This article was co-authored by Ririka Evans. Ririka Evans is a Personal Chef and the Founder of Home Cooking Solutions based in Frederick, Maryland. She has been a Chef for over 11 years at commercial kitchens across Japan and the US. She specializes in Japanese food and home-cooked meals. She creates customized menus and cooks for both families and special events. She’s prepared meals for clients from all walks of life, including public figures, CEOs, business owners, professionals, and busy families. She studied cooking and catering at Stratford Career Institute and is a certified ServSafe Food Protection Manager.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Pot stickers are Chinese dumplings that are often fried and, while frying, stick to the pot (hence their very apt name.) They are also delicious pockets of salty goodness that can be served as an appetizer, as part of a meal, or as a snack for really any occasion. Follow these steps to learn how to fry pot stickers.
Ingredients
- Chinese dumplings
- 2 tablespoons oil (sesame, peanut, olive or vegetable oil)
- Water
Steps
Readying the Dumplings and Pan
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1Make your pot stickers. Making Chinese dumplings can be a fun dinner party activity.[1] For how to make your own handmade pot stickers, click here. However, more often than not, simply frying frozen store-bought dumplings can be just as tasty.
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2Make the dipping sauce. Traditionally, pot stickers are served with a delicious dipping sauce. The sauce is usually made up of a mixture of 2/3 soy sauce, 1/3 Chinese rice vinegar, fresh grated or chopped bottled or pickled ginger, and sesame oil, often with a garnish of chopped chives.[2] If you like it spicy, add Chinese chili paste to taste.Advertisement
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3Heat up a wok or non-stick frying pan on medium-high heat. Make sure that the pan is very hot. To do this, flick a small amount of water onto the pan. If it evaporates immediately with a loud hiss, your pan is ready to go.
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4Pour two tablespoons of oil into the pan or wok. The type of oil you use is up to you. For a more authentic Chinese recipe, use sesame or peanut oil. You can also use vegetable or olive oil if you prefer. For the healthiest option, use olive oil (it has the highest amount of heart-healthy fat--monounsaturated fat--of any oil.) Heat the oil for about a minute (bubbles might begin to form).[3]
- You can also use hot vegetable or canola oil.
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5Place the pot stickers in the pan. You must make sure that there is enough space between each pot sticker and that they are not overlapping at all. If they overlap while cooking, it will be nearly impossible to separate them without ripping them (and having all the delicious filling fall out).[4]
Frying the Pot Stickers
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1Fry the pot stickers in the oil. You should fry the dumplings for roughly two to five minutes, or until the bottoms of the pot stickers begin to turn a golden-brown color.[5]
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2Add roughly three tablespoons of water to the pan or wok. Immediately after pouring the water in, cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. The steam created by the water will cook the dumplings all the way through. Using a lid that doesn’t let any air out is important--if steam escapes, the pot stickers will take longer to cook or may overcook and become gooey.[6]
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3Steam the dumplings until all of the water is gone. You'll start to hear crackling sounds, and the pot stickers will again begin to turn a golden-brown color. Traditionally it is advised not to rotate the dumplings, instead only allowing the bottom to brown.[7]
- If you like them well browned, gently lift and turn them with a spatula to brown the sides.
- If you want them to be even crunchier, take the lid off and cook the dumplings on medium-high.
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4Remove the dumplings from the heat. Transfer them to a serving platter and serve immediately (they are best served piping hot).[8]
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5Finished.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I use frozen pot stickers?Yes, you can use frozen pot stickers. There are many good brands of frozen pot stickers on the market. Some are filled with pork, but you can also find frozen vegetarian and shrimp potstickers in many stores.
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QuestionHow many do I serve per adult?
Community AnswerIt depends on what other dishes are being served. We serve 4-5 per person but have other dishes available as well. -
QuestionHow do I keep them warm to serve for a party? I am making them for 20 people.
Community AnswerYou can cook them in a Crock Pot or serve them on a warm dish. (Warn your guests that the dish will be warm.)
Things You'll Need
- Wok or frying pan
- Spatula
References
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/easy-chicken-potstickers-261538
- ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/pot-sticker-dipping-sauce-446277
- ↑ http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/olive-oil-vs-vegetable-oil.html
- ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/261153/perfect-pot-stickers/
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/perfect-potstickers-recipe-1942712
- ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/makeahead-amp-freeze-recipe-shiitake-mushroom-amp-tofu-potstickers-recipes-from-the-kitchn-190354
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2015/03/how-to-cook-frozen-dumplings-boil-steam-microwave-fry.html
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pork-pot-stickers-236605
About This Article
To fry pot stickers, start by heating a wok or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Then, add 2 tablespoons of oil, like peanut or olive oil, to the pan. Next, place the pot stickers in the pan so that none of them are overlapping and fry them for 2-5 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. Finally, after you fry the pot stickers, add 3 tablespoons of water to the pan, cover it, and steam the dumplings until the water is gone. To learn how to make a dipping sauce for your fried pot stickers, scroll down!
