Description
Vietnamese rice paper dumplings showcase delicate wrappers filled with savory pork, herbs, and crisp vegetables. Crunchy exterior and tender interior create a perfect balance of textures that will delight anyone craving authentic Asian street cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 24 rice papers (size small, 16 cm rounds)
- ⅓ block (150 g, 5.3 oz) tofu (any firmness)
- 3 shiitake mushrooms (70 g, 2.5 oz), finely chopped
- 1 ½ cup (105 g, 3.7 oz) cabbage, shredded
- 1 small carrot (50 g, 1.8 oz), shredded
- ½ small onion (60 g, 2.1 oz), diced
- 2 scallions, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) sesame oil
- 1 ½ tbsps (22 mL) soy sauce
- 1 tsp salt, to taste
- ½ tsp white pepper
- ¼ tsp msg, optional
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) soy sauce (dipping sauce)
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) rice vinegar (dipping sauce)
- Few drops of layu or chili oil (dipping sauce)
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: Sauté minced garlic and ginger in hot oil until fragrant, creating a flavor-packed base for the filling.
- Vegetable Symphony: Integrate tofu, onions, cabbage, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and scallions into the sizzling pan, allowing ingredients to meld and release their natural essences.
- Seasoning Elevation: Infuse the mixture with salt, sesame oil, soy sauce, white pepper, and optional msg, calibrating the flavor profile to perfection while gently reducing moisture.
- Filling Preparation: Cool the vegetable mixture completely, ensuring optimal texture and preventing wrapper soggy complications.
- Rice Paper Transformation: Briefly submerge rice paper wrappers in water, rendering them pliable and translucent, then carefully position on a damp surface.
- Precision Wrapping: Center a generous filling portion, fold bottom edge over, tuck sides inward, and roll tightly, reinforcing with a second wrapper for enhanced structural integrity.
- Cooking Technique: Choose between pan-frying (achieving golden crisp in 2-3 minute intervals) or air frying at 375°F for 8-10 minutes, rotating midway to ensure even browning.
- Serving Finale: Present the crispy dumplings immediately with a complementary dipping sauce, preserving their irresistible texture and temperature.
Notes
- Precise Filling Temperature: Cool the filling completely to prevent rice paper from becoming soggy and maintain structural integrity during wrapping and cooking.
- Wrapper Hydration Technique: Briefly submerge rice paper for 5-10 seconds, ensuring pliability without over-softening, which can lead to tearing.
- Double-Wrapper Reinforcement: Apply a second rice paper layer to strengthen dumplings, preventing potential breakdown during cooking and handling.
- Crispy Exterior Mastery: Use medium-high heat and strategic oil placement when pan-frying or air frying to achieve a golden, crunchy surface without burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg