Spicy steamed dumplings

Ingredients:

For the Dumpling Filling:

• 1 lb ground pork or ground chicken (or your choice of protein)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos (for gluten-free)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon chili paste (or to taste, use more for extra heat)
• 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce (optional, for extra spice)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for extra spice)
• 1/2 cup napa cabbage or bok choy, finely chopped and squeezed of excess water

For the Dumpling Wrappers:

• 1 pack of dumpling wrappers (store-bought, or you can make your own using almond flour for keto-friendly options)

For Steaming:

• A steamer basket or a bamboo steamer

Instructions:

Prepare the Filling:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork (or your choice of protein), sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, green onions, chili paste, sriracha sauce (optional), salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional).
2. Add the finely chopped napa cabbage or bok choy and mix well until all the ingredients are fully incorporated. Set the filling aside.

Assemble the Dumplings:

1. Place a dumpling wrapper on a clean surface.
2. Spoon a small amount (about 1 tablespoon) of the filling into the center of the wrapper.
3. Lightly wet the edges of the wrapper with water, then fold it in half to form a half-moon shape. Pinch the edges together to seal the dumpling. You can pleat the edges for a more decorative look.
4. Repeat until all the filling is used.

Steam the Dumplings:

1. Bring water to a boil in a large pot or steamer and place a steamer basket or bamboo steamer over it. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the dumplings.
2. Lightly grease the steamer basket with some oil or line it with parchment paper to prevent the dumplings from sticking.
3. Place the dumplings in the steamer, making sure they aren’t touching each other. You may need to steam them in batches, depending on the size of your steamer.
4. Steam the dumplings for about 8-10 minutes or until the filling is cooked through and the wrappers are tender.

Serve:

• Serve the dumplings hot with a side of dipping sauce. For a simple dipping sauce, combine soy sauce or coconut aminos with a teaspoon of chili paste and a dash of sesame oil.
• Garnish with chopped green onions or cilantro if desired.

Tips:

• If you prefer pan-fried dumplings, you can pan-fry them after steaming by adding a little oil to a hot skillet and crisping the bottoms.
• Adjust the level of heat by adding more or less chili paste or sriracha based on your spice preference.
• For a more keto-friendly version, use almond flour wrappers or look for keto-friendly dumpling wrappers at specialty stores.

Enjoy these spicy, flavorful dumplings as an appetizer or a main dish!