PORK DUMPLINGS

Happy Chinese New Year! Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most important traditional holidays celebrated in China and by Chinese communities around the world. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is a time for family reunions, feasting, and honoring ancestors. The festival lasts for 15 days, during which people clean their homes to sweep away bad luck, decorate with red lanterns and couplets for good fortune, and set off fireworks to ward off evil spirits. One of the must-have dishes during this festive season is pork dumplings. These dumplings symbolize wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture. Families gather together to make these delicious dumplings filled with ground pork, scallions, ginger, and other ingredients. They are then boiled or steamed until tender and served with soy sauce or vinegar for dipping. Eating pork dumplings during Chinese New Year is believed to bring good luck and a prosperous year ahead.

Pork dumplings are a beloved Chinese delicacy that have gained popularity worldwide. These delectable bite-sized treats consist of a thin dough wrapper filled with a flavorful mixture of ground pork, vegetables, and aromatic spices. The filling is typically seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and green onions, creating a harmonious blend of savory flavors. Pork dumplings can be enjoyed in various ways - steamed, boiled, or pan-fried to achieve a crispy texture on the bottom while maintaining a tender and juicy interior. Served alongside a dipping sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil, these delightful dumplings offer an irresistible combination of taste and texture that will satisfy any craving for authentic Asian cuisine.

• 1 pound ground pork

• 3 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated

• 3 scallions, finely chopped

• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 packs of square wonton wrapper

1. In a bowl, combine ground pork, scallions, garlic, and ginger.

2. Season the mixture with salt, white pepper, sugar, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and sesame oil.

3. With your hands, mix in a clockwise motion until the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated and you see streaks on the bowl.

4. To make your wonton, place a 1/2 tbsp of filling in the center of your wrapper. Wet two adjacent sides of your wrapper with water, then fold over into a triangle and seal, making sure all air escapes from the inside of the wrapper. Then wet the two long corners of your wonton and connect them together to form a tortellini-esque shape.

5. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes on a high simmer (medium-high) until the dumplings float. If cooking from frozen, add 2-3 minutes of cooking time. You do not want a rapid boil, otherwise the dumpling wrappers may break.