Homemade dumplings and Chinese-style dishes for 5
By The Canadian Living Test Kitchen
Dumplings are the main event in this traditional Chinese dinner, which can be served all year round.
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Special occasion
Everybody loves Chinese dumplings. Hundreds of types are made throughout China, but the northern style with white wheat-flour wrappers are wildly popular everywhere in China and abroad.
Our step-by-step Chinese dumplings photo gallery shows you exactly what to buy and how to stuff, pleat and boil your own homemade dumplings.
This menu might grace a northern Chinese table during the two-week Chinese New Year Festival or, for that matter, any time of the year. In the traditional manner, a group (here five) of cold dishes starts the meal with drinks or tea, then one or two types of dumplings arrive accompanied by a simple soup. Here we offer a choice of four dumpling fillings, all destined to become family favourites. Menu originally published as "A Chinese New Year" in the February 2009 issue of Canadian Living.
Recipes
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Beijing-Style Boiled Peanuts
With a pleasant toothsome crunch, these spiced boiled peanuts resemble the legumes that peanuts actually are rather than the nuts that we think they a... -
Kelp with Szechuan Peppercorns
Kelp is an edible Pacific Ocean seaweed that grows in long, wide ribbons. Dried kelp comes whole or shredded. You'll find it at any Chinese, Japanese ... -
Chicken and Celery in Mustard Sauce
The small ribs of organic celery look pretty and are packed with flavour. For more kick, increase the mustard to 4 tsp (20 mL). -
Orange Chili Crispy Beef Strips
This dish is representative of highly flavoured meat dishes meant to accompany fiery Chinese alcoholic drinks or sherry-like Chinese rice wine. The tr... -
Bok Choy, Mushroom and Tofu Soup
The stock for this soup should be light in flavour. To use canned or boxed stock, use 3 cups (750 mL) stock and 2 cups (500 mL) water. Serve the soup ... -
Pork Dumpling Filling
This is a standard filling used throughout northern China. Dried shrimp (available at Chinese food stores) add depth to the relatively bland pork&n... -
Beef and Dill Dumpling Filling
Dill isn't usually associated with Chinese cooking, but here it is used by the handful to blend wonderfully with the beef. -
Spinach and Mushroom Vegetarian Dumpling Filling
Although dumplings were always considered a way of making a little meat go a long way, vegetarian dumplings are also popular throughout China. -
Shrimp and Leek Dumpling Filling
Leeks are common in northeast China, home to this type of dumpling. Here their use in a filling is a nontraditional touch.






