Upside Down Dumplings
WRITTEN BY
SERVES:
Prep Time:
10 MINUTES
Cook Time:
10-12 MINUTES PER BATCH

These upside-down dumplings are a quiet little genius move. Instead of folding and pleating, you roll the filling into balls, lay the wrapper on top, and press — the pan does the rest. What you get is a crispy, lacquered base (which is technically the top), a tender steamed wrapper underneath, and a filling that's endlessly adaptable to whatever's lurking in the veg drawer. Broccoli stalks, green beans, mushrooms, carrot — it all works. Serve straight from the pan with chilli oil and spring onion, and maybe don't tell anyone how easy they were.

INGREDIENTS:

  1. 250g minced pork
  2. 50g carrot, grated
  3. 1 broccoli stalk, grated
  4. 50g green beans, finely diced
  5. 50g mushrooms, finely chopped
  6. 1 tsp minced ginger
  7. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  8. Black pepper, to taste
  9. 1 tsp sesame oil
  10. 1 tsp mirin
  11. 2 tsp soy sauce
  12. 18 dumpling wrappers
    ‍

FOR COOKING:

  1. Neutral oil
  2. 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  3. ¼ cup water (per batch)
  4. Chilli oil and sliced spring onion, to finish

‍

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the minced pork, grated carrot, grated broccoli stalk, green beans, mushrooms, ginger and garlic. Add the sesame oil, mirin, soy sauce and a good grind of black pepper. Mix well with clean hands until fully combined.
  2. Divide the mixture into 18 small balls, roughly equal in size.
  3. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat with a little oil. Working in batches, place the pork balls into the pan with space between each one. Lay a dumpling wrapper over each ball and press down gently to flatten slightly.
  4. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the underside (which will become the top when served) is golden and crisp.
  5. Carefully pour ¼ cup of water into the pan and immediately cover with a lid. Steam for 6–8 minutes.
  6. Remove the lid and cook for a further minute to crisp up again. Drizzle over the soy sauce and chilli oil, then scatter with sliced spring onion.
  7. Repeat with the remaining dumplings. Best served immediately while the bases are crisp and golden.
wonkybox

Upside Down Dumplings

Crispy-bottomed pork dumplings cooked upside-down — fridge odds and ends turned into something properly good. 18 dumplings, 20 minutes.
WRITTEN BY
ABOUT
ABOUT

tell us what you think

tempting recommendations

Golden pan-fried chicken and courgette meatballs served over a rocket salad with charred asparagus, cubed avocado and cucumber, with garlic yoghurt and warm pita bread on the side
Courgette & Chicken Meatballs with Rocket, Asparagus, Avocado & Cucumber Salad

Feta-flecked chicken and courgette meatballs with a honey-lemon asparagus, avocado and rocket salad. Pita and garlic yoghurt on the side.

Creamy pappardelle with crispy bacon pieces, wilted baby spinach and asparagus in a grey ceramic bowl, finished with finely grated parmesan
Bacon & Baby Spinach Creamy Pappardelle

Pappardelle in a lemony cream sauce with crispy bacon, baby spinach and asparagus. A weeknight pasta in about 30 minutes.

Asparagus spears wrapped in crispy bacon on a sage green plate with a soft poached egg, lemony hollandaise sauce and a side bowl of extra hollandaise
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus with Eggs & Hollandaise

Bacon-wrapped asparagus, a runny poached egg and a stick-blender hollandaise that comes together in a minute. Café brunch at home.

Soft bread bap stacked with crispy bacon, sliced camembert, avocado, rocket and tomato chutney, with more bacon frying in a cast iron skillet behind
Boujee Bacon Butty

Crispy bacon, camembert, avocado, rocket and tomato chutney stacked in a soft bap. The weekend bacon butty, upgraded.