Frozen dim sum has many advantages as a meal. Besides being nourishing and comforting, it’s easy to prepare and inexpensive to purchase. For many people, the best thing of all about frozen dim sum is that it’s a quick and easy process to bring it from a frozen state to something servable within minutes. As long as it’s protected from freezer burn, this is a highly adaptable food with numerous ways available to prepare it.
For those feeling adventurous enough to make their own dumplings, it’s important to store them properly until the time comes to eat them. Fortunately, that is easy enough to do. The cook should place each dumpling on parchment paper a few inches apart. Once the dumplings are hard, the next step is to place them in a bag with a zip-loc top. This will keep the freshness in for up to one month.
Pan-Fried Potstickers
People who love frozen dim sum may not always want to cook it the same way. The wonderful thing about this versatile food is that they don’t have to. They can eat the same food a variety of ways, catering to different cravings each time. Frying potstickers in a pan gives them a crispy bottom and juicy center.
It takes approximately 20 minutes to achieve this taste, and it’s not necessary to thaw the potstickers ahead of time. That is because the steaming process thaws them completely. Here are the steps to follow:
- Gather a non-stick frying pan with a matching lid
- Place the potstickers in a pan and add a tablespoon of oil
- Add water to the pan until the potstickers are approximately one-fourth submerged
- Place the lid on the pan
The last step forces the water to evaporate while the oil turns the potstickers brown. The person serving the potstickers should use chopsticks or tongs to retrieve them from the pan since they will be soft and doughy.
Reheating Restaurant Leftovers
Those who just can’t get enough of dim sum while dining out should ask for a couple of orders to go and then freeze them immediately upon arriving home. They can be heated in the microwave or cooked on the stove, although the latter will likely produce the freshest taste. It probably won’t taste as good as when served fresh at the restaurant, but the meat and shell should retain the same flavor.
Making Dumplings without a Recipe
There’s also the option of making dumplings at home for immediate consumption or to freeze and eat later. The cook will need dumpling wrappers, which are typically available at higher end grocery stores or Asian food markets. Next, the cook should choose a filling material. Meat and vegetables are common choices. Ginger, cilantro, chives, and scallions make for added flavoring as well.
It’s now time to prepare the filling and chop the ingredients such as pumpkin, tofu, and cabbage. All ingredients, including flavorings, should now go in the food processor. After blending the mix, transfer it to a bowl, cover the bowl, and place it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Lastly, fill the wrappers and fold the dumplings. It’s now time to cook some and freeze the rest.
