My favorite way to wrap (and eat) anything... including (especially!) leftovers! You can prepare these in advance and store them in the freezer for an easy any time meal.
(Makes around 40-45 dumplings)
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FOR THE FILLING
1½ tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely diced butternut squash
1 cup finely diced shiitake mushrooms
2 stalk green onion, finely chopped
2 cups finely chopped fresh spinach
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, freshly grated
1-2 tablespoons soy sauce
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon white pepper
FOR THE WRAPPERS
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder, optional
1 teaspoon salt, optional
1 cup just-boiled water**
1 tablespoon sunflower seed oil
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TO COOK THE DUMPLINGS (per batch)
1½ tablespoons sunflower seed oil
¼ cup filtered water per batch
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Make the filling: Warm a large, dry skillet over high heat and coat the pan with oil. Add all the filling ingredients and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until the moisture from the vegetables evaporate. You don't want the filling to be too wet or your dumpling wrappers will break. Remove from heat and let this cool completely before wrapping.
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Make the wrappers: In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Whilst stirring continuously, gradually pour in the hot water and oil and stir until the mixture begins to clump together in little clusters. Knead these together until a large ball of dough forms. Turn it out onto a clean work surface and knead for 10 more minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic (like Play Doh). If it's sticky and too wet, add another tablespoon or two of flour. If it's too dry, add another tablespoon of hot water or oil. Cover the dough with a clean, damp dish cloth and set aside for 20 minutes.
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On a clean, lightly floured work surface, roll the wrapper dough into a long, skinny piece about 1-inch in diameter and divide it into 40 equal pieces. Using a rolling pin, flatten each of the pieces and roll them out to â…›-inch-thick rounds, about 4" in diameter.
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Have a seat and get comfortable at a clean, dry work surface. Invite a few friends or family members to join in on the fun!
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Assemble the dumplings: Place one dough round in the palm of your hand. Place one spoonful of the filling in the center of the dough round; take care not to overfill, or they’ll be difficult to close. Fold the wrapper in half—into a semi-circle—and firmly pinch the edges together to seal (you can also fold in pleats, although that isn’t necessary). Place the assembled dumpling onto a parchment-paper lined baking sheet and continue until you run out of wrappers or filling.
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TO PAN-FRY: Warm a large, dry skillet over high heat. Add the oil to coat the pan. Place the dumplings in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd them. Reduce the heat to medium, and carefully add the ¼ cup of the water, cover, and cook for 6 minutes, or until steamed through and the liquid has evaporated. Drizzle another teaspoon of the oil. Cook, uncovered, for 3 more minutes, or until the skin has crisped up again.
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FOR COLORFUL DOUGH, substitute the boiled water with fresh-pressed juices (blue butterfly pea flower tea, carrot juice, beetroot juice), brought to a boil, or add 2 tsp turmeric for yellow, spirulina powder for green. You can divide this recipe into thirds or sixths for multiple colors in one batch.
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GLUTEN-FREE WRAPPERS | RED CURRY DUMPLINGS | FOUR HAPPINESS SHUMAI