LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2022

DUMPLINGS 101

MAKE IT WORK A few tips to ensure dumpling greatness.

4. Likewise, air pockets can expand and make your dumplings come apart. Before you

3. Overloading on filling isn’t necessarily a good thing. Allow for plenty of room for the filling to expand, otherwise your dumplings might burst while cooking.

2. Moisten your wrappers, but don’t soak them—they should feel tacky, not wet. Too much

1. Season filling generously. If in doubt, fry 1 to 2 tbsp of raw meat or seafood filling in a skillet until cooked through, then taste and adjust seasoning, if needed

seal up, press out excess air.

water (or juice) might prevent your dumplings from sealing.

Will it dumpling? fillings—think

The answer is (probably) yes! One of Toronto’s best Chinese restaurants makes a dumpling filled with lobster and a lot of butter— proof that if it tastes great out of a wrapper, it will likely taste great in one, too. Don’t be afraid to experiment with unexpected

before filling all your dumplings.

chopped turkey dinner complete with mashed veg, cold mac ’n’ cheese,

classic perogy fillings, chorizo instead of pork,

All the sauce! It’s not a dumpling feast without sauce for dunking, and even better if there are three. See page 238 for simple, no-cook sauces you can make while your dumplings are cooking.

or even seasoned ricotta (Italian-ish fillings are pretty great in deep-fried dumplings)!

Indispensable Dumpling Sauce

Picture-perfect USINGWATER TO SEAL YOUR DUMPLINGS MIGHT BE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY. INSTEAD, SWAP THE WATER FOR FRESH VEGETABLE JUICE TO PAINT YOUR WRAPPERS WITH A LITTLE COLOUR. COLD-PRESSED BEET AND KALE JUICES ARE JUST CONCENTRATED ENOUGH TO LEAVE BEHIND THE NICEST PASTEL HUES.

Sweet & Spicy Dumpling Sauce

Ginger-Vinegar Sauce

FROZEN TREASURES Freezing is the best way to preserve your handiwork. Freeze dumplings separately by placing them on a baking sheet your freezer. As soon as they’re frozen solid—about two hours—throw them all into a heavy-duty freezer bag. They’ll keep for 6 months and won’t stick together.

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID SPARSHOTT

202 FOOD & DRINK HOLIDAY 2022