Making Korean-style meat kimchi dumplings filled with filling

What kind of food are Korean dumplings?

Dumplings are a food made by putting meat, vegetables, tofu, kimchi, etc. in a thin dumpling skin and steaming, baking, or boiling it. In Korea, people make their own dumplings for holidays or family gatherings, and they usually enjoy them in a variety of ways, such as dumpling soup, fried dumplings, and dumpling hotpot. Although dumplings are familiar to foreigners, they have a distinctly Korean taste due to the addition of kimchi and tofu.

If you search for dumplings in 10,000 Recipes, you will see several recipes such as meat dumplings, kimchi dumplings, grilled dumplings, dumpling soup, and dumpling hotpot. Today, we will start with making the basic filling for meat and kimchi dumplings made with pork and kimchi, which can be used for both steamed and grilled dumplings.

Ingredients Preparation

For about 25 dumplings, prepare dumpling skin, 300g minced pork, well-cooked kimchi, half a head of tofu, boiled glass noodles, chives or chives, green onion, minced garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper, and 1 egg. Make sure to squeeze out all the water from the kimchi and chop it finely to prevent the dumpling skin from getting wet.

Remove the moisture from the tofu with a cotton cloth or kitchen towel and then mash it. Boiling the glass noodles and cutting them into small pieces improves the texture inside, and chives add flavor. If the kimchi is very sour, you can add a little sugar to soften the taste.

Making dumpling filling

Add minced pork, kimchi, tofu, glass noodles, chives, green onions, minced garlic, and ginger to a bowl and season with soy sauce, sesame oil, and pepper. Adding eggs helps the filling come together and become moist. Knead thoroughly with your hands or a spatula to mix the ingredients evenly.

If the dumpling filling is too tough, the dumpling skin can easily tear. If it looks too watery, add a little more glass noodles or tofu to adjust the consistency, and cook a small amount of the seasoning in a pan, taste it, and then adjust it to reduce failure.

Procedure for making dumplings

Lightly moisten the edges of the dumpling skin with water and place a spoonful of dumpling filling in the center. Fold it in half, press it together to remove the air, and then crease the edges to shape it. If you add too much filling, it may burst while cooking, so it is best to put in a little less at first.

Place the cooked dumplings on a tray so that they do not stick to each other. If you do not eat them right away, harden them in the freezer before storing them to keep their shape.

How to steam or bake

Steamed dumplings become moist and soft when steamed in a steamer for 8 to 10 minutes. For fried dumplings, put oil in a pan, fry the bottom until golden brown, add a little water, cover with a lid, and cook until cooked through. At the end, open the lid and let out the moisture, making the dumplings crispy on the bottom and moist on the top.

Soy sauce goes well with dumplings when made by mixing vinegar, red pepper powder, chopped green onions, and sesame seeds. If the spicy taste is too much for you, just mix soy sauce and vinegar for a refreshing taste.

Tips for enjoying delicious food

Once you make Korean-style dumplings and freeze them, they are great for dumpling soup, ramen, hot pot, and snacks. To foreigners, it feels familiar if you introduce it as “Korean-style dumplings with kimchi and meat.” The process of making it yourself is also fun, making it a great dish to make with family or friends.

Storage and ordering tips

When freezing, it is best to spread out the dumplings on a tray first to prevent them from sticking together, freeze them, and then place them in a zipper bag. When cooking, if you steam or bake it right away without thawing, it will lose its shape less.

When ordering dumplings at a Korean restaurant, it is easy to distinguish between steamed dumplings, grilled dumplings, kimchi dumplings, and meat dumplings to suit your taste. If you are worried about the spiciness, try eating the meat dumplings first. For the kimchi dumplings, you can adjust the taste by adding a little soy sauce.