Fill your craving for Pork Dumplings by making them at home!
This recipe is not only easy to make, but it also uses simple ingredients with heaps of flavor! Simply mix the filling, wrap them up, pan-fry and enjoy!
Homemade Dumplings are Easy!
Dumplings can seem intimidating but they aren’t difficult to make. I admit they do take a bit of time to make (like wonton soup or any kind of filled dumpling really) but following the steps below anyone can do it!
These really are the best dumplings without a huge list of fussy ingredients (most are things you know)! No need to buy packages of things you’ll never use again.
Fresh ginger adds lots of flavors while ground pork flavorful adding just the right amount of moisture to the mixture. Customize the filling with whatever you’d like!
Ingredients/Variations
This recipe uses ingredients you are familiar with like ground pork, fresh ginger, and cabbage and they’re wrapped in dumpling wrappers.
PORK
Ground pork is my favorite dumpling filling but of course, you can use other ground meats as well. Choose one with a mild flavor so you don’t overpower the other flavors in the filling. I’ve made this recipe with ground chicken successfully as well.
CABBAGE
Cabbage adds bulk and texture to the mixture. My choice is napa cabbage but if you don’t have any, you can use coleslaw mix as well. Mix the cabbage with salt and let it sit, this will release all of the water. Next, squeeze out as much water as you can.
FLAVORS
Fresh ginger (and garlic) costs very little and adds heaps of flavor to stir fries, egg rolls, and more! If I have extra, I sometimes toss it into the freezer whole and grate it right from frozen for recipes and soups.
DUMPLING WRAPPERS
I personally like to purchase the wrappers since it saves a step but you also make wrappers at home. If purchasing, be sure you’re getting wrappers for dumplings, not wontons as wonton wrappers are thinner.
How to Make Pork Dumplings
Pork Filling
Making the filling is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Toss cabbage with salt and set aside.
- Combine the rest of the filling ingredients (per recipe below).
- Squeeze liquid from the cabbage, chop finely, and add to the filling mixture.
Set out wonton wrappers and place a scoop of filling in the center of each wrapper.
How to Fold Dumplings
While this may seem the tricky part it is actually quite simple to do!
- The best way to prepare the dumplings is to fold one edge over the filling.
- Moisten the bottom edge and then crimp the edges to seal the dumpling.
Be sure not to over moisten the wrapper. This will help it to hold its shape!
Make Ahead & Freeze for Quick Meals
Make these dumplings ahead of time and freeze dumplings in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment. When frozen, store them in a zippered bag labeled with the date on it.
Cook as directed below adding a couple of extra minutes if cooking from frozen.
Take-Out at Home
- Sesame Chicken – tender & delicious
- Egg Drop Soup – 20 minute meal
- Easy Mongolian Beef – take out favorite!
- Kung Pao Shrimp– family favorite
- Easy Fried Rice – easy to make!
- General Tso’s Chicken
- Homemade Chow Mein– 30 min meal!
Did you enjoy these homemade Pork Dumplings? Be sure to leave a rating and comment below!
Pork Dumplings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 30 dumpling wrappers
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup water
Filling
- 3 cups shredded napa cabbage
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces ground pork
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons rice wine
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 4 green onions very finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine cabbage and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add remaining filling ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
- Remove cabbage from the bowl and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Finely chop and add to pork and mix well.
- Lay out 3 dumpling wrappers and place 1 tablespoon filling in each. Lightly rub the edges of the dumpling with water.
- Fold the dumpling over the filling. Crimp the dumpling edges closed so it has pleats. Place on a parchment lined pan. Repeat with remaining filling.
To Cook Dumplings
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium heat in a non-stick skillet.
- Place dumplings, flat sides down in the skillet. Cook until lightly browned on one side.
- Add 1/2 cup water to the pan, cover and reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook 6-7 minutes or until water has evaporated and dumplings are cooked through.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Asian© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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Holly, my family and I have loved every recipe that I’ve made from your site; in fact, virtually every recipe I’ve downloaded from the internet is yours. And I look forward to your cookbook as well! (I also have a few .nieces who love cooking and baking, too, so your book will make great presents for them as well.) But I do have a couple of questions about your pork dumplings. Is there anything one can substitute for the rice wine? Second, although I always have sesame oil on hand, I have never used toasted sesame oil. I’m sure I can find it online, but I don’t want to buy something I’ll only use once. Do you have other recipes that use it as well? Thank you for your wonderful recipes and for sharing them.
Thank you so much, Janet! I am glad you are enjoying our recipes so much! A good substitution for rice wine is a dry cooking sherry but you can use a dry white wine in it’s place as well. You can also use regular sesame oil in place of the toasted sesame oil with great results.
I have Shaoxing cooking wine. Does that count as a rice wine or do I need something different?
Yes, Shaoxing cooking wine is considered a type of rice wine.