Air Fryer Crispy Dumplings (Print Version)

Golden dumplings filled with savory pork or tofu, air-fried crisp and paired with aromatic soy ginger sauce.

# Components:

→ Dumpling Filling

01 - 7 oz ground pork, chicken, or crumbled firm tofu
02 - 1 cup napa cabbage, finely shredded
03 - 2 green onions, finely chopped
04 - 1 clove garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

→ Dumpling Assembly

10 - 20 round dumpling wrappers
11 - Water for sealing

→ Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce

12 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
15 - 1 teaspoon honey or sugar
16 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated
17 - 1 teaspoon green onion, finely sliced
18 - 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes, optional

# Directions:

01 - Combine ground pork, shredded cabbage, chopped green onions, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and white pepper in a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly until all components are evenly distributed.
02 - Place a dumpling wrapper in your palm. Spoon 1 heaping teaspoon of filling into the center of the wrapper. Moisten the edge with water and fold, pressing firmly to seal tightly. Pleat the edges as desired and repeat with remaining filling and wrappers.
03 - Set air fryer to 375°F and allow it to preheat for 3 minutes.
04 - Lightly brush or spray the prepared dumplings with oil. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch one another.
05 - Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking, until dumplings are golden brown and crispy.
06 - While dumplings are cooking, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated ginger, sliced green onion, and red chili flakes in a small bowl. Stir until well blended.
07 - Transfer cooked dumplings to a serving platter while still hot. Serve immediately with the prepared soy ginger dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get restaurant-quality crispy dumplings in under 40 minutes without heating up your whole kitchen or dealing with splattering oil.
  • The soy ginger sauce is bright and tangy enough that it transforms simple ingredients into something that tastes like you've been cooking all day.
  • Frozen dumplings cook beautifully, so you can make a batch on Sunday and have an emergency appetizer ready whenever guests show up.
02 -
  • Don't skip the halfway flip, it's the difference between evenly golden dumplings and ones that brown unevenly or stay pale on one side.
  • If your dumplings stick to the basket, a light oil spray on the basket itself before adding them prevents this frustration.
  • Overfilling creates blowouts where filling leaks out and burns on the basket, so one heaping teaspoon is the right amount, not more.
03 -
  • If you're vegetarian, tofu crumbles work perfectly, but sauté them first with a bit of soy sauce so they pick up flavor and lose excess moisture.
  • Don't be shy with the ginger in the sauce, it's what makes people lean in and ask what that flavor is, it's the unexpected note that stays with them.
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