Pot Sticker Dumplings (Jiaozi)

Preparation

The Dough

1. Sieve the flour into a mixing bowl.
2. Gradually add the water, whilst mixing with a fork / hand
3. Once all water is added, fold into a ball
4. Knead for 5 minutes on a hard surface until slightly elastic consistency is reached (this should be a ‘play dough’ consistency – you may need more / less water for the correct consistency – use the measurements as a guideline only) Once consistency is reached, roll out the pastry to roughly1-2mm thick
5. Use a 70mm diameter circular cutter to cut out as many pastries as possible

The Filling & Marinade

1. Finely chop all filling ingredients
2. Mix with marinade
3. Mix with any of the above filling options

Wrapping

1. Place 1 teaspoon of the filling in the centre of each circle of dough. Fold the bottom centre over the filling to form a semicircle and pinch the top tight.
2. Pinch the two corners of the semicircle together leaving two symmetrical ‘Mickey Mouse ear’ shapes between your centre fold and the corner folds.
3. Now pinch the ‘ears’ in towards you to make four layered folds.
4. Tidy up to create a ‘half-moon’ shape and arrange on a plate.

Cooking

1. Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan to high heat
2. Place dumplings in pan – base down
3. Now turn heat down to medium and fry dumplings until base is golden brown
4. Using a lid as a shield, pour hot water into pan until dumplings are ½ covered. Cover quickly with lid
5. Cover with lid for 5-10 mins on medium heat until all water has evaporated
6. Once pan is completely dry of water, allow dumplings to crisp up on the bottom for a further minute

Serving

Serve with a mixture of equal amounts of soy sauce, vinegar and matchsticks of ginger