Dumplings All Day Wong

September 15, 2014

In celebrity chef Wong's new cookbook, she expertly demonstrates how to shape, fill, and cook popular Asian dumplings such as gyoza, wontons, and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). Grouped in chapters based on shaping technique, her recipes include a satisfying selection of dim sum favorites (pork and shrimp shumai) and unique creations (chocolate bacon wontons with caramel sabayon). Recipes calling for homemade condiments and potentially unfamiliar ingredients (e.g., dried seafood, yuzu juice, palm sugar) can take some time to assemble, but they're easy to cook (most are quickly steamed or fried) and worth the effort. VERDICT This excellent dumpling cookbook highlights a wealth of flavors and techniques and advocates a from-scratch approach. The simpler dumplings in Bee Yin Low's Easy Chinese Recipes would make a great starting point for novices.

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