Mandoo Soup and Half-Birthdays

Today I went to Bunny's class to show them how to make Mandoo (Korean dumplings) which my family makes and eats to celebrate the New Year.

It also happened to coincide with her half-birthday which I maintain is a bogus, school-created construct to get parents to shell out $15 in frosted sprinkle cookies when it's not their kid's birthday.

Ah, but she was so happy. 

I've written about mandoo before, but I've never shared a recipe. I think it's because there are so many and even within my own family it seems we never make it the same way twice. I finally hit on a recipe that anyone can make with ingredients found in any well-stocked grocery store.

Bunny's Happy New Year Mandoo

These can be boiled, steamed or fried. All the ingredients should be as dry as possible to ensure that the dumplings don't get soggy. Store on lightly-floured parchment placed on cookie sheets until ready to cook. Don't let them touch each other or they will stick to each other and break apart.  You can also stick the cookie sheets in the freezer until mandoo are frozen, then transfer them to a Ziploc bag. Makes around 60 dumplings.

Ingredients (all raw/uncooked):

• 1 lb. lean ground beef or pork or chicken (I use pork)
  
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 cup finely chopped cabbage (about 1/2 of a small cabbage head)
  
• 1 container of firm tofu (in water), squeezed dry in a dish towel or cheese cloth
  
• 1 cup of loosely packed kimchi, squeezed dry (optional)
  
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 2 packages circular mandoo wrappers (or Japanese gyoza or Chinese wonton wrappers)

Preparation:

1. In food processor or large mixing bowl combine meat, green onion, cabbage, tofu, and kimchi. Whiz together until finely chopped.
2. In a separate bowl, combine garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
   
3. Pour seasoning mixture over meat and vegetables and pulse a few times to combine.
   
4. Place about 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of dumpling wrapper.
   
5. Dip your finger in water and wet the outside edge of the top half of the wrapper.
   
6. Fold the wrapper up to close and then crimp the edges with your fingers. Make sure no holes appear in the seams or else the dumplings will burst when boiling
   
7. Repeat until the filling is gone.
   
8. You can steam, boil, fry, or saute the dumplings as you wish.

All ingredients should be readily available at a well-stocked grocery store. We usually serve them in broth and garnish with strings of cooked egg white and egg yolk (omelets cut in chiffonade) and strips of toasted seaweed.

They are also delicious fried. I had some extra filling and wrappers today so I fried up a batch for the girls for an after-school. Gone in 60 seconds.

Comments

[Asianmommy]

Looks delicious! & much healthier than frosted cookies, too.

[dgm]

Mmmmm. I wanna try that.

We always celebrate my daughter's half-birthday on xmas day. It's very convenient.

[Andrea]

This looks delicious. Do you cook the meat first and then combine with all the other ingredients or is it cooked when you steam, fry or boil them?

[kayris]

What the heck is a half birthday? And if you do cupcakes on the half birthday, what do you do on the actual birthday?

[Rachel]

Thanks for the recipe. I've always been intimidated by mandoo-making but as I read this it seems possible. I'll have to try it.

[cat/bad kitty]

I totally want YOU to make them for me!

Also, I'd like to request a moratorium on Bunny growing older. She may still have "Present Days" and cupcakes, but she must freeze at this adorable age. No teen years!

[faith]

Thanks for the recipe. I've tried to get my mom or sister to write theirs down but well, you can imagine how difficult that was.

[faith]

Oh, and Bunny is ADORABLE.

[Emily]

Wow they look delicious! What do you use to crimp the edges?

[karen m.]

Bunny is absolutely glowing! Happy half-birthday and Happy New Year! I was just looking for a good dumpling recipe (to supplement my mom's "until it looks right" measurements). Thank you!

[T]

This is one of my favorite foods!
Thanks for sharing the recipe.

[Tata]

I approve your recipe...how's that for sassy. Looks delicious...for your reader who asked if the meat was cooked...if you are serving it in a soup, use the chicken and pork from the broth and chop them for the filling. Add about 10 dried shrimp to the broth...big secret...
You can also make mandoo with ground lean beef and chives, salt and pepper as the filling.

[Dmitri]

I will be trying this one out for sure. Looks really delicious. Same as you, I love looking! And I have a few other hobbies, but cooking is the main. I think you would be interested to have a look on http://www.hobbything.com - hobby social network. You can create photo albums, write stories, post videos and share tips about cooking or any other hobby you have as well. Plus you can meet other like-minded hobbyists. Check it out.

[Kerala]

thanks for the recipes.

[nonlineargirl]

I love mandoo - I associate them with Christmas because my sister-in-law's mom always brings them over on Christmas day.

[Naomi]

I love mandoo but I've never made my own... this looks too easy not to give it a shot...

[Eileen]

So nice to not only discover the recipe I've been searching for -- but also your lovely blog!

[ilinap]

Thanks for sharing this recipe! I'm definitely going to try it. As for half birthdays, I totally celebrate mine! It's on St. Patrick's Day so I joke that everyone is celebrating my half birthday.

[katelin]

oh man this looks so tasty. seriously you have the best recipes. i love it.

[Sara]

my husband is allergic to soy...can the tofu be replacedmby just upping the quantity of neat and veggies?

[Al_Pal]

That sounds delish, and Bunny is darling!

[rhea - The Cocktail Cafe]

Ooooohhhhh yummy in my tummy.

My daughter and I love dumplings and I've always wanted a recipe to add to my collection.

I will have to try this one out this weekend for family night. So happy that I found your blog.

[ColicSurvivor]

Thank you! Thank you! I made this yesterday with my 3 year old's help {?} for my dad. They were simply delightful! So excited!

[The Greetums Lady]

Half-Birthday?!! I have been in the greeting card business for over 22 years and I never heard of half-birthdays...and I LOVE IT!

Birthdays are a celebration of life, which I think should be celebrated every day, and to celebrate your own birth TWICE a year is just fantabulous!!