Sichuan Boiled Dumplings With Spicy Dipping Sauce Recipes

SICHUAN BOILED DUMPLINGS WITH SPICY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Editor's Note: Hot bean paste is a savory, spicy combination of fermented soybeans and chiles. Look for jars at Asian markets.
• For the filling, combine the pork, shrimp, soy sauce, vegetable oil, cilantro, scallion, mushroom, sesame oil, white pepper, and 1/3 cup water in a medium bowl. Mix well. Cover, and freeze for 1 hour (or refrigerate overnight) to firm the mixture and make it easier to handle.
• Dissolve the cornstarch in 3 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl to make a paste. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and sprinkle it with cornstarch. Moisten the edges of a dumpling wrapper by dipping your finger into the paste and running it over the edge of the wrapper. Using a blunt knife as a scoop, place about a tablespoon of the filling in the center of the wrapper. Bring the edges of the wrapper up to meet at the top of the filling and pinch them closed, squeezing the dough. Place the dumpling on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining filling and wrappers. (The uncooked dumplings can be made ahead, covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerated for up to 1 day. Or freeze them for up to 3 months. To freeze, place them in a single layer in a plastic storage container or plastic storage bag, arranged so that the dumplings don't touch one another. When you are ready to cook them, the frozen dumplings will be easy to remove, one by one.).
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add the dumplings and cover the pan. Cook until the filling is cooked through and the dumplings are floating on top of the water, about 4 minutes.
• While the dumplings are cooking, make the sauce: Heat a wok or medium skillet over high heat. Add the oil and heat until it shimmers. Add the scallions, garlic, and black pepper, and stir-fry for 20 seconds. Transfer to a small bowl. Add the sugar, vinegar, hot bean paste, soy sauce, sesame oil, and hot chile oil to the scallions, and mix well. Divide the sauce among four soup bowls.
• Carefully drain the dumplings in a colander. Place the dumplings on top of the sauce in the bowls, and serve immediately.

SICHUANESE WONTONS IN CHILLI OIL SAUCE (HONG YOU CHAO SHOU)

Steps:

• Crush the ginger with the flat of a cleaver or a rolling pin and put it in a cup with just enough cold water to cover. Place the pork, egg, Shaoxing wine and sesame oil in a bowl with 1 1/2 tsp of the ginger water and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well. Mix in the stock, 1 tbsp at a time. Finally, add the spring onion greens.
• Fill a small bowl with cold water. Take a wonton wrapper and lay it flat in one hand. Use a table knife or a small spatula to press about 1 tsp of the pork mixture into the center of the wrapper. Dip a finger into the cold water, run it around the edges of the wrapper and fold it diagonally in half. Press the edges tightly together and lay on a flour-dusted tray or large plate.
• Bring a large pan of water to a boil over a high heat. While you are waiting for the water to boil, prepare three or four serving bowls. In each bowl, place 1 tbsp sweet aromatic soy sauce (or 1 tbsp tamari soy sauce and 1/2 tsp sugar), 1 1/2 tbsp chilli oil with sediment and 1/2-1 heaped tsp of crushed garlic to taste.
• When the water has come to a boil, drop in the wontons. Stir gently to make sure they do not stick together. When the water returns to a rolling boil, pour in a small cup of cold water to calm it down. Repeat this one more time. When the water has come to a boil for the third time, the wontons should be cooked through (cut one open to make sure). Remove the wontons with a slotted spoon, drain well, and divide between the prepared serving bowls. Scatter each bowl with some of the spring onion greens. Serve immediately, stirring everything together before digging in.

CHINESE STEAMED DUMPLINGS WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix ingredients for dipping sauce and set aside.
• Lightly oil a large bowl.
• Put the flour and salt in another large bowl, piled up.
• Make a dent in the top of the pile, and crack the egg into it.
• Mix the egg into the flour.
• Add enough water to the mixture to make a thick dough.
• The consistency should be like bread dough.
• In any case, don't add too much water--it shouldn't be like batter at all!
• Turn the dough out onto the flour-dusted counter, and form into a ball.
• (It helps to flour your hands first).
• Place the dough into the oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap (cellofane).
• Let stand 1 hour.
• Meanwhile mix all ingredients for filling and place in the fridge.
• Next, remove dough and place on flour-dusted counter (or work surface).
• Knead a bit and flatten until very thin (but not see-through or falling apart).
• Using a large, round cookie-cutter (or bottom of coffee can or top of glass) cut three-inch rounds.
• Don't place them on top of each other, as they could stick together!
• Knead the leftover pieces together again and cut more rounds until there's no dough left.
• Spoon a bit of the filling into the center of each round and fold in half (to make a semi-circle shape).
• Seal edges with a bit of water, and use tongs of a fork to decorate the edge.
• To prepare, either steam the dumplings (if you have a steamer) for 15 mins, or boil for 10 mins.
• If you boil, add some oil to the water and don't overcrowd the pan--make them in batches.
• If you like, you can fry the dumplings in a skillet or wok to brown them before serving.
• Handle gently!

SHRIMP AND SPINACH DUMPLINGS WITH ASIAN DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Cook spinach in 1 inch simmering water in a small saucepan, stirring, until wilted, about 5 seconds. Drain in a sieve and rinse under cold water until cool. Squeeze to remove as much moisture as possible. Finely chop spinach and stir with remaining filling ingredients until blended.
• Fill wrappers and steam dumplings:
• Stack a few wonton wrappers (keep remaining wrappers covered) and cut into rounds with a 2 1/2-inch cutter. Spread 1 slightly rounded teaspoon filling onto each round, spreading up to but not over edge. Bring up edge of each round, pleating to form a cup and leaving open at top.
• Bring enough water to a boil in a wok so that bottom rim of steamer (not basket) rests in water. Line steamer rack with lettuce. Arrange dumplings over lettuce, making sure dumplings do not touch each other. Cover with steamer lid and steam until filling is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Make dipping sauce:
• Stir together all sauce ingredients.