Upside Down Dumplings
WRITTEN BY
SERVES:
Prep Time:
10 MINUTES
Cook Time:
10-12 MINUTES PER BATCH

These upside-down dumplings are a quiet little genius move. Instead of folding and pleating, you roll the filling into balls, lay the wrapper on top, and press — the pan does the rest. What you get is a crispy, lacquered base (which is technically the top), a tender steamed wrapper underneath, and a filling that's endlessly adaptable to whatever's lurking in the veg drawer. Broccoli stalks, green beans, mushrooms, carrot — it all works. Serve straight from the pan with chilli oil and spring onion, and maybe don't tell anyone how easy they were.

INGREDIENTS:

  1. 250g minced pork
  2. 50g carrot, grated
  3. 1 broccoli stalk, grated
  4. 50g green beans, finely diced
  5. 50g mushrooms, finely chopped
  6. 1 tsp minced ginger
  7. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  8. Black pepper, to taste
  9. 1 tsp sesame oil
  10. 1 tsp mirin
  11. 2 tsp soy sauce
  12. 18 dumpling wrappers

FOR COOKING:

  1. Neutral oil
  2. 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  3. ¼ cup water (per batch)
  4. Chilli oil and sliced spring onion, to finish

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the minced pork, grated carrot, grated broccoli stalk, green beans, mushrooms, ginger and garlic. Add the sesame oil, mirin, soy sauce and a good grind of black pepper. Mix well with clean hands until fully combined.
  2. Divide the mixture into 18 small balls, roughly equal in size.
  3. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat with a little oil. Working in batches, place the pork balls into the pan with space between each one. Lay a dumpling wrapper over each ball and press down gently to flatten slightly.
  4. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the underside (which will become the top when served) is golden and crisp.
  5. Carefully pour ¼ cup of water into the pan and immediately cover with a lid. Steam for 6–8 minutes.
  6. Remove the lid and cook for a further minute to crisp up again. Drizzle over the soy sauce and chilli oil, then scatter with sliced spring onion.
  7. Repeat with the remaining dumplings. Best served immediately while the bases are crisp and golden.
wonkybox

Upside Down Dumplings

Crispy-bottomed pork dumplings cooked upside-down — fridge odds and ends turned into something properly good. 18 dumplings, 20 minutes.
WRITTEN BY
ABOUT
ABOUT

tell us what you think

tempting recommendations

Golden baked cauliflower and carrot bake in a ceramic dish, melted cheese bubbling on top
Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

A cheesy, cumin-spiced cauliflower bake that makes use of the whole veg, leaves included. Simple, hearty and quietly clever.

Creamy parsnip and butter bean hummus in a shallow bowl, drizzled with olive oil and dusted with paprika, served with cucumber sticks, celery, carrots, and crackers
Parsnip & Butter Bean Hummus

Parsnips blended into a creamy, cumin-spiked hummus with butter beans — a leftfield dip that earns its place on any table.

Golden crispy mashed potato toastie cut in half on a wooden board, oozing melted cheese with a golden crust
Leftover Mashed Potato Toasties

Turn last night's mash into a crispy, cheesy toastie — no bread required. Ready in under 15 minutes.

Slow cooker beef pie with golden puff pastry lid, crimped edges and steam holes, served in a rustic ceramic dish with tender beef and vegetable filling visible at the edge
Slow Cooker Beef Pie

Pop it in the slow cooker before work. Top with puff pastry when you're home. Dinner is basically done.