Asian Potstickers

So I have already made some Asian Egg Rolls, so next, of course I should show you how to make dumplings! These are my absolute favorite food in the universe. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE pasta in any form--particularly dumplings. My secret pleasure is buying dumplings from the local Chinese restaurant.

These "potstickers" (I call them that because I use wonton wrappers to make them instead of homemade dumpling dough) are really easy to make. The sauce is my secret recipe--as close as you can get to the amazing Chinese restaurant stuff. Trust me, you won't find this anywhere else.


Dumpling Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp. chopped spring onion
-1 tsp. chopped garlic
-1 tsp. chopped ginger
-1/8 tsp. chili powder
-1/4 cup black vinegar (sugar cane vinegar--you can find this at an Asian market)
-2 Tbsp. soy sauce
-2 tsp. sesame oil
- 1 tsp. honey
-1 tsp. water

Combine everything, taste. Add more honey or water to taste. Serve at room temperature.


Ingredients for Potstickers:
-1lb. ground pork
-1/2lb. ground beef
-2 cloves of garlic
-1 inch of peeled ginger, sliced
- 1/2 cup of shredded carrot
- 6 spring onions, sliced
- 1 tsp. salt
-1 package of wonton wrappers (48)
To make the Potstickers:

1. Place all of the dumpling filling ingredients into your food processor.

 

 2. Blend until everything is all chopped up evenly and you can smell the garlic and ginger.

 3. Prepare a surface for your work, a small bowl of water, and a plate with a damp cloth, ready to cover the potstickers. Lay out your first wonton wrapper and place 1 teaspoon of filling in the center. Dip your finger in the water and run it around all of the edges.

4. The next step is the folding. Honestly, you can just fold it in half--or whatever shape you want. For this fun shape, start by pressing two corners together in the center.

5. Next, fold in the other two corners, pinching the center together.

 6. Make sure it is entirely sealed, or it will fall apart when it cooks.

 7. Continue this process until you are out of meat and wonton wrappers.

8. To cook, preheat a wide pan to medium heat. Once hot heat radiates from it, add in 2 tsp. butter and 2 of oil. Let it coat the pan. Add in one layer of potstickers, being sure not to crowd the pan. 

 9. Let them sizzle away like this for 3-5 minutes, undisturbed. Pick one up to see if the bottom is brown enough.

 10. Next, you can either continue flipping them around and browning them--they will be nice and crispy this way--or you can add 2 tablespoons of water, and cover them quickly with a lid, and simmer them for 5-8 minutes until they are softened and steamed (these ones are pan fried).

 Ta-da! Beautiful.

Now, all you need it your sauce and some fixin's.