the little things can make a world of difference…
I used to love making gyoza. I kinda miss it now. I miss the stuffing and the pleating. I miss experimenting with flavor. I don’t miss the pork, but I miss what it did inside that wrapper. I’ve tried to make my own veg dumplings, but they just haven’t come out right. Yet.
So, in the meantime, to fulfill the need, I grab a bag of the Thai Veg Gyoza when I’m in Trader Joe’s. I was disappointed at first. I had been heavy handed with the sriracha, garlic and ginger in my own, so TJ’s mild did not rock my world. Why don’t I just got to my local Korean spot where they’ve got an aisle full of options? TOO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM and I’m scared of the tofu/soy products inside. (I did just try one the other day. Taste great, but an odd disappearing filling and ew, corn.)
Since I’m at TJ’s, um, a lot, and usually want something quick when I get home, I decided to try the dumplings again and cook them they way I used to do my homemade. But, something was still missing. It wasn’t until I added a pinch of salt to the steam liquid that I hit pay dirt. Now, I have to stay away from them. A bag isn’t long for the freezer.
Something Simple | Tweaking Dumplings/Gyoza/Potstickers
a bag of gyoza | lemon juice | salt | water | grapeseed/veg oil
In a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons or so of lemon juice to one tablespoon of water and a pinch of salt. Stir to make sure salt dissolves. Heat non-stick pan. Add 2 tablespoons of oil. Place 10 gyoza in the pan leaving space between them. Brown bottoms over high heat. (I pick them up frequently to see how dark they’re getting.) Cover when they’re just about the color you want. Get your bowl. Lift cover just enough to quickly pour in the diluted salted lemon juice. Cover again and allow gyoza to steam. Try not to lift cover to see if all of the water is gone, but listen to see if you start to hear sizzling. They’re done.
While the dumplings are steaming, I toss together a dipping sauce made of fresh grated ginger, sriracha, lemon juice, soy sauce and sesame oil.
Quickly cooked and eaten. Seriously.
n♥