Pork & Shrimp Potstickers

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 bunch scallion, chopped finely
3 dried shiitake mushroom rehydrated in hot water and minced
2 heads Shanghai cabbage*, chopped finely
1 cup pork broth
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound shrimp, chopped finely
3 tablespoons black sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons grated ginger
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoons grated garlic
1 teaspoon white pepper

dumpling wrappers


Directions:

In a large bowl thoroughly mix all of the filling ingredients to form a uniform mixture. Place a small teaspoon of filling in the middle of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper in half to form a half moon shape, pinching the wrapper tightly together. Press the "fold" side gently down on the plate so it can stand alone, seam side up. Make sure no filling is peaking out or they will break while cooking. Heat oil in a large saucepan, place pot stickers flat side down and cook until the bottom is browned. Add 1 cup of broth, cover immediately. Allow dumplings to steam. Once the dumplings are fully cooked the stock will evaporate and the bottoms will be crisp. Excellent with my favorite dipping sauce.


*or substitute 2 heads baby bok choy

Yield: about 50 potstickers




Quick tip: Before filling the wrappers, fry up a bit of the filling mixture to taste for seasoning. The filling should stay together in a solid mass, if not, you might want to add a tiny bit more cornstarch.

My thoughts:

These are so good! I love when you can just mix together a bunch of ingredients you just happen to have on hand and it turns out to be one of the best things you've had in ages. We had sort of a dumpling orgy and just had loads of dumplings for lunch and nothing else but they also make great appetizers.