overlapping them.

  6. Bring water to a boil in a pot on which you will then place the steamer. Steam the dumplings for about 15-20 minutes.

Fun Facts

Chinese dumplings are a traditional dish often consumed during the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year. Families gather to prepare them and it is believed that they bring good luck.

To vary them Italian-style, you could add some chopped spinach to the filling ingredients and replace the soy sauce with a bit of ricotta to soften the flavor. Remember that customization and creativity are always welcome in the kitchen!