Creative Dumpling Delight

From:  Cooking With Green Tea, by Ying Chang  Compestine

Changes I made noted in bold.

40 square wonton wrappers (I used 24)

40 large thick carrot rounds (about 2 thick carrots)

6 bags green tea

You can make your own dipping sauce, but I used low sodium soy sauce and wasabi.

Filling:

2 teaspoons canola oil

1 tablespoon minced ginger root

1 cup minced leeks

3/4 pounds extra-lean ground pork (I used 3/4 pounds finely chopped shrimp)

1 tablespoon rice wine (I used mirin)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Dash of salt ( I didn't use any)

To make the filling:

Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the ginger and saute' until lightly browned, about 1 minute.  Add the leeks and saute' until softened, about 2 minutes.

Combine leeks and ginger with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

To make the dumplings:

Around the area where you will be folding the dumplings place a small bowl of cold water, the wonton wrappers, the filling, and the steamer*.  Keep the wontons covered with a damp paper towel.  Arrange the carrots on the steamer.

Dip all four edges of the wonton into the cold water.  Recipe says to fill one at a time in the palm of your hand.  I did six at a time... by laying them on a clean chopping mat.  Then place a heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center. Fold up two diagonal corners.   Then fold the other  two corners and pinch tightly together.  Here it would be nice if I could show you the diagram in the cookbook... I'll figure this out eventually!  Leave a little space between the dumplings.

In a large pot (I used a Dutch Oven) bring enough water to a boil to come to the bottom of the steamer.  You want to make sure that the water doesn't touch the dumplings.  When the water comes to a boil, add the six tea bags.

*The recipe says to place the dumplings over the boiling water.  I used two stainless steel steamers so I wouldn't burn my fingers off.  It would probably be better to have a bamboo steamer, but I don't so my stainless steel had to do!

The dumplings were delicious.  I will definitely do it again.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask.