Steamed jao-tze

5 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 cups Flour, all purpose
12 tablespoons Water, cold
1 pounds Pork, ground OR
1 large Egg, lightly beaten
Salt (to taste)
½ teaspoon Sugar
1½ teaspoon Cornstarch
½ teaspoon Monosodium glutamate, (Accent -meat tenderizer)
1½ tablespoon Wine, Shao hsing, OR
1½ tablespoon Sherry, dry
1 tablespoon Sauce, soy, dark
½ cup Scallions, green part included
5 ounces Broth, chicken

Directions

DOUGH

FILLING

For the Dough:

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Put the flour into a mixing bowl and stir in the water gradually, using a fork or a spoon in the beginning, then your hands. Knead the dough in the bowl or on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes.

Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a clean bowl, covered with a damp cloth. The dough should sit for 30 minutes.

For the Filling:

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In a mixing bowl, mix the pork and the remaining ingredients (except the chicken broth) for the filling. Stir the mixture with your hands, using a circular motion, and always stirring in the same direction. While stirring, add the chicken broth. Put the mixture into the freezer for about 15 minutes -- do not allow it to freeze.

It must be very very cold, but not frozen.

To Form the Dumplings:

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When ready to make the dumplings, lightly flour a working surface and pour out the dough. Knead it about 5 minutes, then roll it with palms and fingers into a sausage shape about 13 to 14 inches long. Tear off bits of dough and shape each bit into a ball about 1 inch in diameter. Flatten the balls of dough on a lightly floured board, then roll with a rolling pin into a circle about 3 to 3½ inches in diameter.

Put teaspoons of the pork mixture into the center of the circle.

Bring up the edges of the dough and pinch firmly in the center, forming a filled crescent, using a little water to seal if necessary.

Leave each end open.

To one of the open ends of the crescent, fold the dough into the center in 3 or 4 pleats. Like the pleats in a curtain or in a pair of pants, you're folding the point of the crescent into the center, and pinching the dough to seal. Gather up the balance of the dough on the other side of the crescent, pleating it toward the center in 3 or 4 pleats. This method of sealing the dumpling gives it a broad bottom.

As each dumpling is finished, place it on a lightly floured board and cover with a cloth to prevent drying out.

To Cook:

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When ready to cook, line the top of a steamer with cheesecloth wrung out in cold water. Arrange the dumplings over it and steam, covered, over boiling water about 15 minutes.

Transfer the dumplings from the steamer and serve them bottom side up, with Jao-Tze Sauce I or II.

Yield: 40 dumplings (figure 8 per serving) Source: "The Chinese Cookbook" by Craig Claiborne & Viginia Lee : J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia and New York, 1972 From: Rob Stewart Date: 08-10-94 Submitted By DALE SHIPP On 06-16-95

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