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Tallow-Fried Cabbage Dumplings

Crispy, savory dumplings filled with ginger-garlic cabbage and pan-fried in rich beef tallow for an unimaginably golden, shatteringly crisp crust and deep umami flavor.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian Fusion, Chinese
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

Dumpling Filling
  • 1 small head green cabbage approx 1 lb, finely minced
  • 1 tsp kosher salt for extracting moisture
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 3 green scallions finely sliced
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
Assembly & Frying
  • 1 package round dumpling wrappers 40-50 count
  • 3 tbsp high-quality beef tallow solid
  • 1/3 cup water for steaming

Equipment

  • Large flat-bottomed skillet with a tight-fitting lid
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth

Method
 

  1. Prep Cabbage: Toss minced cabbage with kosher salt in a bowl. Let sit for 15-20 minutes to draw out water.
  2. Squeeze Dry: Transfer salted cabbage to a clean towel and squeeze vigorously over the sink to remove all excess liquid. Place dry cabbage in a mixing bowl.
  3. Mix Filling: Combine the dry cabbage with minced garlic, grated ginger, scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper. Mix well.
  4. Assemble: Place 1 tbsp of filling in the center of a dumpling wrapper. Moisten edges with water, fold in half, and pleat or pinch to seal tightly. Repeat until filling is used.
  5. First Fry: Melt beef tallow in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange dumplings flat-side down in a single layer. Fry 2-3 minutes until bottoms are light golden.
  6. Steam: Carefully pour 1/3 cup water into the skillet. Immediately cover with a tight lid. Reduce heat to medium and steam for 5-6 minutes.
  7. Final Crisp: Remove the lid and let any remaining water evaporate. Fry for another 1-2 minutes in the remaining hot tallow until bottoms are deeply golden and shatteringly crisp.
  8. Serve: Remove carefully with a spatula and serve hot with black vinegar and chili oil.

Notes

It is critical to squeeze as much water out of the cabbage as possible in step 2 to prevent soggy dumplings.