About Dumplings

When Americans think of dumplings, images of fluffy morsels of dough simmering atop a kettle of stew may come to mind. These delicious dumplings, often eaten as chicken-and-dumplings, are simmered in any type of broth or soup to create a hearty meal ideal for cold winter evenings. However, any dough cooked in boiling broth or soup, including the many filled varieties, is considered a dumpling.

American

Traditional American dumplings consist of white flour, salt, shortening, baking powder and either milk or water. Soft dough created from these ingredients and dropped by spoonful onto the surface of simmering broth forms dumplings. You can cook dumplings covered or uncovered. For dumplings cooked by covering the pot, do not remove the lid to check for doneness. Opening the lid causes the dumpling to "fall" and creates heavy, dense dumplings. Dumplings cooked without covering take slightly longer to cook and may require turning to cook both sides, but they are generally fluffier and have improved texture.

Chinese

Chinese dumplings consist of thinly rolled or pressed dough made from white flour and water, filled with chopped meats or vegetables. Folded and pressed into half-moon shapes, these dumplings are simmered in broth or in plain water. Chinese dumplings are traditionally served with vinegar and soy sauce, but garlic and pepper oil can be added to create a spicier dumpling. Chinese dumplings eaten on Chinese New Year symbolize wealth and prosperity for the New Year.

Polish

Polish dumplings, called pierogies, consist of noodle dough made from white flour, eggs, salt and water. Pierogi dough is rolled and cut into circles. Topped with a variety of fillings including meats, cheeses, potatoes and fruits, the dough is folded and crimped to create a half moon. Pierogies are cooked in boiling water and served with melted butter. "Little ears," also called uszka, are a Polish dumpling eaten on Christmas Eve. Traditionally filled with chopped mushrooms, minced onion, breadcrumbs and water, uszka are made by cutting squares of thinly rolled dough and filling with a small amount of filling. The square is folded to make a triangle and pinched to seal. Two ends of the triangle are pinched together to form a circle. Boiled in salted water, uszka cooks in 5 minutes.

Italian

Italian dumplings like ravioli and tortellini are made from thin noodle dough filled with a combination of meats, vegetables and cheeses. Gnocchi consists of dough made from white flour, egg, potato and ricotta cheese. These lumps of dough are rolled to shape, cooked in boiling water and served with grated cheese, butter or pasta sauce. Although they are commercially available in the American market, canned pasta does not match the flavor and texture of true Italian dumplings.

Desserts

Sweet dumplings are often filled with minced fruit , berries, nuts, sugar or honey and spices. The American apple dumpling is made by wrapping a whole apple in dough and baking in the oven, and Polish fruit-filled pierogies serve as a dessert instead of a main dish.