Hot and Sour Dumpling Soup

Method7 steps · about 25 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Bring a medium pot of dumpling-cooking water to a boil. Have the ready-to-cook pork dumplings and the minced garlic and chopped scallion prepared before starting the soup base.

   Uses Water as needed in a medium pot for boiling the dumplings

2. 2

   Step 2: Put the Sichuan chili flakes (1 tbsp) and minced garlic (1½ tbsp) into a large, sturdy heat-proof soup bowl. Heat all 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a small pot until it just begins to smoke lightly, then carefully pour it over the chili and garlic. Stir until combined.

   Uses 1 tbsp Sichuan chili flakes, or adjust to taste · 1½ tbsp minced garlic, from about 3–4 cloves · 3 tbsp vegetable oil

   
3. 3

   Step 3: Stir the light soy sauce (2 tbsp), dark soy sauce (½ tsp), black vinegar, sugar (2 tsp) and toasted sesame seeds (1 tbsp) into the chili-garlic oil. Add the optional dried shrimp flakes and small sheet of dried laver (1 small sheet) if using.

   Uses Chili-garlic oil in the heat-proof bowl · 2 tbsp light soy sauce · ½ tsp dark soy sauce · 2 tbsp Chinese black vinegar · 2 tsp sugar · 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds · 1 pinch dried shrimp flakes (xiāpí, 虾皮), optional · 1 small sheet dried laver, about the area of three US quarter coins, optional

4. 4

   Step 4: Gently drop the 10–12 ready-to-cook pork dumplings into the boiling pot, stirring the water gently so they do not stick to the bottom. Keep frozen dumplings frozen until adding them unless their packet directs otherwise.

   Uses Pot of boiling dumpling-cooking water · 10–12 ready-to-cook pork dumplings, fresh or frozen

5. 5

   Step 5: Bring the water back to a boil and cook for about 6–8 minutes, checking from 6 minutes, or follow the dumpling packet’s directions. Each time the pot reaches a vigorous boil, add ¼ cup cold water to moderate it, then let it return to boiling. The author also suggests checking after the dumplings float and have cooked for another 30–60 seconds. Whichever guide you use, continue until the wrappers are cooked and the pork filling reaches 71°C/160°F throughout; floating alone does not establish doneness.

   Cook the pork dumplings · 6 minUses Dumplings in the cooking pot · ¼ cup cold water per addition when the pot boils vigorously

6. 6

   Step 6: Once the dumplings are fully cooked, measure 1 cup of the hot dumpling-cooking water and stir it into the seasoned soup base in the heat-proof serving bowl.

   Uses 1 cup hot dumpling-cooking water · Seasoned chili-garlic soup base

   
7. 7

   Step 7: Lift all the cooked dumplings from the pot with a strainer or slotted spoon and add them to the hot soup. Add the chopped scallion (1 tbsp) and optional cilantro (1 large pinch), then taste and season with salt as needed. Serve immediately; this is one large bowl.

   Uses All cooked dumplings lifted from the pot · Hot seasoned soup in the serving bowl · 1 tbsp finely chopped scallion · 1 large pinch cilantro, optional · Salt to taste