How to cook dumplings
A guide to cook dumplings (fresh or frozen) in three ways - boiling, steaming, and pan-frying.
Ingredients
- Dumplings (fresh or frozen)*
- Water
- Oil (only for pan-frying method)
Suggested accompaniments
Instructions
To Boil Dumplings
- Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. (The size of the pot depends on the number of dumplings you want to cook. Choose one such that dumplings are not crowded in it.)
- Drop the dumplings in to the boiling water, and stir gently to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- When the water comes to vigorous boil, add ¼ - ½ cup of cold water to bring the temperature of water down. This helps the wrappers from getting overcooked and starchy.
- Continue boiling and adding cold water until you see the dumplings floating on the surface. (It usually takes around 7 minutes for me.)
- Drain the dumplings using a colander or strainer, and pour some cold water over the dumplings for a few seconds to stop the cooking process.
To Steam Dumplings
- Line the steamer with napa cabbage leaves / parchment paper / non-stick liner.
- Place the dumplings (at least a finger-width apart) on the lined steamer.
- In a large wok or pan that can fit the steamer, add about 2 inches of water (The height of water should be such that when boiling, the water does not reach up to the liner).
- Place the steamer in the wok. Cover and cook over high heat for 10 minutes.
To Pan-fry Dumplings
- Spray the surface of a frying pan with oil and heat it on a medium-high setting.
- Place the dumplings on the pan and fry till the bottom part of the dumplings become light golden brown in color.
- Pour cold water into the pan, covering ⅓ of the dumplings, and cover the pan immediately. (Oil may splatter when your pour water, so stay at a safe distance from the pan while doing so.)
- Allow the dumplings to cook in the steam inside the pan until all the water has cooked off.
- Uncover the pan, and continue cooking for 30 seconds or until the bottom part of the dumplings are crispy.
- Optional step: Gently turn the dumplings to the sides and fry for a few seconds to get some golden brown spots on the dumpling's sides.
Video
Notes
Cooking frozen dumplings: There is no need to thaw frozen dumplings first. Follow the same steps to cook them as you would with a freshly wrapped one. The only difference is in cooking time - prolong it by at least 2 minutes.
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