Easy Pork Dumplings
June 7, 2012
Easy Pork Dumplings
Dumpling Sunday – a family tradition
Easy Pork Dumplings
Making fire
I am thankful for family traditions. I would like to create special family traditions and memories for my boys. That is the reason behind the name of this blog – A Fresh Legacy. I would like to teach my children healthy eating habits, an appreciation of how food grows and an ability to provide for themselves and their family, and loved ones.
I am thankful for family traditions because I have a habit of continuing to push on to get “things”done. My”To Do” list never seems to get any smaller. Punky (4 years old) started our Dumpling Sunday tradition based on his obsession with Dumplings. He wanted them every night! It has ended up being a lovely way to halt to all activities and have some nice family time.
Every Sunday at 4pm sharp it is time to stop all chores and activities and get organised for “Dumpling Sunday”.
Punky and Mr Fresh collect wood to start the fire in the Chiminea on the deck. I pour a wine for the adults and set the water to boil for the dumplings. We sit on the deck and relax together before the start of a busy new week. Dumpling Sunday has been a solid tradition for more than a year and I have to admit that I have recently started to get a little bored with them. I like to try new foods rather than stick to the same things all the time. The tradition of Dumpling Sunday I LOVE. I need a change from the flavors.
Dumplings are usually purchased each month from the “Dumplink Man” at our local Farmers Market. He makes amazing dumplings from lovely fresh ingredients, with no additives.
Rather than causing Punky’s world to explode (he asks if dumplings are for dinner every second night), I decided to make some dumplings. Punky was really not keen on the idea and made it known that I was unlikely to measure up! After trying my version he told me they were the “best dumplinks ever”
Easy Pork Dumplings Recipe
- Makes: 30 Dumplings
- Preparation time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 minutes
Ingredients Pork Dumplings:
- 500 grams pork mince
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 cm fresh ginger finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 2 tablespoons water chestnuts – finely chopped
- 6 fresh baby spinach leaves – finely chopped
- 30 Gow Gee Wrappers
Steps to Make Dumplings:
- Fill a large saucepan with water and set it to boil
- Add all of the ingredients, except the wrappers, to a bowl and mix to combine
- Lay out the wrappers on a clean, lightly floured, surface. Spoon a portion of the mixture into the centre of a wrapper
- Wet the top edge of the wrapper (furthest from you) and then lift the edge closest to you to the top. This folds the dumpling in half.
- Press the edges down to seal
- Continue until all wrappers are used
- Layer the complete dumplings on non-stick baking paper so that they do not stick together
- Add the dumplings to the boiling water in batches so that they do not stick together when cooking (6-8 in a pot works well)
- Cook in rapidly boiling water for 6-8 minutes until they float to the top and spin around
- Remove with a slotted spoon
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce – see below for suggestions.
Easy Pork Dumpling Mixture
Fill and Fold Dumplings
Dumplings
Dumpling Sunday
Hints and Tips:
I serve a small amount of salad or a bowl of cooked vegetables for the children to eat their dumplings with.
Dipping Sauce Suggestions – Soy Sauce, Sweet Chilli Sauce, Chilli Jam
If you are not going to use all of the dumplings freeze prior to cooking
Water Chestnuts and Gow Gee Wrappers are available from Asian grocery stores or supermarkets in the Asian food aisle for the chestnuts and near the tofu for the wrappers.
Do not freeze the wrappers (un-used) as the edges will go hard when defrosted and not seal well
The grocer was out of stock of Gow Gee wrappers so I had to make my wrappers… I used Adam Liaw’s recipe from his book Two Asian Kitchens. Adam’s book is currently one of my favorite cook books. It contains a fascinating array of recipes. Everything I have tried to date has worked perfectly and tasted amazing. The flavors so more-ish that I keep picking up this book to choose more and more things to try. I love that the book spans the cultures, flavors and family traditions that have influenced him. They are many and varied and so make for a unique and interesting cook book and read.
Adam’s dumpling dough recipe worked perfectly and was easier than I expected. I would definitely make them again.
It was not difficult and was worth the small amount of extra effort.
This post is linked to Kate Says Stuff Thankful Thursday. This week she is talking about being awesome. I had already written this post prior to reading Kate’s this morning so whilst this is an awesome recipe 😉 I will have a think and come back with my thoughts. There are many people I can think of to tag so stay tuned….
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I just LOVE dumplings and I think like punky, I could eat them every night. Will def have to give these a go! Just out of curiosity, for when I don’t have time, can I be cheeky and ask what market you sometimes buy them from? ; )
Hi Mez, we collect them from the Newtown Farmers Market (last Sat of the month). The “Dumplink Man” is also at Queenscliff Market (3rd Sat of the month – I think.)
Oh these sound amazing! I get a little nervy about making new things sometimes, especially if they look tricky. But the way you have described these I reckon I am game to have a go!
Thanks for another kid friendly idea : )
Thank you for joining in with TT at katesaysstuff. These sound (and look) amazing – I am certainly going to give them a try. Thank you for sharing them (and your tradition) with us.
Have a great day !
Love, hugs and positive energy.
Me