Veal Dumplings With Ancho Chili Sauce Recipes

VEAL DUMPLINGS WITH ANCHO CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil over high heat in a large saucepan. when hot, add the spinach and immediately cover the pan. Low the heat to medium and cook for 2 minutes or until wilted. Remove the spinach from the pan and drain off any excess liquid. when cool, chop finely and set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix the veal, shallots, soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions, basil or cilantro leaves and gingerroot, add the chopped spinach.
• Place about 2 teaspoons of the stuffing in the center of each wrapper.
• Moisten the edges with cold water, then fold them over the filling to form a
• half moon or half circle shape. Pinch together the edges with your fingers.
• The moisten the 2 ends with water and bring them together in a circle around
• the filling and the dumpling can be made in advance and frozen, tightly sealed for up to 3 months.
• Cook only the dumplings you intend to serve. Feeze the rest for later use. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add about one-third of the dumplings at a time, and cook until they rise to the surface and float. The filling will still be raw. Add 1/2 cup cold water and return to a boil again. When the dumplings float, taste one to see if it is done. If not, add another 1/2 cup cold water and cook until the dumplings rise again. Adding cold water slows the cooking so the dough does not break, allowing enough time for the filling to be throughly cooked. (Sometimes I cook the meat first in the microwave,.
• Its cheating, but then I am in a hurry) Remove the dumplings from the water with a strainer or slotted spoon,
• drain and place 6 dumplings on each serving plate. Heat the Ancho Chili Sauce:
• In a small saucepan over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until warm. Pour 3 tablespoons over each serving. Serve any remaining sauce on the side. Deocrate with Julienned basil leaves, Sichuan preserved vegetables and fried Shallots if desired. Serve warm.

LAMB CHILI WITH MASA HARINA DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Make chili:
• Simmer dried chiles in 2 cups water, covered, in a 2-quart heavy saucepan until very soft, about 20 minutes. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid, then drain in a colander. Stem chiles (do not remove seeds), then purée in a blender with reserved cooking liquid until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Force purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Reserve purée.
• Pat lamb dry, then sprinkle with pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Heat 2 tablespoons lard in a 6-quart wide heavy pot or a 3-inch-deep straight-sided skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown lamb in 4 batches (without crowding), turning occasionally, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a bowl.
• Add remaining tablespoon lard to pot, then cook onion, garlic, bay leaves, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add cumin and oregano and cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute. Stir in reserved chile purée and chipotles and simmer, stirring frequently and scraping up brown bits from bottom of pot, 5 minutes. Add lamb along with any juices accumulated in bowl and remaining 3 cups water, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until lamb is tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Make dumplings:
• Stir together masa harina, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Blend in lard pieces with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk, stirring just until dough is moistened (do not overmix).
• Skim fat off chili and discard bay leaves, then drop 8 or 9 heaping tablespoons of dough onto simmering chili, about 2 inches apart. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, covered, until tops of dumplings are dry to the touch, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro.

ANCHO CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Place chilies in medium metal bowl. Pour enough boiling water over chilies to cover. Let stand until chilies are soft, about 30 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup soaking liquid.
• Puree chilies, 3 tablespoons soaking liquid and lime juice in blender until smooth. Transfer to small bowl. Whisk in mayonnaise, brown sugar, oregano, rosemary and cumin. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using, adding water by tablespoonfuls and stirring if very thick.)