Pan-Fried Bread Dumplings Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

Can you fry dumplings in a frying pan? ›

Pan fry method

Heat the oil in the non-stick frying pan over a medium heat until the oil is shimmering. Carefully place the frozen dumplings in a single layer in the hot frying pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the bottom of the dumplings are golden brown. Turn once and cook on another side for another minute.

If you want to get similar results at home, there are only two tricks you really need. First is to add a bit of extra starch to your dumplings. Dust them with cornstarch, shaking off the excess before the initial fry. Second is to use a non-stick skillet, or an extremely well-seasoned cast iron pan.

The panfrying method starts with lightly frying dumplings in a generous splash of neutral oil, like canola or vegetable, then finishes the cooking process by creating intense steam from pouring liquid into the hot pan. Start by adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of neutral oil to a nonstick pan over medium-high heat.

The steaming process is what creates the shiny-looking soft exterior! Steaming is the traditional way of preparing dumplings and has never gone out of style. Many people around the world are loyal to this method of cooking and prefer it over pan-fried dumplings.

Turn the heat down to medium-low and steam with the lid on for 5-7 minutes. Remove the lid. If there's still some excess water, turn your pan to low and let the water gently cook off. Once the water is completely absorbed, the dumplings will pop right off the bottom of the pan without sticking.

Cook the dumplings

Add dumplings to an oiled skillet, pleated side up. Pour 1/2 cup water into pan; cover and cook until bottoms are crisp, 12 to 14 minutes.

Homemade dumplings can fall apart for a number of different reasons, or any combination of them. Often they burst during cooking because they have too much filling for the amount of dough. Some doughs are too dry, so the dumplings won't stay sealed. Others can be too wet and sticky and end up tearing.

Potstickers are always dumplings, but not all dumplings are potstickers. The biggest difference between these two are how they are cooked, but the cooking method has also changed the kinds of ingredients and preparation of both potstickers and dumplings over time. Potstickers are dumplings that are also pan-fried.

When hot, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 5 tablespoons of water, and a layer of dumplings to the pan (fry in two batches, if needed, to avoid crowding). Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Take off the cover and keep cooking until the liquid evaporates and the bottom of the dumplings are browned, another 3 to 5 minutes.

It's best to have your lid ready: Immediately add about 3 tablespoons of water to the pan, just enough to cover the base of the dumplings, then cover and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the water has evaporated. Lift the lid and allow the dumpling to cook for another 30 seconds, to allow the bottoms to get extra crispy.

Are pan-fried dumplings steamed first? ›

Although referred to as "pan-fried," the dumplings actually go through a two-stage cooking process: first, they're fried in oil on one side in a very hot wok and then steamed by adding water to the same wok and covering it.

How to pan-fry frozen dumplings. In a nonstick pan over medium-high heat, add ½ cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Place the frozen potstickers flat side-down and cover the pan with a lid for 8 to 12 minutes, until all the water has evaporated and the flat side of each potsticker is golden.

If you are using a stainless steel pan, season the pan first before placing dumplings on to prevent your dumplings from sticking to the pan, alternatively you can use a non-stick pan.

There are three basic ways: steaming, boiling, and steam-frying. There is also deep-frying or serving with a crispy lacy “skirt.” While the cooking method depends heavily upon your mood and what you are craving, it also depends on the shape of your dumpling.