Fry Pot Stickers
Pot stickers are Chinese dumplings that are often fried and, while frying, stick to the pot (hence their very apt name.) They are also delicious pockets of salty goodness that can be served as an appetizer, as part of a meal, or as a snack for really any occasion. Follow these steps to learn how to fry pot stickers.
Contents
Ingredients
- Chinese dumplings
- 2 tablespoons oil (sesame, peanut, olive or vegetable oil)
- Water
Steps
Readying the Dumplings and Pan
- Make your pot stickers. Making Chinese dumplings can be a fun dinner party activity. For how to make your own handmade pot stickers, clicker [[ here. However, more often than not, simply frying frozen store-bought dumplings can be just as tasty.
- Make the dipping sauce. Traditionally, pot stickers are served with a delicious dipping sauce. The sauce is usually made up of a mixture of 2/3 soy sauce, 1/3 Chinese rice vinegar, fresh grated or chopped bottled or pickled ginger, and sesame oil, often with a garnish of chopped chives. If you like it spicy, add Chinese chili paste to taste.
- Heat a wok or non-stick frying pan on medium-high heat. Make sure that the pan is very hot. To do this, flick a small amount of water onto the pan. If it evaporates immediately with a loud hiss, your pan is ready to go.
- Pour two tablespoons of oil into the pan or wok. The type of oil you use is up to you. For a more authentic Chinese recipe, use sesame or peanut oil. You can also use vegetable or olive oil if you prefer. For the healthiest option, use olive oil (it has the highest amount of heart-healthy fat--monounsaturated fat--of any oil.) Heat the oil for about a minute (bubbles might begin to form.)
- Place the pot stickers in the pan. You must make sure that there is enough space between each pot sticker and that they are not overlapping at all. If they overlap while cooking, it will be nearly impossible to separate them without ripping them (and having all the delicious filling fall out.)
Frying the Pot Stickers
- Fry the pot stickers in the oil. You should fry the dumplings for roughly two to five minutes, or until the bottoms of the pot stickers begin to turn a golden-brown color.
- Add roughly three tablespoons of water to the pan or wok. Immediately after pouring the water in, cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. The steam created by the water will cook the dumplings all the way through. Using a lid that doesn’t let any air out is important--if steam escapes, the pot stickers will take longer to cook or may overcook and become gooey.
- Steam the dumplings until all of the water is gone. You'll start to hear crackling sounds, and the pot stickers will again begin to turn a golden-brown color. Traditionally it is advised not to rotate the dumplings, instead only allowing the bottom to brown.
- If you like them well browned, gently lift and turn them with a spatula to brown the sides.
- If you want them to be even crunchier, take the lid off and cook the dumplings on medium-high.
- Remove the dumplings from the heat. Transfer them to a serving platter and serve immediately (they are best served piping hot.)
- Finished.
Tips
- If you want, you can fry the other side.
- Try not to fry too many at once, or some may burn because you didn't remove them fast enough.
- They're called "pot stickers" for a reason - they stick to your pots. Teflon coated frying pans or well-seasoned cast iron will minimize the difficulty in lifting and turning them.
- Don't fry the pot stickers for too long or they'll turn black.
Things You'll Need
- Wok or frying pan
- Spatula
Related Articles
- Make an Asian Food Style Picture Frame
- Make Chinese Dumplings
- Make Gyoza Dumplings
- Make Chinese Dumplings Contiguity
Sources and Citations
- http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/pot-stickers.html
- http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/olive-oil-vs-vegetable-oil.html
- http://www.thekitchn.com/makeahead-amp-freeze-recipe-shiitake-mushroom-amp-tofu-potstickers-recipes-from-the-kitchn-190354
- http://www.comeonilene.com/2012/06/28/potstickers-how-to-fry-chinese-dumplings-part-3/