Pork and leek dumplings

By tsusanchang

Makes 50 dumplings

Ingredients

• 6 cups Chinese (napa) cabbage, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound ground pork
• 2 cups Chinese garlic chives, finely chopped (if you can't find them at an Asian market, scallions will do in a pinch)
• 2 and 1/2 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine or sherry
• 2 tablespoons roasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon canola or corn oil
• 50 round dumpling wrappers
• Black Vinegar Dipping Sauce
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon scallions, finely minced
• 1/2 teaspoon black vinegar (Chinkiang vinegar)
• a few drops of white vinegar (rice vinegar)
• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup dark soy sauce (e.g. Kikkoman)

Preparation

Step 1

To make the filling:

Combine the cabbage and salt in a bowl and toss lightly; let rest for 30 minutes. Squeeze the water out of the cabbage and place it in a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, stir until well mixed, and drain off any excess liquid.

To wrap the dumplings:

Keep the round wrappers covered in plastic while you work, so they don't dry out. Have a small bowl of water handy.

Holding one wrapper in your palm, place about 2 teaspoons of filling in the center. Dip your finger in the water and trace a wet arc along the edge of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper in half over the filling, fitting the dry edge to the wet, and seal with your fingertips. You now have a dumpling in the shape of a half-circle.

Dip your finger in the water again and dampen the edge of the half-circle. Make a series of 6 or 7 small pleats in the edge, pinching them together with your fingertips. If freezing dumplings, do it now, before cooking.

To fry the dumplings:

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add one layer of dumplings, making sure the edges don't touch. When the first side is golden-brown, flip and brown the other side. Add 1/3 cup of water, cover and steam for 2 minutes. When the wrappers are just translucent, uncover, raise the heat. Remember to boil off all the remaining water: Soggy dumplings are nobody's friend. And a good spatula is a big help if the potstickers are living up to their name. It's also possible to boil or steam dumplings.

Serve with red rice vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil, minced garlic and rice vinegar, chili sauce or black vinegar dipping sauce .


Black vinegar dipping sauce
In a small bowl combine the ginger and scallions. Add the sugar, vinegars and sesame oil. Crush the mixture lightly with a fork or chopsticks to help release the flavors. Let it rest for at least 5-10 minutes.

Add the soy sauce gradually to taste. Less soy sauce makes for a thick, pungent sauce; more makes for a milder dressing.