How to cook dumplings
If it’s wrapped in dough, cook it like this.
I will eventually post a recipe on how to MAKE dumplings (I’ve done all the way from scratch, including wrappers; I’ve done with store-bought wrappers; sometimes I see dumplings in the freezer at the store and need to buy them…), but if you’re just looking for some real life instructions on how to cook dumplings, you’ve come to the right place.
Jump to RecipePan-fried for the win
Sometimes, you’ll hit up a buffet at the food court, or you’ll be at the greasiest Chinese buffet that you can imagine and you get that craving for delicious, salty meat, encased in dough. Those times are the wrong times to eat dumplings. Sure you CAN deep-fry a carrot, but would you? NO. So don’t deep fry your dumplings… pan fry them!
For instructions on how to steam dumplings, check in here for a future post.
Pan-fried dumplings are the best accompaniment to any Asian dish – Koreans do it all the time. Japanese do it all the time. Dim-sum dumplings are steamed or boiled, but that makes me believe Chinese could do it all the time. I’m not an expert, I’m a home cook, so it’s my job to teach you how to cook things you like eating, not teach you history (but if I do learn more, I’ll be sure to come back and edit this post).
Note: I’ve even done this method with perogies (/pierogies…however you like to spell it) …same same but different [filling]!
If you’re a fan of mine, (I’m a fan of yours!) you’ll have noticed that many of my posts on IG: @homecookedfeast feature a delcious dumpling side… that’s on purpose! Dumplings are delicious. If you don’t agree, we will have to debate it (in the comments section below)
How to cook dumplings
Equipment
- Frying pan with lid
Ingredients
- 1 lb dumplings fresh or frozen/homemade or bought
- 1 tbsp hot oil canola, vegetable, peanut, avocado
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- green onion finely chopped, garnish
- sesame seeds black or white, garnish
Instructions
Straight-fry/Oil Only
- Preheat pan and cooking oil to medium heat.
- Drop dumplings into pan. Stir with spoon, shake around (in a controlled way) and turn with chopsticks, flipping all dumplings on all three sides, browning equally. If frozen, add 1-2 minutes per dumpling side, in order to ensure cooked/heated all the way through.
- Once all dumplings nicely browned, remove from heat.
Partial Steam/Partial Fry
- Preheat pan and cooking oil to medium heat.
- Drop dumplings into pan. Lightly brown each side (1-2 min each side, depending on fresh/frozen).
- Add 2-4 teaspoons of water (more water if more dumplings), cover immediately and steam for 3 minutes with lid fully on.
- Remove lid and allow remaining water to steam off. Remaining oil will stick to dumplings as water evaporates.
- Remove from heat, garnish and serve.
EAT THEM ALONE… OR DON’T!
Now that you know how to cook dumplings, you’ll definitely want to eat these with some EASY HOMEMADE DUMPLING SAUCE
And, as always, try these with easy white rice for a quick snack, or with one of these delights as part of a #HOMECOOKEDFEAST:
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
I absolutely love anything Asian-fusion but I’m from Canada and need more tricks! Any family secrets? Any stories?
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Thanks for stopping in!
Enjoy food; enjoy life. – HCF