Chinese Dumpling Soup

FILLING:
1 bunch green onions including tops
1/4 cup water chestnuts
1 10 oz. package frozen spinach, or 3 stalks bok choy
1 egg
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 pound lean pork, ground
1 4 oz. can canned shrimp, drained
2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, grated – or may substitute 2/3 teaspoon ground ginger, (optional)
1 10 oz. package won ton, skins, dumpling wrappers, pot sticker wrappers

SOUP:
3 15 oz. cans low sodium chicken broth or stock
1 stalk bok choy, or fresh spinach – coarsely shredded
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup bamboo shoots
1 6 oz. package frozen pea pods, cut in half diagonally
4 green onions including tops – sliced for garnish


FILLING DIRECTIONS:

Chop onion, water chestnuts, and spinach (or bok choy) until fine. Add egg, soy sauce, ground pork, drained canned shrimp, and ginger root (if used). Mix well. Place a spoonful of filling in center of each wrapper. Moisten edges, fold over and seal. (**For won tons see below)

COOKING DUMPLINGS:

Fill large pan with 2 quarts of water. Bring water to a boil. Drop dumplings in, stir gently to prevent sticking. Bring water back to a boil, add 1 cup cold water and bring back to a boil a second time. Drain.

SOUP DIRECTIONS:

Combine chicken broth or stock, coarsely shredded bok choy or spinach, sliced mushrooms, bamboo shoots, pea pods, and precooked dumplings. Bring to a boil, simmer 5-6 minutes. Garnish with green onions.

** Wrapping won tons: Place wrapper with point facing you. Place filling on lower half of skin. Fold point over and roll filling inside until about 1 inch of opposite point remains. Grasp the right and left hand corners and fold down and under filling. Moisten corner and seal points underneath filling.

POT STICKERS VARIATION:

Prepare dumplings. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in frying pan. Brown one side then add 1/4 cup water, cover and cook until water evaporates. Serve dipped in 1/4 cup soy sauce to which has been added 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 2-3 cloves minced garlic.

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