Asian Dumplings with Chutzpah

Jun 24, 2024 by Chef David

By Chef David

Call it a kreplach, knedle, or dumpling, this food wrapped in dough can be found in many cultures in different forms and shapes. Dumpling, from the German word “dumpfling,” which means a lump of dough, dates to the Han Dynasty, and was introduced by a Chinese physician, Zhang, to cure frostbite around the ears.

Food historians believe dumplings developed simultaneously in many regions as a way to extend food. These carbohydrate-filled bite-sized snacks can be savory, spicy, or sweet. Some familiar variations include kibbeh, a Sephardic dish that is made of cracked bulgar wheat, ground meat, onions, and spices, Italian ravioli, or Spaetzle a German dish made of unfilled dough boiled in water, to name a few.

While these small dough-wrapped bites can be fun to eat they are time-consuming and tedious to make. We were delighted to discover Chutzpah, a pareve dumpling certified kosher by the OU.

Homemade Dumplings

Making dumplings is a four-step process.

1. Wrappers: pre-prepared wrappers are available in various sizes and shapes.
2. Prepare the Filling: Create your fillings, for a vegetarian dumpling, combine bean sprouts, mushrooms, cabbage, onions, garlic, ginger, and carrots in a frying pan with soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. Cook until it is soft (approximately 3 minutes). Once the filling has cooled, you can begin to assemble the dumpling.
3. Fill: Place the wrappers on a clean work surface, and add one teaspoon of filling in the center. Seal by dipping your fingers in the water and lightly moisten the wrapper’s edges. Fold the wrapper in half and press the edges together to seal.
4. Cook: Divide dumplings in batches and cook in a frying pan (we use a well-seasoned carbon steel pan) over medium heat until they are browned. Pour just enough to cover a quarter of the dumpling. Cover and cook until the water is gone, about 4 minutes. Remove the lid and cook until it reaches your desired crispness.

Serve hot and enjoy.

Your decision to buy or make dumplings depends on how much time you want to devote to cooking. Chutzpah frozen dumplings are high-quality and easy to prepare.

Chutzpah Frozen Dumplings

Chutzpah makes frozen vegan dumplings, that are shipped Nationwide, and delivered to your door. They were created from Bubby Elaine’s recipe and are 100% plant-based, but they contain salt, soy, and wheat. Chutzpah dumplings come in two varieties – Bubby’s “Brisket” Dumplings made with barbecue glazed seitan and caramelized onions and Spicy Mushroom Dumplings made with gochujang glazed mushrooms. Each Bubby’s “Brisket” Dumpling 4-piece serving contains 180 calories and 13 grams of protein while the Mushroom Dumplings have 140 calories with 5 grams of protein.

Ingredient-wise Chutzpah’s “brisket’ filling thinks out of the box, though non-traditional ingredients but why try to improve on something that works? Spicy Mushroom filling is less surprising, listing white and shiitake mushrooms, sugar, rice wine vinegar, and tamari.

Chutzpah dumplings are easy to prepare, you can steam, pan sear, or boil them, letting you eat in a matter of minutes.  They are available online or use the locator to find a store close to you.

Our Thoughts

We enjoyed the convenience of Chutzpah dumplings.  First and most importantly, they figured out how to ship frozen food, it was well packaged, including a bag of dry ice, and arrived safe, cold, and on time. It was easier than shopping at the grocery store. The fillings were tasty, offering a meaty Umami flavor, which was satisfying. Visually, it wasn’t easy to distinguish the two varieties. The team was divided on which flavor they liked best, both had distinctive textures and tastes.

We experimented with our preparation to get the dumpling wrapper to fit our desired preference, not too doughy, or overly browned. We opted for using the pan-searing technique, to produce a picture-perfect golden exterior, reminiscent of restaurant-quality dumplings.

We made a dipping sauce (recipe below) to accompany our dumplings. This punchy, vibrant sauce combines sweet, salty, spicy, sour, and savory flavors. The dipping sauce is a nice-to-have component, although the dumpling filling provides enough flavor by itself.

Dipping Sauce (adapted from America’s Test Kitchen)

Serves 4 to 6 (Makes 3/4 cup)

Ingredients

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar (Marukan)
• 2 tablespoons mirin (Eden Foods)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon chili oil (optional)
• ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil (Eden Foods)
• 1 medium scallion, green parts, minced (optional)

Instructions – Combine all ingredients in a bowl and serve

High-Quality Dumplings at Home

Expand your meals from ordinary to extraordinary. Chutzpah provides pre-prepared vegan dumplings. They take only minutes to prepare and can be served as a starter or a side dish. These dumplings are finger food friendly, designed for gourmands and children alike, and will leave everyone asking for more. Dumplings can become a special something simple snack so delicate, and delicious your guests will think you spend hours in the kitchen.