18 Chinese Sweet Dumpling Recipe Delight In These Amazing Recipes!
Published on: Mar 22, 2024
Chinese sweet dumplings, also known as tangyuan, are a traditional dessert that originated in China. These small, round balls of glutinous rice flour are filled with a variety of sweet fillings and cooked in a sweet broth. They are typically served during special occasions such as the Winter Solstice Festival and the Lantern Festival, but can also be enjoyed year-round. In this article, we will explore the history and cultural significance of this beloved dessert, as well as provide a step-by-step recipe for making your own delicious Chinese sweet dumplings at home.
Chinese dumplings, also known as jiaozi, are a popular dish in Chinese cuisine. These delicious little pockets of flavor are made with a thin dough wrapper and filled with various ingredients such as pork, chicken, vegetables, and spices. They can be boiled, steamed, or fried, and are often served as an appetizer or side dish. There are many different variations of Chinese dumplings, each with their own unique flavors and techniques.
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How to make Chinese dumpling wrappers
Main Ingredients: All Purpose Flour, Water, Salt, Spinach
If you want to make Chinese dumplings from scratch, you'll need to start with the wrappers. While you can buy premade wrappers at the store, making them at home is fairly simple and allows you to customize the thickness and size to your liking. To make the dough, you'll need flour, water, and a pinch of salt. Mix the ingredients together and knead the dough until smooth. Then, roll the dough out into a thin sheet and cut out circles for the wrappers. Fill with your desired filling and fold the wrapper in half, sealing the edges with water. Voila, homemade Chinese dumpling wrappers!
One of the most popular dishes at Chinese restaurants is orange chicken. This sweet and tangy dish features crispy fried chicken pieces tossed in a sticky orange sauce. While it may seem complicated to make at home, it's actually quite easy. Marinate chicken pieces in a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch, then fry them until crispy. In a separate pan, make the orange sauce with orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic. Toss the chicken in the sauce and serve over rice for a delicious Chinese takeout favorite.
Beef and broccoli is a classic Chinese dish that is simple yet flavorful. Thinly sliced beef is stir-fried with broccoli and a savory sauce made with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and garlic. This dish can be made with any type of beef, but flank steak is a popular choice for its tenderness. The key to making this dish is to cook the beef quickly over high heat to keep it tender, and to not overcook the broccoli so it maintains its crunch.
No Chinese meal is complete without a side of fried rice. This dish is perfect for using up leftovers and can be customized with any ingredients you have on hand. Start by frying up some diced vegetables and protein, such as chicken, shrimp, or tofu. Then, add in cooked rice and seasonings, such as soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic. Cook until the rice is heated through and serve as a side dish or main course.
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Chinese Chicken Thighs
Main Ingredients: Chicken Thighs, Olive Oil, Minced Ginger, Minced
Chicken thighs are a versatile and budget-friendly ingredient that is often used in Chinese cooking. They can be marinated and stir-fried, baked, or grilled and can be used in a variety of dishes. For a simple and flavorful Chinese chicken thigh recipe, marinate the thighs in a mixture of soy sauce, honey, and garlic, then bake in the oven until cooked through. Serve over rice or with your favorite Chinese side dishes.
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Best Potsticker Dumpling
Main Ingredients: Flour, Salt, Hot Water, Cold Water, Shredded Cabbage
Potstickers are a type of Chinese dumpling that are pan-fried on one side, giving them a crispy bottom and a soft steamed top. These dumplings are traditionally filled with a combination of ground pork, cabbage, and spices, but can also be filled with other ingredients such as chicken, shrimp, or vegetables. To make the best potsticker dumplings, make sure to press the edges firmly together to seal in the filling and cook them in a hot pan with a bit of oil.
Similar to beef and broccoli, this dish features tender chicken pieces stir-fried with broccoli and a savory sauce. To make the chicken extra tender, marinate it in a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch before cooking. Then, stir-fry with the broccoli and sauce until everything is heated through and serve over rice for a quick and tasty Chinese meal.
Egg drop soup is a simple and comforting Chinese soup that is perfect for a chilly day. It's made with a flavorful broth, eggs, and cornstarch to thicken it up. Some variations also include mushrooms, green onions, or tofu. The key to making a great egg drop soup is to slowly pour the beaten eggs into the hot broth while stirring constantly, creating ribbons of egg that make the soup creamy and delicious.
When making Chinese dumplings, it's important to have a flavorful broth to serve them in. The broth adds moisture and flavor to the dumplings and can also be sipped on its own as a comforting and nourishing soup. To make Chinese dumpling broth, simmer chicken or pork bones with ginger, garlic, and green onions for a few hours. Strain the broth and add in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil for a delicious and savory base for your dumplings.
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Classic Pork Fried Rice - A Chinese Takeout favorite
Main Ingredients: Hot Water, Honey, Sesame Oil, Shaoxing Wine, Soy Sauce
Pork fried rice is a staple in Chinese takeout and is a flavorful and filling dish that can be made at home. Start by cooking diced pork in a hot pan, then add in vegetables, such as peas, carrots, and onions. Once the vegetables are cooked, add in cooked rice and seasonings, such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, and garlic. Toss everything together until the rice is heated through and serve as a side dish or main course.
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Egg Fried Rice - An Easy Chinese
Main Ingredients: Cooked Rice, Large Eggs, Paprika, Turmeric, Oil, Medium
A simple yet tasty Chinese dish, egg fried rice is made by scrambling eggs in a hot pan, then adding in cooked rice and seasonings, such as soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic. This dish is perfect for using up leftover rice and can be customized with any additional ingredients you have on hand, such as vegetables, shrimp, or chicken.
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Sui Kow (Chinese Dumpling)
Main Ingredients: Choy Sum, Chicken Stock, Green Onions, Sesame Oil
Sui kow, also known as wontons, are a popular type of Chinese dumpling that are often served in a flavorful broth. They are made with a thin wrapper and filled with a mixture of pork, shrimp, and spices. To make sui kow, start by making the wrapper with flour, water, and salt. Then, fill with the pork and shrimp mixture, fold in half, and seal the edges with water. Cook in a pot of boiling water until they float to the surface, then serve in a savory broth.
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Fried Chicken Wings, Chinese Takeout Style
Main Ingredients: Chicken Wings, Black Pepper, White Pepper, Garlic
Another popular Chinese takeout dish, fried chicken wings can be made at home with a few simple ingredients. Marinate chicken wings in a mixture of soy sauce, honey, and garlic, then fry until crispy and golden brown. Toss in a sticky sauce made with honey, soy sauce, and chili flakes for a spicy and flavorful chicken wing dish.
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Chinese Broccoli Beef
Main Ingredients: Sirloin Steak, Soy Sauce, Cornstarch, Freshly Ground
This dish features tender strips of beef stir-fried with Chinese broccoli and a savory sauce. The beef is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch before cooking, giving it a delicious and tender texture. The Chinese broccoli is added in towards the end of cooking to maintain its crunch. Serve this dish over rice for a tasty and filling meal.
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Crazy Rich Asians Dumpling
Main Ingredients: Deveined Shrimp, Ground Pork, Ginger, Garlic, Bone
For a unique and flavorful dumpling recipe, try making Crazy Rich Asians dumplings. These dumplings are filled with a mixture of ground pork, shrimp, and ginger, and are served with a spicy soy dipping sauce. The filling is wrapped in a thin dough wrapper and steamed until cooked through. These dumplings are perfect for a special occasion or just as a fun twist on traditional Chinese dumplings.
Egg rolls are a popular Chinese appetizer that are made with a crispy fried wrapper filled with a mixture of vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms, and sometimes meat. To make Chinese egg rolls, start by cooking the filling and wrapping it in the wrappers, then fry until golden brown and crispy. Serve with a sweet and sour dipping sauce for a delicious and satisfying snack.
Chinese BBQ pork, also known as char siu, is a popular dish that features tender and flavorful pieces of pork marinated in a sweet and savory sauce. The pork is often cooked over an open flame, giving it a slightly charred and caramelized exterior. Serve this dish over rice or with other Chinese dishes for a delicious and well-rounded meal.
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Classic Beef Fried Rice - A Chinese Takeout
Main Ingredients: Flank Steak, Salt, Water, Baking Soda, Dark Soy Sauce
If you're in the mood for beef instead of pork in your fried rice, try making a classic beef fried rice. Similar to pork fried rice, this dish features diced beef stir-fried with vegetables and rice in a flavorful sauce. The key to making this dish is to not overcook the beef, so it stays tender and juicy. Serve as a side dish or main course for a satisfying Chinese meal.
Stir-fry is a popular Chinese cooking technique that results in a quick and flavorful dish. To make a Chinese chicken stir fry, marinate chicken pieces in a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch, then stir-fry with vegetables and a savory sauce. Serve over rice for a tasty and healthy meal that can be customized with any vegetables and protein you have on hand.
The Cultural Significance of Tangyuan
The Origins of Tangyuan
The origins of tangyuan can be traced back to the Song Dynasty in China, over 800 years ago. During this time, they were primarily eaten as a savory dish, with fillings such as pork and vegetables. However, as time went on, people began to experiment with different fillings and flavors, eventually leading to the sweet dumplings we know and love today.
The Symbolism of Tangyuan
Tangyuan are not just a delicious dessert, they also hold deep cultural significance. In Chinese culture, the round shape of the dumplings represents unity and harmony, making them a popular dish to serve during family gatherings and festivals. The sweet fillings inside the dumplings symbolize the sweetness and happiness of life, making them a popular dish to serve during celebrations and new beginnings.
How to Make Chinese Sweet Dumplings
Ingredients:
Glutinous rice flour - 2 cups
Water - 1 cup
Food coloring (optional) - a few drops
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Sweet fillings of your choice (such as red bean paste, black sesame paste, or peanut butter)
Instructions:
In a mixing bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour and water until a smooth dough forms.
If desired, add a few drops of food coloring to the dough and mix until the desired color is achieved.
In a separate pot, bring water to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, prepare your sweet fillings by shaping them into small balls.
Take a small piece of dough and flatten it in the palm of your hand. Place a sweet filling in the center and wrap the dough around it, rolling it into a small ball.
Repeat with the rest of the dough and fillings.
Carefully place the dumplings into the boiling water and cook for 5-8 minutes, or until they float to the top.
Drain the dumplings and place them in a bowl.
In a separate pot, bring water to a boil and add in the sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
Pour the sweet broth over the dumplings and serve hot.
Enjoy Your Homemade Tangyuan
Now that you know the history and cultural significance of tangyuan, as well as how to make them at home, it's time to enjoy this traditional Chinese dessert. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a sweet treat, Chinese sweet dumplings are sure to satisfy your taste buds and warm your heart. So gather your loved ones and share a bowl of tangyuan together, creating new memories and cherishing old traditions.
