little dumpling

Pan-Fried Vegetarian Dumplings
*The shortcut way...

Serves: 2 (16 pieces)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

You'll need:

• Dumpling wrappers (available at your local grocery store, in the refrigerated section)
• Frozen mixed vegetables (~10-12 oz., Birdseye are good)
• Hot sauce (Rooster sauce is my favorite!)
• Soy Sauce
• 2 T. butter for sauteeing
• Glass of water
• A teaspoon

1) Thaw out & drain the mixed vegetables well.

2) Place vegetables in food processor, or chop well with a knife. (If you process these in a food processor, make sure NOT to over-process. You want the final product to have the consistency of diced onions, NOT mashed potatoes).

3) Place veggies in a bowl. Add 1 T. hot sauce, 1 T. soy sauce.

4) On an open work area, create an assembly line including one "work area" where you make the dumplings, and a place for the completed dumplings to rest until it's time to cook them. Be careful not to stack them, they are delicate when they are raw!

5) Take one sheet of dumpling wrapper. Wet your finger in the water bowl, and run it around all four edges of the square (does not matter if the middle of the wrapper gets wet, so long as the edges are.

6) Place a teaspoon of filling into the center of the wrapper. Be sure not to overfill the dumpling wrapper (even though it's tempting)!

7) Draw up two opposite corners of the wrapper, and press together to seal. Then seal the edges, taking care to press firmly on all edges. The water should seal the dumpling wrapper together. (Should be a triangle when you are done.)

8) Repeat for as many dumplings as you like! I recommend about 8 per person.

9) When you are ready to cook the dumplings, melt 1 T. of the butter over medium heat in a non-stick fry pan. (You should cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding, so you will use the rest of the butter in a later batch).

10) When the butter has melted, place the dumplings in the fry pan. Careful! These little guys cook quickly (about 1-2 minutes per side). Flip them once, and make sure they are golden on each side, then take them out to cool.

Serve with either sweet and sour sauce or ponzu sauce! Enjoy!