Michael Schulsons Vegetable Dumplings Recipes

VEGETABLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger and sesame oil (if using) until the sugar dissolves. Cover and set aside.
• Make the filling for the dumplings: In another small bowl, stir together the scallions, soy sauce, hoisin sauce and ginger. Add 2 teaspoons canola oil to a large nonstick frying pan. Turn the heat to medium and warm up the oil for 2 minutes. Carefully add the cabbage, mushrooms and carrot and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the scallion mixture and stir to combine. Transfer the dumpling filling to a medium bowl and let cool to room temperature. Wipe out the pan or clean it if necessary.
• Once the filling has cooled, assemble the dumplings: Put 1 cup water in a medium bowl. Sprinkle a large rimmed baking sheet with 2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch, using your fingers to evenly distribute it.
• Lay 1 wonton wrapper on a clean work surface. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the dumpling filling in the center of the wrapper. Dip your fingers in the water and lightly moisten the edges of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper in half (if using squares, fold the wrapper in half diagonally to form a triangle) and press the edges together to seal. Place the dumpling on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with additional wrappers and the remaining filling until you've used up all the filling. (At this point, you can freeze some of the dumplings in a single layer on the baking sheet. Once they are frozen, transfer them to a resealable plastic bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Don't thaw them before cooking, but add a few minutes to the cooking time.)
• Cook the dumplings: Brush the same frying pan with 2 teaspoons canola oil, set the pan over medium heat and warm up the oil for 2 minutes. Adding one dumpling at a time but working quickly, dust off excess cornstarch and add as many dumplings as will comfortably fit in a single layer in the pan (don't crowd them or they won't cook evenly). Let cook (no stirring!) until browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs, gently flip the dumplings. Carefully pour about 1/2 cup water into the pan (it will bubble up and steam!). Cover and cook until the water is mostly absorbed, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the dumplings to a serving platter and cover lightly with aluminum foil to keep warm. Repeat to cook the remaining dumplings, brushing the pan with 2 teaspoons canola oil before each batch.
• Serve dumplings warm, with the dipping sauce.

MICHAEL SCHULSON'S VEGETABLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Fill a medium pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add salt and return to a boil. Add edamame and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Drain edamame and transfer to the bowl of a food processor along with heavy cream, butter, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and truffle oil, if using. Process until smooth.
• Place 1 teaspoon edamame mixture in each dumpling wrapper and fold to enclose. Place dumplings on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover with a moist paper towel; set aside.
• Fill a large saucepan or wok with 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Set a bamboo steamer over saucepan and add dumplings. Cover and steam until tender, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately in warmed chicken broth and garnish with onion sprouts, if desired.

VEGETABLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Start by making the dough for the dumpling wrappers. Put the flour in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add the water to the flour and knead into a smooth dough. This process should take about 10 minutes. Cover with a damp cloth and let the dough rest for an hour.
• In the meantime, make the filling. In a wok or large skillet over medium high heat, add 3 tablespoons oil and add the ginger. Cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the onions and stir-fry until translucent.
• Add the chopped mushrooms and stir-fry for another 3-5 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and any liquid released by the mushrooms has cooked off.
• Add the cabbage and carrots and stir-fry for another 2 minutes, until the veggies are tender and all the liquid released has been cooked off. Transfer the vegetable mixture to a large mixing bowl and allow to cool.
• To the bowl, add the chopped chives, white pepper, sesame oil, shaoxing wine, soy sauce, and sugar. Season with salt to taste (though the soy sauce will usually add enough salt to the filling), and stir in the last 1/4 cup of oil.
• To assemble the dumplings, cut the dough into small tablespoon-sized pieces. Roll each out into a circle, and pleat the dumplings (see this post for step-by-step photos on how to fold a dumpling). Continue assembling until you've run out of filling and/or dough.
• To cook the dumplings, steam them or pan-fry them. To steam, put the dumplings in a steamer lined with a bamboo mat, cabbage leaf, or cheese cloth, and steam for 15-20 minutes.
• To pan-fry, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a non-stick pan over medium high heat. Place the dumplings in the pan and allow to fry for 2 minutes. Pour a thin layer of water into the pan, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Allow dumplings to steam until the water has evaporated. Remove the cover, increase heat to medium-high and allow to fry for a few more minutes, until the bottoms of the dumplings are golden brown and crisp.
• Serve with our favorite dumpling sauce!

LITTLE DUMPLINGS WITH LEFTOVER ROAST AND VEGGIES

Steps:

• For the dough: Combine the egg, butter, sour cream, chives and 1 teaspoon salt with your hands in a bowl. Don't worry if the mixture is not uniform and, as with pie dough, don't overwork it. Add the flour and mix with your hands until a dough forms. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate the dough at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Roll the dough into 1/2-inch-thick ropes and cut into dumplings.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt liberally. Drop in the dumplings and cook until they float to the top, about 2 minutes.
• For the roast and veggies: Meanwhile, add the butter to a large pan over medium heat and begin to brown for 2 minutes. Add the chicken and spinach and toss to combine. Cook to warm the chicken and begin to wilt the spinach, about 2 minutes. Add the rosemary and cook for 2 more minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup of the dumpling cooking water and the dumplings and simmer until the flavors come together. Remove from the heat, toss in the Parmesan and serve.