Jiaozi is a small dumpling usually filled with meat and vegetables that are very common here. My house helper made these for lunch today and our whole family got to give it a try.
My helper, May, is seriously an awesome cook. We lucked out. I was amazed watching her. This would take an American a lot of skill. She made a filling from ground pork, green onion, finely chopped ginger and some spices.
The wrapper is like a soft dough. You put the filling in the middle and work your way around the edges, crimping them closed. Hers looked like art.
Let's face facts, I'm clearly a Yeti compared to sweet, small May:
Job was focused on making his dumpling. He enjoys learning things about being here, I love that he has people like May to love on him, invite him to pull up a stool and watch.
Sweet little fingers.
When you've filled them, you boil the dumplings. She cooked ours in a wok filled with boiling water. They use a wok for everything and anything. Then you dip in rice vinegar and soy sauce or a similar salty mixture. Really yummy. Really unique to this culture.
