Dumpling Saturday! Sauces, sticky fingers, beers and fully bellies.
Dumpling Saturday happened exactly a week ago, and how fitting that I am getting around to posting this on another Saturday, [we were just way too full for me to post this on the day]. It was a nice way spend a cloudy afternoon with my man, he made the dumpling dough, I cracked open the beers and made the filling. After watching a few YouTube videos on how to shape dumplings we felt like pros and decided to give several techniques a try. We hand rolled 30 dumplings, eating as we went. Surprisingly we were pretty darn good at some of the techniques, the crescent for me and the purse for Matt [he doesn’t even own a purse?]. Of course, not all of them turned out, some we didn’t seal well and some were simply misshapen. All still yummy, but I saved the best for the photos – obviously!
We made three fillings; Chicken & Bamboo Shoots with ginger, Prawn & Garlic Chives and lastly Pork with Shiitake Mushroom & Water Chestnuts. Chicken and ginger was my favourite and the prawn was Matt’s.
We have some really great dumpling bars around us here in Melbourne, and I love them for two reasons; firstly because I love finger food – there seems to be more room in my tummy when there is finger food on the menu, and secondly even though a good dumpling should be flavoursome enough that you don’t need the dipping sauce – the sauces are the best part. Growing up, my dad would make sure the pantry was always stocked with every Asian sauce imaginable, and not the Aussie brand stuff either – the real deal. This is something that has passed onto me. Creating the fillings for this recipe was easy as we had all the sauces, and as I use them a lot, I know what goes well with what [Hopefully!].
[I thought I would pop this pic in for the behind the scenes making of these beauties. We bought a little roller from the Asian Grocer, and its a good chance to see the disks pre-roll, mid-roll and post-roll! Now I am seeing the triangle shapes we made and wishing I had used them in the photo, we just had a hard time getting the sizes to match.]
We used the three basic cooking techniques in a mix and match fashion, with Matt hoping to get the prawn dumplings and me hoping to get the chicken ones. As we tried all different shapes for the fillings, we quickly lost track of which was which. We boiled a third, steamed a third and made pot stickers from the last third. The pot stickers didn’t work super well as I didn’t have a tight lid for my fry pan, so the steamed batch in my bamboo steamers were the winners. We used a basic dumpling wrapper recipe and doubled it to make sure we got enough wrappers from it and didn’t need to worry too much about getting the cutting measurements right. I watched a video from Po’s Kitchen, which really put my mind at ease about making dumplings. If you are thinking of giving these a try, its worth checking this video out for the dough making, wrapping and cooking techniques. It is an Aussie based one, so hopefully it can be viewed worldwide.
Sadly, there is no portraiture of the purse dumplings which is such a shame as they are so visually pleasing. The light and look I was going for just didn’t get executed well enough for me to be happy with a final shot. Just a good excuse to have another go!
Homemade Dumplings From Scratch
Pork with Shiitake Mushroom & Water Chestnuts
Chicken & Bamboo Shoots with Ginger
Prawn & Garlic Chives
makes approx. 30 med-lrg dumplings (the filling measurements are based on approx. 10 dumplings each)
Ingredients
Dumpling Wrappers
1 cup plain flour (all purpose)
1 cup wheat starch*
Boiled water (approx 2/3-1 cup)
Pork with Shiitake Mushroom & Water Chestnut Filling
100g free range pork mince
1/4 cup shiitake mushrooms, diced
1/4 cup water chestnuts, diced
1/4 cup scallions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sriracha sauce (spicy, add to taste if you don’t like the heat!)
1/2 egg, lightly beaten (beat the whole egg, but you’ll only need half)
Chicken & Bamboo Shoots with Ginger Filling
100g free range chicken mince
1/4 cup bamboo shoots, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
2 teaspoons coriander seeds, ground
3 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon water
Prawn & Garlic Chives Filling
150g prawn meat, diced
1/4 cup garlic chives, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 teaspoons oyster sauce
2 teaspoons Shao Xing wine
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 1/4 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon sichaun peppercorns, ground
Directions
Boil the kettle. In a mixing bowl, place the flour and wheat starch and stir until fully combined. Pour a small amount of water, approx. (2/3 – 1 cup) into the mixture and stir with a folk until it resembles a dough. [As each type of flour soaks up different amounts of water, it is hard to get exact quantities and so it is best to go by feel with the dough, add 2/3 cups boiled water to start – let me know how much works for you!]. Knead a few times to create a smooth finish. If the dough feels a little sticky, add a small or equal parts flour/wheat starch to the dough and mix. If the dough feels dry, add a little water (just a little, you can’t go back once you add to much). Once you are happy with the dough and it is silky, cover in cling wrap and rest in the fridge for an hour.
* If you can’t find wheat starch, simply substitute for plain flour and knead the dough for 5-10 minutes to achieve the same silkiness.
Whilst the dough is in the fridge, you can make up the filling.
Measure out the first dumpling filling ingredients and combine in a bowl until fully incorporated. Cover and refrigerate. Do this for the remaining fillings in separate bowls. Place them in the fridge. (You can make the filling ahead of time to allow the flavours to marinate for a couple of hours if you like).
Find a large work surface and have a little flour handy for rolling. Once the dough has rested for an hour, remove from the fridge and roll into a long thin tube with a diameter of about 3mm (1″). Cut the tube in half, then cut the dough into evenly sized pieces, you want approx 30 disks. (Don’t fuss too much about getting this part exact. You’ll either have bigger dumplings with more filling, or smaller dumplings with less filling. As long as you measure your filling evenly you’ll be fine!).
Squish each disk with the palm of your hand with a little flour and roll out the dumpling wrapper into a thin circle, working from the outside of the circle to the middle. Add about a teaspoon of filling to the middle of the dumpling and wrap using your favourite technique. Place on a sheet of baking paper. Continue until you have used all the dumpling wrappers. You can keep these covered in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
You can boil them in salty water until they have floated for a few minutes, (I will check one to see that the filling is cooked before I take them out, larger dumplings will take longer).
You can steam them in a bamboo steamer with baking paper lined on the bottom for 15 minutes or so, or until cooked through. (adjust your cooking time for larger or smaller dumplings. You can always break one open to peek inside!)
You can place them in about 1cm (o.5″) of water and a splash of vegetable oil in a fry pan with a lid and let them steam until the water has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Once the water has evaporated, give them a few minutes for the bottom to crisp up.
Serve as you go with some dipping sauce.
you are the best food photographer Rachel jane,
that looks so delicious … thank you m:)x
Merilyn, you are too kind and have made my day!
Exactly what you need on a Saturday! Delish!
My thoughts exactly. Matt and I make sure we try at least one new recipe a week where we cook together, so this was certainly a fun afternoon.
Oh my goodness. These are perfect. I’ve been intrigued to make dumplings at home, and after reading this post and staring at your gorgeous pics, I’m even more excited to make this happen!
Thanks so much for visiting my site Sini, I love the elegance and stories you tell. You a have very unique way with you work! Making dumplings are so much fun, and easier than you think. Let me know how you go, I am sure you’ll have no trouble with the dough.
Oh my, thank you so much for your sweet words, Rachel!
Hope you have a wonderful June week,
Sini
These are absolutely stunning! The round ones especially are so beautifully folded — I have trouble folding my steamed buns and wish they came out like that 😉 They look and sound beyond delicious.
I have always wanted to make steamed buns. I think you did a fab job – I prefer a rustic look myself. I did choose the best looking ones for the photos and I wanted a very stylised and structured look so the eye focuses on patterns.
These look amazing! such great shots! (as always)
as a fellow asian food loving fan these flavours sound fab-u-lous!!
luckily we both live in Melbourne and are surrounded by this deliciousness 🙂
(Have you been to Oriental Tea House – best iced teas and dumplings
or Indochine in Box Hill? – fave rice paper wraps and spring rolls 🙂 )
looking forward to your next post!
Bec {Daisy and the Fox}
http://www.daisyandthefox.wordpress.com
We are certainly lucky – I have been to the Oriental Tea House, but not Indochine. I have on my list to check out Charlie Dumpling as well! I love shooting Asian dishes as there are so many elements to them. Not sure what to do for the next instalment. What is your fav dish Bec?
Indochine is a dreammm – best pad thai! 🙂
Ooo Charlie Dumpling – looks fab! (definitely just urban spooned it 😛 )
I agree! all the sauces and garnishes, they build up to make one delicious dish. Surprisingly i haven’t actually blogged an Asian dish before.. i reckon it’s because we always have them for dinner, and by then the lightings all dark 😛
I would have to say my fave is, any type of noodle dish and rice paper wraps mmm so good 🙂 (i might just blog that soon! haha)
what about you? i’m assuming dumplings? 😛
whatever the next post it, i know you’re gonna smash it out of the water! (both in photography and in deliciousness) 🙂
I have a real soft spot for Asian soups, a simple chicken and sweet corn, a pho and tom yum – you can’t beat em. I am also a big stir fry fan – anything cooked in a wok really, so maybe those are the ideas I should go with!
Tom Yum! My absolute go-to takeaway from our favourite sushi bar – ideal saturday night 😛
I agree, wok style is always gonna be good. it’s so fun as well! Tossin’ it all up in a pan of goodness.
Oo sounds great – i’m excited already!
quick question – where do you get all your fab probs and backgrounds from?
I love how excited you are about Tom Yum – yum! The backgrounds I make myself and find. I have a collection of props and am always looking for pieces everywhere I go. For commissioned work I usually hire specific props, but usually for my collection I buy neutral pieces in neutral colours that aren’t too memorable so I can use them over and over without them being the main focus. I love Chapel St Bazzar, Camberwell Markets and Antique shops.
hehe Tom Yum is the best 😛
awesome thanks for your tips!
i’m currently going through a op shop prop faze.. it’s really draining the bank, which funnily is quite the opposite of the purpose of a op shop haha
Ah Camberwell Markets! antique heaven – gotta love that place for a fab bargain 🙂 Yay! love a good antique scavenge hunt, i’ll hopefully check those places out.
thanks for the lovely chat and those tips! 🙂
You are killing me; these are such beautiful dumplings!!!! You guys got skills!!!! I have never attempted to make my own dumplings even though they were my favourite and I could eat a ton in one sitting, but I love these so much I might have to try my hands on them 🙂
Speaking of all Asian sauces, I really hope you get your hands on the real Sriracha sauce. It originated in Thailand, but for some copyright reason the factory who got the right is not the one who created the original product. It tastes quite different than the original one, and I have not yet found the original Sriracha sauce in the U.S. When I visit my parents in ThailandI this year, I plan to buy a ton & bring to the U.S. with me. I am sure you will like the original one, too, and I am sure you will create wonderful recipes with it.. 🙂
Oh you’ll have to try them now. It is quite easy to wrap the dumplings and fun too. I must admit I never knew this about Sriracha Sauce! I use the one that is widely available in Australia, which is probably not the original. It is the classic clear bottle with the rooster on it and green cap. I do love it though, would be really interested to try the one you speak about!
One way or another, I must try to get you the original Sriracha. 🙂
These look great, what did you use for the dipping sauce? Just soy or a rice vinegar/soy combo?
I used a dark soy sauce and put come finely sliced ginger into it. I also love Sriracha sauce, so had a little smear of that as well. You could definitely have a dash of rice wine vinegar in there too!
Oh these look divine! So delicious, and just breathtakingly beautiful as well x
There really is something about dumplings that we can really connect too isn’t there!?
Bravo Rachel, what beautiful styling… And what perfect, intricately shaped dumplings! This really is some of your most beautiful work yet 🙂
I am so excited to try my own dumpling wrappers, I’ve been making potstickers with the store bought wrappers for years, and I’m ready to make the giant leap forward, thanks!
Wow! Your dumplings look wonderful! I wish I could wrap mine as well 🙂
The pics are amazing! I would love to know what sauces you use or any recipes for those. I always love the dumpling sauce at the restaurant and wish I could recreate it at home.
Just the from the sauces that I used in the recipes. I love a good ol splash of sriracha sauce. I also used some soy with freshly sliced ginger. Yumo!
These photos are absolutely gorgeous! Amazing!
looks amazing! Im hungry now! 😀
Will you post the dumpling sauces you use? Everytime I try one, it is not nearly as good as a restaurant. The recipes I have tried come out better, but still not as good! Thanks!
Yeah some restaurants will make their own, however you can buy amazing authentic sauces from Asian Grocers. I used a dark soy sauce and put come finely sliced ginger into it. I also love Sriracha sauce, so had a little smear of that as well. You could definitely have a dash of rice wine vinegar in there too!
I love making dumplings but have never been motivated enough to try the different shapes. I may give it a go now though! 🙂