Pot Stickers

So I always wanted to use won ton wrappers and for some reason I thought they would be hard to use (like phyllo dough is for me!). Turns out they are super easy to use. I found this pot sticker recipe online:

• Filling:
• 8 ounces celery cabbage (Napa cabbage)
• 3 tsp salt, divided
• 1 pound lean ground pork
• 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions, with tops
• 1 TB white wine
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• Dash white pepper
• Dipping Sauce:
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• Other:
• 2 - 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 12 ounces of chicken stock
  

Preparation:

Cut the cabbage across into thin strips. Mix with 2 teaspoons salt and set aside for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess moisture.

In a large bowl, mix the celery cabbage, pork, green onions, wine, cornstarch, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and the white pepper.



Place 1 tablespoon pork mixture in the center of the won ton wrapper. Follow the directions on the back of the won ton wrappers for folding instructions.

Heat a wok or nonstick skillet until very hot. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, tilting the wok to coat the sides. If using a nonstick skillet, add 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place 5 dumplings in a single layer in the wok and fry 2 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. MY TIP: use a metal spatula for releasing these as there is a reason they are called pot STICKERS!

Add 1/2 cup chicken stock. Cover and cook 6 to 7 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Repeat with the remaining dumplings.

To make a dipping sauce, in a small bowl, mix the soy sauce with 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Serve with the dumplings.

Since my family requested this 3 times in one week (which NEVER happens!) I knew this recipe would be good to serve for friends! I was right--they ate 75 pot stickers! I am glad I kept the rest of the menu simple because these were labor intensive and took me 4 hours to make!

I served oriental snacks from the Oriental Market and put them in Chinese takeout boxes for presentation. I cut the pineapple and stuck in maraschino cherries for color. I cheated and used Sushi from the grocery. I had experimented with Asian lettuce wraps but they were too sloppy so I skipped those. And of course there were fortune cookies! For drinks I used Chardonnay, mixed in a little cranberry juice for color and put sliced plums on the bottom for a garnish and called it "Plum Fusion". I knew my friends would not drink plum wine or sake! I have used this drink before once for a girls night in and called it "Tickle me Pink" and once for an evening of appetizers with friends before Christmas and called it "Sugar Plum Fairy". It always get rave reviews! And who doesn't like a signature drink!