One of the classic dimsum dish, Chiu Chow dumpling 潮州粉粿. It is a steamed savory dumpling packed with all kinds of flavors, different textures, fresh and dried ingredients. The wrapper is made of tapioca flour. I have used frozen crystal dumpling wrappers which save you a lot of work and it is almost as good as homemade crystal dumpling wrappers. Normally, Chinese chives will be used. As it is hard to find in the Chinese supermarket, I have replaced it with spinach. Not everybody fancies Chinese chives.
Ingredients
- 1 pack frozen crystal dough wrappers
- 300 g minced pork belly
- 3 pcs dried shiitake mushroom
- 2 tbsp dried shrimps
- 5 pcs frozen or fresh shrimps
- 3 tbsp preserved turnip
- 1 cup water chestnut
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
- 300g spinach
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp chicken stock powder
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 tsp five spice powder
- some water
Preparing the filling
Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms for 2 hours and blanch for few minutes in boiling water. After, soak the dried shrimp 15 minutes in lukewarm water. Blanch the spinach in boiling water 2-3 minutes, rinse with cold water and press out all the water. Chop all ingredients finely in same size or use a food processor and pulse the ingredients finely. Heat a pan with some vegetable oil. First, add the pepper and five spice powder and stir fry for few seconds. Next, add the minced pork belly, dried shiitake mushrooms, preserved turnips and dried shrimp. Stir fry it till fragrant. Next, add the fresh shrimp and stir fry it another minute. Add the light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, 1 tbsp chicken stock powder, 1 tbsp sugar and mix well. Accordingly, add the rest of the ingredients (spinach, water chestnut and peanuts) and stir fry it another 2 minutes till fragrant and no liquid has left. Finally, turn off the heat and let the dumpling filling cool down.
How to wrap the dumplings
Add 1 big tablespoon filling on a wrapper, save 1 cm as outer ring. Use a finger to wet the outer ring of the wrapper. Double fold it and press tightly. Fold the outer corner towards each other to finish the dumpling shape.
