Vegan Potstickers With Mushroom And Tofu Recipes

VEGAN POTSTICKERS (PAN-FRIED DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• To make dough: combine the flour and salt together in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center, and gradually add the boiling water, stirring with a spoon until the mixture forms clumps. Cover and let rest for five minutes. Add 1 tbsp cold water and knead into a ball, then cover and let rest as you prepare the filling.
• To make filling: heat oil in a large work or skillet over medium high heat and stir-fry ginger and onions until translucent. Add in chopped mushrooms and stir-fry for another 3-5 minutes until liquid is evaporated, then add cabbage and carrots and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, until most of the liquid from the vegetables is released. Add chives, wine, soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, and salt, and cook one more minute, then remove from heat. Taste and add more salt or sesame oil as necessary (you want the filling to be quite salty/well-seasoned, as the flavor mellows in the dumplings). Place filling in the fridge to cool.
• To make the dumplings, divide the dough into two portions, and knead well. Roll each portion into a 1 inch rope, and cut into small tablespoon-sized pieces, flattening each piece with the palm of your hand. Dust the working surface with flour and roll each piece out into a flat disc. Add a generous amount of filling and pleat the edges, pinching tightly to seal.
• Heat a tablespoon of oil in a non-stick pan over medium high heat, then place the dumplings in the pan and allow to fry for 2 minutes. Pour 1/4 cup (or a thin layer) of water into the pan, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Allow dumplings to steam until the water has evaporated, then remove the cover, increase heat to medium-high and fry for a few more minutes, until the bottoms of the dumplings are golden brown and crisp. Serve immediately.

VEGAN POTSTICKERS WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients and set aside - the longer you leave the sauce, the spicier and more garlicky it will get, so plan accordingly.
• Blend the avocado flesh and salt into the flour so the avocado is thoroughly mixed in - there shouldn't be any lumps of avocado left in the mixture. Add enough very hot water, pulsing as you go, to create a supple, non-sticky dough (I used about 150ml).
• Turn out of the machine and knead for about 10 minutes, until the dough feels smooth and supple. You could also make the dough in a stand mixer, in which case you would blend the avocado in with the beater, then switch to the dough hook to knead. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside.
• Soak the shiitake, jelly ear fungus and dried chillies in enough cold water to cover until fully re-hydrated, about one hour.
• While the mushrooms and chillies are soaking, preheat the oven to 230c. In the same food processor you made the dough in (no need to clean), chop the mushrooms finely. Spread in an even layer over a rimmed baking sheet and roast until browned and dried out, stirring once, about 20 minutes. When they are nearly ready, remove from the oven and drizzle over a little soy sauce to season. Return to the oven for a few minutes to dry out, then add to a large bowl.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with baking paper and crumble the tofu over it in an even layer. Drizzle over soy sauce (to taste) and roast in the oven with the mushrooms until caramelised and crispy, about 25 minutes. Add to the roasted mushrooms.
• When the shiitake mushrooms are ready, trim off the woody stems and add to the food processor (again, no need to clean) with the soaked chillies, fresh ginger, garlic and sesame oil. Blend to a paste, scraping down as necessary. Mix into the mushroom and tofu.
• Chop the chives finely, reserve a little for garnish, then mix the rest into the filling. Taste the filling for spice, seasoning and balance and adjust as necessary.
• Roll out the pastry as explained in this spelt pastry pie recipe, making sure your pastry sheet is wide enough for your cutter (mine was 10cm). Working one sheet at a time so it doesn't dry out, cut out circles with a biscuit cutter. Lay the pastry circle over your dumpling press and add tablespoons of filling to the centre. Moisten one edge with a little water, make sure no filling is obstructing the edges and squeeze the dumpling press firmly together until the dumpling is completely sealed. If you want a very even edge, while the dumpling press is closed, scrape the excess pastry off (pictured) before opening the press.
• Lay finished dumplings on a baking sheet covered with baking paper and sprinkled with a little cornflour/starch - see below for freezing instructions.
• Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat until hot. Add a thin film of oil and when hot, add the dumplings. They should be in an even layer with a little space between each dumpling to allow for swelling.
• Cook until lightly browned on one side, then add about 200ml/just less than a cup of water to the pan and quickly cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 10 minutes, until all or most of the water has been absorbed. If there is still water when you remove the lid, but the dumplings are ready, turn up the heat to boil off the water and recrisp the bottoms.
• Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.