As a preferred appetizer and a meal staple in some countries like China or Jamaica, dumplings vary in its fillings, and then, ways of cooking. Depending on a person’s taste and diet, dumpling type, season and occasion, dumplings will be cooked in several ways.
For instance, pan-fried dumplings Gyoza and Mandu are a favorite food of Japanese and Korean respectively, deep-fried and steamed dumplings (Jiaozi) is a “must-serve” food on Chinese New Year’s Eve, beef stewed with dumplings are popular in America, and baked apple dumplings are a beloved appetizer of both kids and adults in European countries.
In this article, we recommend most popular 6 ways of cooking dumplings. If you are a dumpling and homemade food lover, add them to your cooking diary.
Find out dumpling recipes here!
Boiled dumplings
Boiled dumplings are the easiest and most traditional form of dumplings, especially in countries where dumplings are highly consumed. When filled with vegetables, they becomes a healthy food to add in the diet of healthy eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and even those who prefer something “easy-to-digest” for dinner.
The way to make it is simple: add wrapped dumplings in a saucepan with boiled water, boil until they float to the surface, transfer to a dish, and serve.
Steamed dumplings
Along with boiled dumplings, steamed are healthy and fresh, then, great to serve as an appetizer. When paired with a delicious dipping sauce, it becomes a meal to tantalize your taste buds. If you follow a healthy diet, these dumplings are certainly right up your street.
Here is how to steam dumplings: place dumplings in a steamer lined with a bamboo mat, cabbage leaf or banana leaves, steam for 15-20 minutes or until the dumplings are translucent, let cool for a few minutes and serve.
Pan-fried dumplings
Pan-fried dumplings (pot stickers) are the most popular cooking style of dumplings and preferred by Korean, Chinese and Japanese. They are golden brown and crispy on both sides but different from those deep-fried, so easy to grasp the attention of eaters and satisfy the appetite of eater.
Here is how it works: Heat up the skillet with some oil over medium heat. Place in 8 to 10 dumplings and fry until the bottom turns brown, about 2 minutes per side. Pour in 1 cup of water, cover and cook until the dumplings are tender and the pork is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove the lid and allow to fry for a few more minutes, until the bottom of dumplings are golden brown and crispy.
Deep-fried dumplings
Dumplings can also be deep-fried but less popular than the boiled, steamed pan-fried and cooked in soup ones. The deep-fried crispy golden-brow Jamaican dumplings (Johnny Cakes) are a typical dumpling of this type. They are a “must-serve” food at Jamaican Festival a meal staple when served with other foods such as eggs, fish, callaloo, ackee, or meat.
To make deep-fried dumplings, you heat up the oil in a pan; add in dumplings; flip to fry on both sides until golden brown (about 3 minutes per side).
Baked dumplings
Other ways of cooking dumplings is baking and the most popular type is apple dumplings that feature features the softness and gooeyness at the bottom while the crispness on top, and tastes like apple pie. Originated around Pennsylvania, the United States, these dumplings have spread over different parts of the world to it a worldwide sensation.
This recipe is quite time-consuming in preparing ingredients and baking but ends up with delicious apple dumplings. If you are free at the weekend, these dumplings are really worth trying.
Dumpling soup
Dumplings offer such a good taste when made in soup, making it an ideal food to warm up the body during autumn and winter days. It can also be served as an appetizer to raise your taste buds before meal.
It’s worth mentioning that the soup varies in its recipe. For example, in China, dumplings are commonly cooked in the soup made of chicken or mushroom broth, ginger, soy, wine, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and salt. So, you can definitely create your own recipe for making dumpling soup.
We’ve introduced 6 ways of cooking dumplings for you to order when having meal outside and cook at home. To give these dumplings a better taste, you can eat them with your favorite dipping sauce.
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