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Cook dumplings in three ways
A complete guide on how to cook dumplings. Informative tips on three popular methods: boiling, pan-frying and steaming.
Cook Time
mins
Total Time
15 mins
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- Fresh homemade dumplings
- oil for pan-frying method only
- Sliced carrot for steaming method only
Instructions
How to boil dumplings
- Bring a pot of water to a full boil over a high heat. Gently slide in dumplings.
- Push them around with the back of a spoon to avoid sticking. Cover with a lid.
- When the water comes back to a full boil, add about 120 ml / 0.5 cup of cold water then cover.
- Repeat the procedure twice. When fully cooked, the dumplings should be plump and floating on the surface.
- Transfer the dumplings to a colander. Briefly run tap water (make sure it’s drinkable water) over. Drain and serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
How to pan-fry dumplings
- Heat up a little oil (just enough to cover the surface of your pan) over a high heat. Place in dumplings.
- When the bottom part of the dumplings becomes golden brown, pour in cold water (enough to cover ⅓ of the dumplings). Cover with a lid.
- Uncover when the water evaporates completely. Cook another 30 seconds or so to crisp up.
How to steam dumplings
- Scatter carrot slices in the steamer basket, then place dumplings on top (This is to avoid sticking. You may use parchment paper or coat the steamer with a little oil).
- Bring the water to a full boil, then place the basket in.
- Cook with lid on over a medium heat for around 10 minutes (The time may vary depending on the type of the wrappers, please see note 3).
Notes
- How to cook frozen dumplings: You don’t need to defrost them. Boil or pan fry them the usual way. If steaming, prolong the cooking time by 2 minutes.
- Recook leftover dumplings: Fry them with a little oil in a pan. Turn over several times to ensure that they are evenly heated.
- The suggested steaming time is for dumplings with wheat flour based wrappers. If you are steaming dumplings with starch based wrappers, eg. Har gow (crystal prawn dumplings) , reduce the cooking time to 6 minutes or so.