Ingredients for making the Dumplings
- For the Dumplings
- 1 pound ground pork shoulder
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp finely ground white pepper
- 1 1/2 ounces minced scallions or Chinese chives (about 2 scallions)
- 2 tsp minced fresh garlic (about 2 medium cloves)
- 2 tsp Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- 40 thin square wonton wrappers
- For the Sauce
- 4 to 8 whole hot Chinese dried red peppers (or arbol chilies), stems removed
- 2 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 tbsp roasted sesame oil
- 3 tbsp Chinkiang vinegar (or a mixture of 2 tablespoons rice vinegar and 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp minced fresh garlic (about 3 medium cloves)
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- To Cook and Serve
- 2 tbsp lightly crushed roasted peanuts (optional)
- 2 tbsp minced fresh cilantro leaves and fine stems
Method of making the Dumplings
1. For the Dumplings: Combine pork, salt, sugar, white pepper, scallions, garlic, and wine in a medium bowl and knead and turn with clean hands until the mixture is homogeneous and starting to feel tacky/sticky, about 1 minute. Transfer a teaspoon-sized amount to a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high power until cooked through, about 10 seconds. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, white pepper, and/or sugar if desired.
2. Set up a work station with a small bowl of water, a clean dish towel for wiping your fingers, a bowl with the dumplings filling, a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet for the finished dumplings, and a stack of dumplings wrappers covered in plastic wrap.
3. To form dumplings hold one wrapper on top of a flat hand. Using a spoon, place a 2 teaspoon- to 1 tablespoon-sized amount of filling in the center of the wrapper. Use the tip of the finger on your other hand to very gently moisten the edge of the wrapper with water (do not use too much water). Wipe fingertip dry on kitchen towel.
4. Carefully fold one tip of the dumplings wrapper across to meet the opposite tip to form a triangle. Seal edges of the triangle, carefully pushing out all air from within the wrapper as you work. Pull the two corners on the hypotenuse of the newly formed triangle to meet, moistening one with a little water, crossing them and pinching to seal, Transfer finished dumplings to the parchment lined baking sheet.
5. For the Sauce: Place chilies and Sichuan peppercorns on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high until toasted and aromatic, about 15 seconds. Transfer to a mortar and pestle or a food processor and crush until it’s about the texture of store-bought crushed red pepper flakes. Transfer to a small saucepan.
6. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Immediately pour hot oil over chili/peppercorn mixture (it should sizzle). Let cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a medium bowl. Add sesame oil and set aside.
7. Combine sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic in a small bowl and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add chili oil mixture. Set aside until ready to use. (Sauce can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks).
8. To Cook and Serve: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 12 to 16 dumplings and cook until they are completely cooked through, about 4 minutes. Drain dumplings and transfer to a warm serving platter. Spoon sauce on top. Sprinkle with peanuts and minced cilantro and serve hot. enjoy this magically hot and numbing dumplings full of aromatic and Sichuan flavor.
