Shao mai (pork dumplings)

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1poundsGround pork
1cupFinely chopped water
Chestnuts
1tablespoonSoy sauce
1tablespoonRice wine vinegar
1tablespoonSesame oil
2teaspoonsSugar
2teaspoonsFreshly grated ginger
2tablespoonsCornstarch
1teaspoonCoarse salt
½teaspoonFinely ground black pepper
30Shao mai or dumpling
Wrappers

Directions

Combine the pork, water chestnuts, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, sugar, ginger, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well to combine (hands work well for this). Place a dumpling wrapper in the palm of one hand and cup it loosely. Place a generous tablespoon of filling in the center of the wrapper. With your free hand, gather the sides of the wrapper around the filling, letting the wrapper pleat naturally. Squeeze the middle gently and tap the dumpling to flatten the bottom so that it can stand upright. The meat filling will show a little at the top. Make the remaining dumplings in the same manner.

Arrange filled dumplings about ¼ inch apart in two steamer trays that have been lined with wet cheesecloth. (At this point, you can refrigerate dumplings, covered, for 23 hours.) When ready to steam, fill a wok or lower part of a steamer with water so that it comes within an inch of the steamer tray, and bring to a rolling boil. Stack the steamer trays in the wok or steamer, cover tightly, and steam dumplings for 2025 minutes over high heat, reversing the trays after 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer dumplings to a platter and serve with Spicy Dipping Sauce.

Yield: 30 dumplings

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