Chinese Pan-Fried Dumplings

Ingredients

For the Filling:

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped bok choy leaves
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped napa cabbage
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped water chestnuts
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine, or dry sherry
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Dash of white pepper

For the Dumplings:

  • 1 (48-count) package dumpling wrappers, or gyoza wrappers
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 lightly beaten egg white, optional
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or canola oil, more as needed
  • 1/3 cup water, plus more if needed
  • Dipping sauce, optional

Methods

Make the Filling

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Chinese pan-fried dumpling filling
  2. In a large bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Use your fingers to mix everything together. If preparing the filling ahead of time, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

    Dumpling filling ingredients combined in a bowl

Make the Dumplings

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for making dumplings
  2. Place a dumpling wrapper on a cutting board. Cover the remaining wrappers with a damp cloth to keep them from drying out while filling and folding the dumplings. Add a heaping teaspoon of the filling to the middle of the pot sticker wrapper and use your finger to spread it out toward the sides. Be sure not to overfill or spread the filling too close to the edge of the wrapper.

    Wonton wrapper with filling on a cutting board
  3. To fold the dumpling, moisten the edges of the wrapper with the mixture of water and cornstarch to make it easier to seal. Use the optional egg white instead if you’d prefer.

    Moistening the edges of the wonton wrapper
  4. Gently lift the edges of the moistened wrapper over the filling and bring it together at the top center. Crimp the edges of the wrapper several times along the edge and pinch together to seal. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling. Keep the dumplings covered lightly with plastic wrap or a slightly damp clean kitchen towel as you work to avoid drying out.

    Dumpling is folded and sealed and edges are crimped
  5. Heat a wok or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add 10 to 12 pot stickers at a time and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottoms are browned.

    Cooking dumplings in a wok until browned
  6. Add 1/3 cup water, cover, and steam the dumplings until cooked through and the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes.

    Adding water to the wok with the dumplings
  7. Remove and cook the remaining dumplings in the same manner. Usually, 1/3 cup of water is enough to steam 10 to 12 dumplings, but use more if needed.

    Steaming the dumplings in a wok
  8. Serve alone or with a dipping sauce.

    Dumplings served with dipping sauce

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