Vegetarian Pot Stickers based on a family recipe, adapted to contain no meat.
Wrappers (for 30 dumplings)
2C flour (unbleached, all purpose)
2/3 C hot water
½ t salt
Put flour in large bowl and make a well in center. Gradually add water and stir to make dough. Knead the dough until it feels smooth and does not stick to your fingers. Place the dough in the bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let it “rest” for 15 minutes.
Filling:
4 C Napa cabbage, finely chopped and salted (2T); wait until soften and then squeeze dry
¾ C Bulgur wheat, soak in water (1¼ C) and salt (1 T)
4 Shitake mushrooms, soak in hot water and cut fine
4 slices of ginger, chopped fine
Mix all ingredients, adding sesame seed oil (1 t), and stir well
Make the wrappers
Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured cutting board and knead for 5’. Divide it in half. Keep one half covered in the bowl. Roll the other half into a rope, about 10” long and 1” in diameter. Cut into 2/3” thick pieces. Lay the pieces cut-sides down on board and dust lightly with flour. Press each piece with your palm to flatten. Use a small rolling stick to roll each piece into a disk 2½” in diameter and about 1/8” thick. Turn the wrapper a quarter turn as you roll to keep the shape round and the edges slightly thinner than the center.
Fill dumplings
Place about 1T filling in the center of each wrapper. Take the edge closest to you and fold it across; pinch. Pinch the remaining edges together while forming pleats in the back of the dumpling. Place dumplings on a lightly-floured plate.
Cook:
Heat non-stick frying pan and add 1T oil. Turn heat down to medium high. Place dumplings (tight against each other) around the edges and then in the center. Cover and let cook about 5’. Check bottom of center dumplings (brown is good). Add ½ C water, cover, and turn heat back to high. Cook 5’ or so; until water has evaporated. Remove from heat and, with a plastic spatula, pry pot-stickers loose from the edges of the pan and then the center. Place a plate upside down over the pan. Hold onto the pan with one hand and flip the pan with the other hand. Voila! A plate of pot-stickers.
