How to Make Homemade Dumplings

Expert cooks say making the best dumplings is not a challenge some newbies can easily tackle. Homemade dumplings in particular are time-consuming and difficult to make, despite it being a staple alternative to noodles and rice in some restaurants in Singapore that specialize in Asian cuisine.

To get an idea of the process of making dumplings, here is a guide on how to create homemade wrappers and pork and chicken dumplings.

Dumpling Wrappers

Ingredients: 420 grams or 3 cups of all-purpose flour and additional flour for dusting, 210 mL water and an additional 10 mL for adjustments, and ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions: Using a stand mixer, combine salt and flour first before adding the water. Switch to a hook to knead the dough for about 8 minutes until it becomes smooth. Once done, shape the dough into a round ball, cover, and set aside for 15 minutes. Knead the dough for about 2 to 3 minutes until it hardens, then rest again for an hour or more.

When the dough is elastic, soft, and easy to handle, shape it into a circle then cut in halves until you have 3-cm logs. Make sure to dust the tiny logs to prevent from sticking. Next, dust the work surface, take a piece of dough, and press it with a rolling pin until it becomes a flat disc. You should be able to produce not more wrappers with a diameter not more than 10 cm.

Pork Dumplings

Ingredients: dumpling wrappers, 1 pound ground pork, ½ cabbage, 1 cup sliced scallions, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 34 cup minced cilantro, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 3 tablespoons grated ginger, 2 whisked eggs, and 2 tablespoons sesame oil

Instructions: Toss the cabbage and salt in a bowl and set aside for 10 minutes. Then, squeeze the liquid from the cabbage and combine them with the ground pork, cilantro, scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, whisked eggs, and ginger in another bowl using your hands. Create a line of bowls with water, filling, and baking sheet.

Place 1 tablespoon of filling in each dumpling wrapper then dampen the edges with water to seal it. Fold the dumpling in half and close the top before creating pleats on the sides. Once done, line them in the baking sheet ready for cooking or storage.

Chicken Dumplings

Ingredients: ½ pound ground chicken, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, a dash of fish sauce, 1 clove garlic, 1 ½ tablespoons chopped green onion, ½ cup green cabbage, ½ teaspoon pepper, and dumpling wrappers

Instructions: Mix the ground chicken, fish sauce, cabbage, green onion, pepper, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger in a food processor. Scoop ½ tablespoon each of the mixture onto the dumpling wrappers then fold according to the instructions already detailed above.

You can also use a dumpling maker to fold, close, and make pleats on the dumpling wrapper. Once done, the dumplings can be stored or prepared for steaming or pan-frying.