Ginger Chicken Dumplings are packed with juicy chicken, tender vegetables, garlic and ginger. Also referred to as Nepalese Momo, and quite similar to Chinese chicken dumplings, they're the perfect hors d'oeuvre or appetizer that you won't be able to stop eating!
When my son was about 10 years-old came downstairs one day with tears in his eyes, and told me we had to help the red pandas. "They're in danger of becoming endangered," he said.
When I asked him to explain, he said that he was googling red panda facts, because he thinks they're cute. He discovered that their habitat in the Eastern Himalayas was in decline – and he really wanted to help. I may be biased, but certainly this he has one of the sweetest souls around.
He then googled, "How can I help the red pandas?" and found the Red Panda Network.
After confirming this was a good organization, we symbolically adopted a red panda.
I mean, how could we not?
What does any of this have to do with Ginger Chicken Dumplings, you ask?
Well, here's what came next . . .
My son felt good about the little we'd done for the red pandas, but it wasn't enough. He wanted to spread the word, and came up with a great (delicious) idea!
On his own, he began searching for "foods from Nepal," where a great percentage of the red pandas live. He said we should come up with a typical Nepalese recipe that I could put on Cooking On The Weekends, and that, that would be a great segue for me to tell my readers how to help the red pandas.
I loved the idea.
What is Momo?
Momo is a traditional delicacy in Nepal - it's a bite-size dumpling with a meat or vegetable filling, wrapped in a dough and accompanied by spicy sauce.
If like Chinese chicken dumplings and the flavor ginger and garlic together, I think you'll love our Momo recipe. It's by no means authentic Nepalese Momo, but I'm hoping you'll find it incredibly delicious.
Recipe Tip
The wrappers for this recipe are Gyoza/Posticker wrappers.
You can find them in most Asian markets, and sometimes in the regular grocery stores. If you don't see the round wrapper, a square wonton wrapper, which is easier to find, will work also. Simply use a round cutter or paring knife, to cut it into a circle.
Please check out the Red Panda Network to learn more about them.
I hope you'll try my version of Nepalese Momo, these Ginger Chicken Dumplings.
And of course, enjoy!
Ginger Chicken Dumplings (Nepalese Momo)
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 2 tablespoons black vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1½ teaspoons chile paste I like Sambal Oelek
For the dumplings
- 1 pound ground chicken
- ⅓ cup carrots peeled, finely grated
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro washed and dried, finely chopped
- 2½ tablespoons Mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons ginger pulp
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1½ tablespoons neutral oil like vegetable plus more for the pan
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- a few turns freshly ground black pepper
- 4 dozen round (3½ inch) gyoza/potsticker wrappers
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
For the sauce
- In a small dish, combine the black vinegar with the honey and chile paste. Set aside.
For the dumplings
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the gyoza/potsticker wrappers. Mix only long enough to evenly combine the ingredients.
- Place several of the gyoza/potsticker wrappers on a clean, dry surface and drop about 1 ½ teaspoons of the chicken mixture in the center of each one. (If you have a cookie scoop this size, that's perfect.)
- Next, wet your fingertip with water and run it along the entire edge of the wrappers (one at a time) -- this will work as glue. Now carefully, bring all of the edges together, to wrap up the chicken mixture, into a little bundle, and then gently pinch the top so it adheres together.
- Coat the bottom of a medium-sized sauté pan (about 10-inch) generously with grape seed oil and place it over medium-high heat. Once it's sizzling hot, add as many of the dumplings as you can without crowding the pan -- there should be about an inch between them. (You will do this in a few batches.) Let them sauté for about 1 minute, to brown the bottoms. Then add about ¼ cup of water to the bottom of the pan, turn the heat to the lowest setting, and cover the pan with a lid or foil. Let the dumplings steam for about 3 minutes, just long enough to cook the chicken. Use a small metal spatula to lift them from the pan. Repeat this until all of the dumplings are cooked.
- While they're still hot, serve them with the sauce on the side.
NOTES
NUTRITION
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Laura | Wandercooks
What a lovely story, your son is so sweet and an inspiration. As for the recipe, dumplings must surely be the way to my heart. We often make them with pork but have never (yet) tried them with chicken. Looking forward to new dumpling adventures, let the dipping begin! 😀
valentina
Thank you so much Laura. My son makes me smile -- a lot! Pork is usually my favorite dumpling as well. Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
I love dumplings and these are definitely on my must make list! You son is adorable and I love the fact that he helped come up with the idea for this recipe!!
valentina
Thanks so much, Kathryn! 🙂
Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash
Your son is adorable and those dumplings look absolutely delicious. Love the easy pleating method too.
valentina
Thanks so much, Patricia. Yes, no fancy pleating for me. 😉 xo
David
I love that your son understands philanthropy in its purest form at such an age. He gives me great hope for the next generation! (Oh, and the dumplings look great, too!)
valentina
Thanks so much, David! XOXO
Kate @ Veggie Desserts
What a sweet-hearted boy. And a lovely dumpling recipe too!
valentina
Thank you! 😀
Luci
I LOVE dumplings but have never made them myself! Might use this as inspiration to make some meat-free ones, thank you! The spices sound delicious 🙂
valentina
Thanks so much, Luci! I hope you try and love them! 🙂
Tania @ The Cook's Pyjamas
Love, love, love dumplings in all forms. Your pictures now have me craving them 🙂 Doesn't it give you great hope when our children take up with causes far bigger than them.
valentina
Thank you, and yes, it gives me hope for the future. I love my son's drive so much! 🙂
Meeta
I am seriously craving these now. Love momos!
valentina
🙂
Immaculate
You make it look so easy . Always wanted to give it a try- now am seriously thinking I can. Thanks for sharing!!!
valentina
Of course you can! Hope you love it! 🙂
Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought
Your son is amazing and so are these dumplings!
valentina
Thank you, Cathy! He is a sweetheart. 🙂 xo