I'll show you how to make an easy pork dumpling filling to make delicious Homemade Pork Dumplings. Warm chili paste, bright ginger, and salty soy sauce mix with juicy pork to create the perfect dumpling filling and the most amazing dumplings.
If you're used to making your own dumplings or potstickers from frozen, these will take a bit of time in comparison, but they're the best pork dumplings and totally worth it!
Don’t worry if you don’t have a dumpling steamer, a metal vegetable steamer works just fine. Just make sure you lay down pieces of cabbage or give the steamer a spray of oil, these dumplings definitely like to stick.
Ingredient notes
- Ground pork - Make sure your pork isn't lean. You want the pork to have fat so it's juicy and doesn't have a tough texture. Another great recipe with ground pork are these Inside Out Egg Rolls.
- Fresh garlic and ginger - The minced garlic and ginger are the very important aromatics in this recipe. I always keep frozen grated ginger on hand for ease.
- Cabbage - Napa cabbage is best for this recipe, but you can also use regular cabbage.
- Green onion - You'll use the green and white parts of the onions.
- Soy sauce - The soy sauce will be mixed in with the pork for seasoning, but have some extra on hand for an easy dipping sauce. Light soy sauce will also work.
- Sesame oil - You'll mix the sesame oil in with the pork filling. Toasted sesame oil will give it the best flavor.
- Chili paste - The chili paste adds spice and flavor. If you don't want as much spice, you can use a sriracha sauce, but I don't recommend omitting since it does contribute to the flavor.
- Wonton wrappers - I prefer to use the store-bought wrappers because they're easy. Many local grocery stores now carry them, but you can always find them at Asian grocery stores.
See recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
Variations and Substitutions
- Feel free to mix up the flavors and try these dumplings with ground chicken or ground turkey in place of the pork. I think the pork has the best flavor, but other ground white meats would also be delicious.
- Another way to cook these would be to fry them up as potstickers! A little oil in a hot frying pan and a few minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through.
How to Make Pork Dumpling Filling
Step 1. Peel and grate your ginger and mince garlic. Chop up green onions and cabbage.
Step 2. In a medium or large mixing bowl, add ground pork, garlic, ginger, green onions, cabbage, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili paste, and one egg and mix until combined.
Step 3. Take a wonton wrapper in one palm, and dip the index finger of the other hand into a cup of water and wet the outline of the wrapper. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of the wrapper.
Step 5. Connect both diagonal corners with each other and then seal the rest of the edges. You can leave them triangular or tuck the corners in.
Step 6. When you are ready to cook the dumplings, add one inch of cold water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Use a nonstick steamer, or place extra cabbage leaves on either a metal or bamboo steamer basket so that the dumplings won't stick.
Step 7. Steam, covered, for 10-15 minutes, until wonton wrappers are translucent and filling is cooked through. Serve in broth or with soy sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Be careful not to overfill the dumplings. They'll be difficult to wrap.
- If you want to taste your mixture before adding to your wrappers, add a scoop to a sauté pan and cook before tasting.
- Keep a small bowl of water close by when wrapping your dumplings. Adding a little water to the edge of the wrapper helps the dough stick together when you pinch it closed.
What to Serve With Pork Dumplings
These Asian dumplings are great dipped in a mixture of soy sauce and sriracha. They also pair well with other Asian inspired dishes. You can serve them with a simple side salad or a bowl of Air Fryer Edamame and a bowl of rice.
Skip the meatballs in this Lion's Head recipe and serve with these dumplings instead.
This dumpling recipe is great with this Glass Noodle Salad. You can skip the chicken in the salad or keep it for some extra protein.
This Bok Choy Soup only takes 20 minutes to make and is wonderful alongside these homemade dumplings.
How to Store Pork Dumpling Filling
If you want to store the filling for wrapping and cooking later, cover the bowl of filling with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
I don't recommend storing the filling inside the wonton wrappers in the refrigerator, because they tend to get too soggy. But you can freeze wrapped dumplings before cooking.
To freeze uncooked dumplings, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add dumplings in a single layer to the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for 2-3 hours then transfer the dumplings to freezer bags. The flash freezing will prevent them from sticking together in the bags.
How to Reheat Pork Dumpling Filling
Add your frozen dumplings to your steamer basket and cook as normal, right from frozen. They may need an extra 2-3 minutes.
Did you enjoy these Spicy Pork Dumplings ? I would love for you to let me know by leaving a comment and star rating. I can't wait to hear from you!
Pork Dumplings
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground pork
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp. fresh ginger peeled and grated
- 1 ½ cups napa cabbage finely chopped
- 2 green onions green and white parts
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp. sesame oil
- 1 tbsp. chili paste
- 1 egg
Wrappers:
- 1 package square wonton wrappers
Instructions
- Peel and grate your ginger and mince garlic. Chop up green onions and cabbage.
- In a medium or large mixing bowl, add ground pork, garlic, ginger, green onions, cabbage, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili paste, and one egg and mix until combined.
- Take a wonton wrapper in one palm, and dip the index finger of the other hand into a cup of water and wet the outline of the wrapper.
- Place a spoonful of filling in the center of the wrapper.
- Connect both diagonal corners with each other and then seal the rest of the edges. You can leave them triangular or tuck the corners in.
- When you are ready to cook the dumplings, add one inch of cold water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Place extra cabbage leaves on either a metal or bamboo steamer basket so that the dumplings won't stick.
- Steam, covered, for 10-15 minutes, until wonton wrappers are translucent and filling is cooked through. Serve in broth or with soy sauce.
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