Crispy Cabbage Dumplings (Print Version)

Pan-fried cabbage dumplings with a crisp base and tender seasoned filling, finished with a ginger-soy dipping sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Filling

01 - 3 cups finely shredded green cabbage
02 - 1/2 cup shredded carrot
03 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Dumpling assembly

10 - 24 round dumpling wrappers
11 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
12 - 1/4 cup water, divided

→ Ginger soy dipping sauce

13 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
14 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
15 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
16 - 1 tablespoon water
17 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated
18 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
19 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
20 - 1 teaspoon finely chopped green onion (for garnish)

# How to Prepare:

01 - Combine shredded cabbage, shredded carrot, sliced green onions, minced garlic and grated ginger in a mixing bowl. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and black pepper and toss to combine. Let the mixture sit 10 minutes to soften the cabbage and allow flavors to meld; drain or press lightly to remove excess liquid if necessary.
02 - Place one wrapper on a work surface, spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of filling into the center. Moisten the wrapper edge with water, fold into a half-moon and press to seal, pleating the edge as desired to ensure a tight seal. Repeat until all filling and wrappers are used.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Arrange half of the dumplings flat-side down without crowding. Cook 2–3 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown.
04 - Add 2 tablespoons water to the skillet, cover immediately and steam 3–4 minutes until wrappers are tender and filling is cooked through. Uncover and continue cooking 1–2 minutes to re-crisp the bottoms. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
05 - Repeat the pan-fry and steam steps with the remaining oil and dumplings, using the same timing and technique until all dumplings are cooked.
06 - Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, water, grated ginger and sesame oil in a small bowl. Stir in crushed red pepper flakes if using and top with chopped green onion.
07 - Arrange the dumplings on a serving platter and serve immediately with the ginger soy dipping sauce alongside.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These dumplings stay unbelievably crunchy at the edges while the filling remains juicy and savory.
  • They come together faster than you'd believe, especially if you use store-bought wrappers.
02 -
  • Overfilling a wrapper even the tiniest bit leads to dreaded dumpling splits in the pan.
  • Resting the filling is non-negotiable; it keeps the wrappers from turning soggy as you cook.
03 -
  • Always cook a test dumpling before the main batch to check seasoning and wrapper thickness.
  • Brushing or spraying a little oil before the final crisping step ensures every dumpling gets evenly golden.
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