Dumplings........a bite at a time

A simple meal of little soft pillows of dough filled with a delicious mix of minced meat, veg, onion, ginger and a secret mix of sauces. A perfect snack; a touch of comfort on a wet, cold rainy day; a reunion meal or just simply a meal for everyone be it boiled, steamed, in soup or just left juicy and crispy.

Dumplings for my family are best liked just crispy and dipped in a soy garlic sauce. First pan fried browned, steamed and eaten a bite at a time. 

My daughter loves these dumplings and since we've had a decent rainfall these couple of days it's the perfect snack to warm up the tummy during this cool night breezes.

Dumplings with Soy Garlic Sauce

250g minced beef/pork

1 tbsp coriander, finely chopped

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

1 tsp grated ginger

1 tbsp spring onion, finely chopped

Marinade

1 tbsp light soy sauce

1 tsp cornflour

1/2 tsp Shaoxing wine/sherry

1/2 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp sesame seed oil

Pastry

180g plain flour and extra flour for kneading

3/4 warm water

1. Combine the mince meat, onions, spring onions, coriander and marinade in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 30 mins or more.

2. Place the flour and water in a bowl and knead. It will get sticky so you'll have to add extra flour making the dough soft and smooth. Cover with a damp cloth and leave it to rest for 30 mins.

3. Knead the dough onto a floured surface and roll out into lengths and cut 1 1/2" strips. Roll into balls and flatten out into a disc. Use a rolling pin but don't roll it too thinly. Place a teaspoon of mince meat filling and pinch the edges to seal.

4. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok. Place the dumplings with seal facing up and panfry until golden brown at the base. Cover the dumplings with 1/2 water and boil off the water. Uncover the wok and cook a further 1-2 mins. Serve it hot with dipping sauce.

Soy Garlic Sauce

150 ml light soy sauce

50 ml water

1 tsp sugar

2 tbsp minced garlic

1. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring it to the boil. Lower the heat and cook until the garlic is soften, about another 3 - 5 mins. Remove from heat and serve.

The dumplings are best eaten hot when served with the dipping sauce. It can be really juicy so be careful when it's hot.