For breakfast this morning I made one of my favorites, pot stickers.
I don't make them from scratch, I buy a premade product.
The reason I am even writing about it is that the way I prepare them is not traditional, and you guys might want to try this.......
I don't fry them and then steam them. I also don't shallow water boil them till the water is gone, allowing them to stick a little, but keeping them from oversticking.......
What I do is I boil them like any other dumpling. Then I put a little butter in a non-stick pan and hard fry them. I turn them so that I get a good fry on multiple sides.
This leaves them gooey and sticky, but with hard edges and surfaces.
It is fast, easy, and almost fool-proof.
To relate the invention of these, (cause it is a cute legend).......
The chef was preparing the mid-day meal for the emperor, including his favorite, dumplings. The emperor was a harsh ruler, and had zero tolerance for mistakes. Chef only had his position because the previous 2 had been executed for mistakes.
Unfortunately one of the junior chefs overcooked the dumplings, allowing them to seize to the bottom of the pan and making a hard crust on the bottom. There was no time to redo it.
Everyone panicked. The kitchen staff were terrified. They figured that such a mistake to the lord's favorite food would cost them all their lives.
However, the wise Chef held his hand for quiet, and calmly said put them in the dish and follow me.
The entire kitchen staff took the components of the meal and formed a parade. As they trooped in to the Emperor's chamber, the chef grandly announced "My great majesty, today I bring to you a new delight. A rare and exotic treat from the far away lands of the gaijin. Pot-Stickers!"
He presented them as if they were cooked as intended. The Emperor loved them, and a new dish was born.
I don't care whether this is a true story or just a legend. It is a great fable.
*Also, there are several versions of this story around. This is the one I remember.
I don't make them from scratch, I buy a premade product.
The reason I am even writing about it is that the way I prepare them is not traditional, and you guys might want to try this.......
I don't fry them and then steam them. I also don't shallow water boil them till the water is gone, allowing them to stick a little, but keeping them from oversticking.......
What I do is I boil them like any other dumpling. Then I put a little butter in a non-stick pan and hard fry them. I turn them so that I get a good fry on multiple sides.
This leaves them gooey and sticky, but with hard edges and surfaces.
It is fast, easy, and almost fool-proof.
To relate the invention of these, (cause it is a cute legend).......
The chef was preparing the mid-day meal for the emperor, including his favorite, dumplings. The emperor was a harsh ruler, and had zero tolerance for mistakes. Chef only had his position because the previous 2 had been executed for mistakes.
Unfortunately one of the junior chefs overcooked the dumplings, allowing them to seize to the bottom of the pan and making a hard crust on the bottom. There was no time to redo it.
Everyone panicked. The kitchen staff were terrified. They figured that such a mistake to the lord's favorite food would cost them all their lives.
However, the wise Chef held his hand for quiet, and calmly said put them in the dish and follow me.
The entire kitchen staff took the components of the meal and formed a parade. As they trooped in to the Emperor's chamber, the chef grandly announced "My great majesty, today I bring to you a new delight. A rare and exotic treat from the far away lands of the gaijin. Pot-Stickers!"
He presented them as if they were cooked as intended. The Emperor loved them, and a new dish was born.
I don't care whether this is a true story or just a legend. It is a great fable.
*Also, there are several versions of this story around. This is the one I remember.
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