Fragrant garlic, fresh ginger and toasted sesame oil give these steamed pork dumplings the addictive flavor you crave.
It’s probably pretty clear by now that I adore every type of Asian food. From Vietnamese pho to egg rolls to scallion pancakes and everything in between- you name it, I crave it!
It all stems from my childhood of eating everything from Vietnamese food to sushi to Chinese food on a regular basis.
As a result, much to my husband’s dismay, when picking a place to spend my hard-earned money I would much rather choose an Asian restaurant than a burger or pizza joint.
Dumplings rank up there as one of my all time favorite Asian foods. From Japanese gyoza to Chinese potstickers – I just can’t get enough. Earlier this year, my friend Julie shared a beautiful recipe and incredible video on How to Make Chinese Potstickers.
While I had made them at home in the past, it had been years and I was ready to give it a second try. Leave it to Julie to make it look easy as pie! (She also has a great pie dough recipe but that’s another story.)
Give these a shot – you will be surprised how easy they are to make at home and even more thrilling: you don’t have to split that tiny platter of six with a table of four. You’re welcome.
No fork required this time.
Steamed Pork Dumplings
Ingredients
- 8 oz ground pork
- 2 cups shredded napa cabbage
- 2 scallions (halved)
- 2 inch piece fresh ginger (quartered)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon shaoh sing rice cooking wine or dry sherry
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 24 wonton wrappers
- small bowl water for assembling
Sweet Soy Dipping Sauce
- 2 tbs soy sauce (low sodium)
- 1 tbs rice wine vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sriracha (optional)
- 2 tablespoons minced scallions
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse together dumpling filling (ground pork through pepper) until smooth. Place mixture in a medium bowl and set aside.
- To assemble dumplings, lay out wonton wrappers six at a time on a clean surface and have bowl of water and dumpling mixture side by side.
- Using a cookie scoop or two tablespoons, place a small amount of the filling mixture in the center of each wonton wrapper.
- Light dip finger into water and moisten all four edges of the wonton wrapper. Gently bring together top and bottom of the wrapper and pinch tightly to secure. Do the same with the left and right side pinching tightly once again to make sure the dumpling filling is tightly secure in the wonton wrapper.
- Repeat the process until you’ve filled all wonton wrappers.
- Bring two inches of water to boil in a large wok or sauce pot. To prevent dumplings from sticking during cooking, line steamer basket with several cabbage leaves. Steam 6 dumplings at a time in basket, careful not to over-crowd, for 8-10 minutes with a tight fitting lid.
- While dumplings are steaming, whisk together sweet soy dipping sauce.
- Serve dumplings warm with dipping sauce on the side.
These look awesome! I was wondering if kneading the filling by hand would work if you don’t own a food processor… (Of course, after using the hand blender to mince the ingredients)
Absolutely!! No problem at all. Let me know how they turn out!!
I ended up changing most of the ingredients, but used your technique to make them. They turned out great!!! I brought them over to a friends’ place for an olympics watching party and everyone loved them :)
Oh I’m so glad!!! Sounds perfect!
I used to always order these with chinese. These are so simple and delish! I made them twice in the past week! So much better when made at home!
Thanks!
me too!! It’s my favorite take out order!!
Liz,
My family loves gyoza/mandoo/pot stickers.
I’m starting to think that my haul of ground beef could be used instead of pork. I’ve got the rest of the goodies, even the hsao sing thanks to Lydia’s posts at the Perfect Pantry.
Thanks for this recipe!
I’m OBSESSED with pork dumplings… never attempted them at home but need to now! :)
Girl…. you must try making them at home!!! Then you can eat 100’s of them without judgement from fellow restaurant guests. ;)
I love every type of Asian food too! Those look so perfect! I don’t know if mine will look that good but I’m going to try them!
Who cars what they look like!! My aunt even makes the filling only and cooks it in chicken broth for a fast soup so she doesn’t bother with the dumpling part – haha.
Nice recipe. Thanks so much.
My pleasure Liz – thank you for reading!
I looooovvve steamed pork dumplings! I kind of assumed they weren’t that easy to make so I never considered making them at home….thanks so much for changing that!
They are totally easy to make at home!!! They take a tiny bit of time but it’s oddly soothing and relaxing. :) Enjoy!!
Liz, I’m with you on the Asian food, and my husband’s tastes are more, shall we say, mundane? However, yesterday we were talking about excursions for our upcoming cruise, and he decided that he is willing to do a Thai cooking class with me, even though he’s not big on Thai food. Who knows, maybe we’ll find something from Thai cuisine that he likes…
These dumplings sound wonderful. But they would be an entree for me, because of the calorie count. I’m not sure I’ll get them made, but I’m definitely saving the recipe.
Oh I’m so jealous of your cruise and your Thai cooking class!!!!! Please let me know how it is!!! Enjoy!
The cooking class won’t be until about the middle of March next year, when we get to Phuket. I will do my best to remember to let you know about it.
Liz, I just came across the email where I promised to tell you about the Thai cooking class, and it dawned on me that I should ask you if you would like to receive my email updates from our trip. Depending on how many places we visit close together, I usually send out an update once or twice a week. Let me know.
Yes please!! :-)
Done!
They look so good! I am liking your Asian recipes.
Thank you so much – I could eat Asian food every day. :)
Ooo, Liz, the recipe sounds divoon. Since pork can’t be used,what would work as a optimal ??substitute
You could use ground chicken! Would work perfectly!! Love you!
I love dumplings!!! I need to make some asap!
I could eat dumplings every day! I’ll trade you for cookies. :)
You know I am right there with you regarding Asian food. YUM!!!!
I know you are sista!! :)
What would happen if I left the corn starch out?
The corn starch helps absolute some of the water released from the cabbage. You want a dry filling mixture so the dumplings don’t get watery or soak through the wrapper. That being said, you could always shred the cabbage, salt it and let it sit then soak up the water with a hand towel or paper towel before adding everything else. :)
You are my soul food, sista!! These are going down after I get back from Iowa!!
hahah I know it!! Have so much fun in Iowa!! Can’t wait to follow along virtually!
I totally want these! I had pork dumplings once many years ago and LOVED them… I’m in love with these cute little bundles {and the dipping sauce, I mean HELLO!?}!
I’m such a sucker for good dipping sauce!!!
These look amazing! I’ll have to try these!
The kiddos would love these Carrian!! They’re the perfect one-two bite. :)
Oh my word… these look so delicious! You make it look so easy to make, I’ll have to try!
Thanks so much Ali – let me know if you try them! They are definitely easy to make, PROMISE!
I just love, love, love dumplings, but we always save them for when we go out. Now I’m feeling pumped up to make them at home!
Dude. Same here. I always order them out but the time came for me to tackle them at home and I can’t believe how easy they are!