March 22, 2022

Shrimp & Chive Dan Jiao (Egg Wrapper Dumplings)

My parents grew up eating these golden dumplings (traditionally filled with a pork-based filling) around lunar new year because the egg wrapper resembles a golden ingot, symbolizing wealth in the coming year. In Chinese culture, the celebration of the lunar new year lasts 15 days (!), concluding with the spring lantern festival. See more over on reels!

I used (for ~12 dumplings):

  • 3 eggs beaten with a pinch of salt and splash of cooking wine
  • 4 oz. shrimp
  • 1/4 cup chopped garlic chives
  • 1 tsp shaoxing wine
  • 1/2 tsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 tsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 scallion, minced
  • 1/2 tsp ginger, grated
  • 1/2 tsp corn starch
  • 1/2 tsp neutral oil
  • Dash of white pepper
  • Pinch of sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • You’ll also need some kind of neutral cooking oil, metal ladle, and pastry brush

To make:

  • Brush inside of a ladle with oil using a pastry brush. If there’s excess oil, pour it out
  • Turn stove on to medium heat and hold ladle over stove to heat up, swirling the ladle so all sides are hit
  • Add egg mixture and swirl the egg in the ladle to spread it out, make sure you hit the edges well so that it’s not too thin (this makes sure it’s thick enough for it too seal)
  • Once the egg is ~90% cooked, add in a little filling. Keep swirling the ladle.
  • When the edges of the egg crisp up and the egg forms “bubbles” — this is a sign it’s pulling away from the ladle and — it’s ready to fold over. (I find lifting one edge and then using both chopsticks to just push it over is the easiest way versus trying to actually pick up an edge with the chopstick)
  • Press the edge down all around to seal
  • Hold over heat for another 30 seconds to seal
  • Repeat for remainder of the filling
  • Now you’ll need to either cook your dumplings (cooking time depends on how fat yours are, usually ~5-7 mins steam or boil) or freeze them for later.

It usually takes me 1-2 sacrificial dumplings each go to learn the ladle, how much filling to add, the heat adjustment, etc! They’ll get better, I promise! If you don’t have a gas stove, you can make them using a regular pan. @chubbychinesegirleats used a ring to make them on a pan, and I’ve also seen some people free-hand them!