Your Perfect Dumpling Recipe: Fillings, Prep, and Sauces - Tiffy Cooks (2024)

Welcome to the ultimate MAKE YOUR OWN DUMPLING RECIPE! As I settle into my NEW HOUSE and as Lunar New Year approaches, I’m looking to refill our freezer dumpling drawer. It’s the perfect opportunity to revisit this tradition with you!

Dumplings can really be a choose-your-own-adventure meal! Today, I’m excited to share 4 fillings, 3 cooking methods, and a few key sauce ingredients for ENDLESS flavor combinations! These fail-proof dumpling recipes are sure to add a little extra luck to your year.

Top Tips For Crafting the Perfect Dumplings

Did you know dumplings could be your tasty ticket to prosperity in the Lunar New Year? According to my family’s tradition, they symbolize wealth—eat more, earn more! Wrapping dumpling on Lunar New Year has been a family tradition since my great-grandma, and that’s NEVER going to change. This tradition also means that I’ve got more than a few HOT TIPS for the perfect dumplings!

1. Hand-Chopped Meat: Skip the store-bought ground meat and hand-chop it instead superior texture and juiciness. It takes a few minutes, but SO WORTH IT!
2. Dry Cabbage: Avoid soggy fillings by salting and squeezing out excess water from your cabbage, it’ll stay crunchy and delicious.
3. Taste Test: Always microwave a small portion of your filling before wrapping for a taste test.
4. Freezing Dumplings: Freeze them on a parchment paper-lined tray, then transfer to ziplock bags once firm. This keeps them fresh for up to 3 months, ready for a quick and tasty meal anytime.

Below are the dumpling recipes for my 4 go-to fillings: chicken, pork, beef, and vegetarian. The best part about these dumpling recipes? You can experiment with these flavors AS YOU LIKE!.

Chicken Dumpling Filling Ingredients

• 1.5 lb of boneless chicken thigh
• ½ chopped Cabbage (around 1lb)
• 2 tbsp of Salt
• 3 stalks of Green Onion
• 1.5 tbsp of Ginger (grated)
• 2 tbsp ofSesame Oil
• 1 tbsp ofDashi PowderorChicken Powder
• 1.5 tbsp ofSoy Sauce
• 1 tsp of White Pepper

Pork and Chive Dumpling Filling Ingredients

• 1lbof ChivesChopped
• 2tbspof Sesame Oil
• 1.5lbGround Pork or Chicken
• 2tbspof Oyster Sauce
• 2tbspof Soy Sauce
• 1tbspof Ginger
• 1tspof Salt
• 1tspof Chicken Powder
• 1tspof White Pepper

• 1.5 lb of Ground Beef
• 4 Stalks of Green Onion chopped
• 1 whole Onion chopped
• 1.5 tbsp of Black Pepper
• 3 tbsp of Ginger grated
• 3 tbsp ofLKK Premium Oyster Sauce
• 2 tbsp ofLKK Premium Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp ofSesame Oil
• 1 tbsp of Cold Water

Vegetarian Dumpling Filling Ingredients

• 0.5 Large Cabbage (chopped)
• 0.5 Carrot (shredded)
• 3 Green Onion (chopped)
• 10 Shiitake Mushroom (chopped)
• 50 oz of Vermicelli Noodles
• 2 tbsp ofSesame Oil
• 1.5 tbsp of Soy Sauce
• ¼ cup of Cilantro (chopped)
• 3.5 tbsp ofVegetarian Oyster Sauce
• 1 tbsp ofMushroom Powder
• 2.5 tbsp of Sesame Oil
• 1 tsp of White Pepper

Looking for my dumpling wrapper recipe?

Check out my cookbook TIFFY COOKS – homemade dumpling recipe + 87 of my favorite simple Asian recipes, from family favorites to my own creations, now available on Amazon FOR PREORDER!

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Mastering Dumpling Preparation

When it comes to dumpling recipes, the methods you choose can transform their texture and flavor. I have my top 3 methods to share with you today: boiling, pan-frying, and dumpling soup!

• Boiled: This traditional method is so easy: just drop them in water, wait till they float, and you’re done. They come out nice and tender, perfect if you love the pure taste of the filling!
• Pan-fried: Looking for a crunch? Pan-frying it is! This gives the bottom of the dumpling a crunch that you’ll really be addicted to.
• Dumpling Soup: This dumpling method is all about cozy vibes. Drop your dumplings into a simmering broth, and let them cook. It’s a hearty, warm bowl that’s perfect for colder days.

Crispy Potsticker Skirt Mix Ingredients

Want to learn the secrets to a perfectly crispy pan-fried potsticker? Find the key in my Taiwanese Beef Potsticker Recipe!

• 1 tsp of Corn Flour
• 1 tsp of Flour
• 3 tbsp of Water

Hot & Sour Dumpling Soup Ingredients

• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 1 tsproasted sesame seeds
• 2 tspKorean red chili flakes
• 4 tbsp oil, I usegrapeseed oil
• 2 tbspblack vinegar
• 1.5 tbspsoy sauce
• 0.5 tbspchicken powder(optional)
• 1-1.5 cups of hot dumplings water

Secret’s in the Sauce: Best Dumpling Dipping Sauces

Dumplings are great, but what REALLY makes them shine is the dipping sauce! With these must-have ingredients, you’re all set to mix up some magic. ANY combination of these ingredients would be AMAZING with dumplings.

• Chili Oil: Adding a dollop of garlicky chili oil to your dipping sauce brings a spicy kick that wakes up your taste buds and adds excitement to each bite of dumpling.
• Black Vinegar: A splash of black vinegar offers a tangy contrast that cuts through the richness of the dumplings, balancing out their flavors.
• Soy Sauce: With its savory umami flavor, soy sauce is a classic choice for dumpling dipping.
• Scallion Oil: Scallion oil’s savory, oniony flavor adds a delicious aroma to your bite!
• Shallot Oil: The crispy, caramelized shallots in shallot oil provide a delightful crunch.
• Sesame Seeds: Sprinkling sesame seeds over your dipping sauce adds a nutty crunch that enhances the texture and flavor.

My Top dumpling Sauce Rec?

All THREE of my Kai Dong sauces – Crunchy shallots, savory scallion oil, and spicy, garlicky chili oil – COMBINED! This mix has got all the best flavors to go with your piping hot dumplings.

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Love This Dumpling Recipe? Here are some great side dishes to COMPLETE YOUR MEAL!