[RECIPE] Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling with Buttermilk Biscuits “wrap”

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 12

Dear Food Diary:
My ChubbyUncle in SF is an awesome and creative cook. He does amazing Shanghainese dishes. It’s always a treat when I visit. He always seems to have a couple new surprises up his sleeves, but this one blew me away! Using store bought buttermilk biscuits to make Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling? That’s just crazy…

Crazy good that is!

There are crucial parts to this:  

1. WRAP
2. PORK FILLING   
3. “SOUP” (essential to any good Shanghainese pan fried dumpling)

 

1. WRAP: Buttermilk Biscuits

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 1
For this recipe you will need about 2 tubes which will make 40.

Making your own wrap from scratch is labor intensive. Chinese grocery stores carry the typical dumpling wraps but pan fried soup dumpling ones are non existent. Because the buttermilk biscuits have that puffy texture and is thick enough to withhold the soup, ChubbyUncle found them to be the easiest way to make these classic Shanghainese breakfast treats. Yes, we eat them in the morning.

The dough also cooks well in oil, making the bottom extra crispy and crunchy.

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 5
Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 4

Each tube comes with 10 big biscuits, just break them in half to make 40.

ROLLING THE WRAP: push & roll


2. THE PORK FILLING

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 2 

2.5 pound ground pork (with fat is best)
2/3 cup finely chopped green onions 
4 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon Shaoxing wine (Chinese rice wine)
1/2 teaspoon of chicken powder

This can be adjusted, since some like it sweeter than others. You can make it to taste.

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 7
Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 8
Mixing everything until you get a paste like consistency. Leave it in the fridge over night so it puffs and plumps up.

 

3. “SOUP”:  pork in gelatinous form 

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 3

IN A LARGE SOUP POT:
3 pounds of pork bones, skin and fat 
1 tablespoon of salt
1 slice of ginger
gelatin powder (optional)

• Cover everything with water
• Bring to boil and take away the foam on top 
• Continue removing foam whenever necessary
• Simmer in medium to low heat until everything breaks apart is is soft
(We are looking for a fatty and gelatinous consistency, if you feel like it’s lacking, you may put a dash of gelatin powder)
• Strain, discard the solids and refrigerate overnight

These solid/gelatinous bits are then wrapped along with the pork to create that bursting “soup”!!!


WRAPPING 101: fold & pull

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 17
Wrap on hand, you put a spoonful of the pork filling and a dab of the frozen”soup”. See instructions below:

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 6
This is how they should be looking! Practice makes perfect so don’t be discouraged at first…

PAN FRYING 101:

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 14
Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 16

• Coat a pan with vegetable oil and line these pockets of luv one next to another (it’s ok if they touch)
• Brush with water 
• Sprinkle with sesame
• Pour water into the pan and cover 2/3 height of the dumpling
• Medium to low heat for about 15-20 minutes
• Sprinkle some scallions
• Turn to high heat for about 3-5 minutes and let the bottom crisp up!
(Check to see if the bottom is golden brown, if not, just add a couple more minutes)

And voila! they should look like this…

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 13Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 11


TIME TO EAT!

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 9
Best served with ChinKiang Vinegar (strings of ginger is optional). The much needed vinegar balances the fat and adds that tartness with a sweet finish.

Chubby Uncle's Easy Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling 10
Umami filled soup, tender pork filling and that puffy wrap on top with a nice crunch on the bottom. Yum!
This recipe takes a bit of work but def worth your time.

P.S. Chubby’s Rating: chubby rating 5

 

10 Responses to [RECIPE] Shanghainese Pan Fried Soup Dumpling with Buttermilk Biscuits “wrap”

  1. lovefoodie says:

    Fantastic pics, videos & a great reference. Your Uncle knows what he does! His dexterity is evident. Would love to see him ‘teach’ other stuffs!!

  2. TT says:

    quite a creative and delicious looking recipe! i’m too lazy to make it myself though, haha

  3. LOL I know! I feel like I need a day or two off from work to make these! but after summer I’m def gonna do them… reg dumplings are so much easier… but not as satisfying as these =)

  4. I’m working on a round-up of dumpling recipes for The Huffington Post Taste and found your recipe. I would love to include the recipe photo in my piece. Let me know if you’re interested. Thanks!

    Thanks!

    http://chubbychinesegirleats.com/2012/07/recipe-shanghainese-pan-fried-soup-dumpling-with-buttermilk-biscuits-wrap.html

  5. this is flipping adorable.

  6. Your uncle is so clever! I’m in love with these biscuit dumplings, bravo!

  7. Monica says:

    Hi, i am from brazil and i want to try this recipe but i don’t have this
    Buttermilk biscuits, don’t you have another way to do the wrap?
    Thanks!!
    Monica

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