How to make Chinese dumplings at home

MAKE THE DOUGH

1: Place the flour into a large bowl and stir the hot water gradually into it, mixing all the time with your finger, wooden spoon or chopstick, until it forms a dough texture. Add more water if the mixture seems dry.
2: Tip the dough mixture onto a clean work surface and knead it with your hands. Continue kneading until it is smooth and elastic.
3:Put the dough back in the bowl, cover it with a clean damp towel or cloth and let it rest for at least 20 minutes up to 2 hours.

MAKE THE FILLING
While the dough is resting, you can prepare your filling for the dumplings!

MEAT

1. Add a couple of teaspoons of the warm water with the Sichuan peppercorn over the meat and stir until moist.
2. Add the carrot, garlic, ginger and spring onions to the mince mix.
3. Combine the ingredients together and add to taste – sesame oil, Chinese 5 Spice, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce and oyster sauce.

VEGETARIAN

1. Add the carrot, courgette, garlic, ginger and chopped spring onion to a bowl and then stir in the chopped omelette.
2. Combine the ingredients together and add to taste sesame oil, Chinese 5 Spice, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce and Hoi Sin sauce.

MAKE THE DUMPLINGS

1. Once the dough is ready, cut into four pieces. Shape each piece into a roll.
2. Using a sharp knife cut the roll into equal size pieces.
3. Roll each of the dough pieces into a small ball and then, with a rolling pin, roll each ball into a small, round, flat, circle shape. This is called a ‘skin’.
4. Press down and twist at the same time5. Place about two teaspoons of filling in the centre of each ‘skin’. Fold the dough in half and pinch one side together with your fingers to seal.
6.Take the bottom of the unsealed edge to form a triangle shape and close the edges together

COOKING THE DUMPLINGS

1. To cook, bring a large pan of water to the boil and place the dumplings into the pan.
2. Simmer for  2-3 minutes (vegetarian)
3. Simmer until mince is cooked (8-12 mins).

To serve, remove the dumplings from the pan with a large slotted spoon and serve with your choice of dipping sauce

Serving suggestion: Serve with dipping sauce