Crispy Fried Dumplings with a Meaty or Veggie Twist

Fried dumplings are a delicious and satisfying dish that can be enjoyed as a snack, appetizer, or main course. In this recipe, I will show you how to make fried dumplings with a meat filling, as well as a vegetarian option. The dumplings are served with a small portion of Asian noodles and topped with a colorful mix of shredded white and red cabbage, red sauce, and shredded carrots. So let's get started!

This dish is a flavorful and hearty meal that is sure to please everyone at the table.

Ingredients

• 1 package of wonton wrappers
• 1/2 pound ground meat (such as pork, chicken, or beef) or 1 cup of finely chopped vegetables (such as mushrooms, cabbage, or carrot) for the vegetarian option
• 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 4 ounces Asian noodles
• 1/2 cup shredded white cabbage
• 1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
• 2 tablespoons red sauce
• 2 tablespoons shredded carrots

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix the ground meat (or vegetables) with the green onions, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt.
   
   
2. Place a wonton wrapper on a clean, dry surface and place a heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center. Wet the edges of the wrapper with water and fold the wrapper in half to form a triangle, pressing the edges to seal. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
   
   
3. Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or wok over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F.
   
   
4. Carefully add a few dumplings to the hot oil and fry for about 1-2 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove the dumplings from the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining dumplings.
   
   
5. In the meantime, cook the Asian noodles according to the package instructions.
   
   
6. To assemble the dish, place a small portion of noodles on each plate and top with a few fried dumplings. Arrange the shredded white and red cabbage on top of the noodles and dumplings, and drizzle with the red sauce. Sprinkle with shredded carrots and serve.

The serving size for this recipe will depend on how you are serving the dumplings. If you are serving the dumplings as a snack or appetizer, you can expect to get about 24 dumplings, which would be enough for 8 servings of 3 dumplings each. If you are serving the dumplings as a main course, you may want to increase the recipe to make more dumplings, or serve the dumplings with a larger portion of noodles and vegetables. A good rule of thumb is to plan for about 6 dumplings per person as a main course. You can also adjust the serving size by increasing or decreasing the amount of filling used in each dumpling.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe for fried dumplings with a meat filling and a vegetarian option. These dumplings are crispy, flavorful, and satisfying, making them the perfect snack, appetizer, or main course. Serve them with a small portion of Asian noodles, shredded white and red cabbage, red sauce, and shredded carrots for a colorful and tasty meal. Whether you're a meat-lover or a vegetarian, these dumplings are sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. Enjoy!