Lamb dumplings

STEPS

Filling

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, mixing thoroughly with your hands or a wooden spoon. Let the filling rest for thirty minutes before using to fully allow the meat to develop its flavors. The filling may also be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, or frozen indefinitely.

Dumpling wrappers

1. While boiling water for the dough, combine the two flours in a mixing bowl. Combine the just-boiled water and the oil in a separate bowl.

2. While mixing with chopsticks, add the water-and-oil mixture to the flour. The result will be a soft, warm dough. If the dough is too dry, add water by the half-teaspoon to soften. Gather the dough into a ball and transfer it to a very lightly floured work surface. Knead it for about five minutes.

3. When you’re done kneading, the dough should be smooth and a little bit elastic. Test it by pressing a finger into the dough. It should bounce back moderately quickly and leave a shallow indentation. Place the dough in a ziplock-style bag and seal it well, pushing out all of the excess air as you close the bag. Let the dough rest at room temperature for an hour before using. You can refrigerate the dough overnight as long as you bring it back to room temperature before moving forward.

4. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Working with 1 piece at a time and keeping other pieces covered with plastic wrap, roll out dough with your palms to make 12 inch-long ropes.

5. Cut each rope into twelve 1 inch-pieces with bench scraper. Using a ruler as a guide means all your pieces will be the same size, resulting in uniform dumplings.

6. Working with 1 piece of dough at a time and keeping other pieces covered in plastic wrap, roll until round, and then press down with your palm to make a disc.

7. Use dowel to roll out into thin rounds—work from the center moving outward, applying slightly more pressure as you reach the edges to make them a little thinner. Cover with plastic.

Fill and cook

1. Lay a wrapper across the upper part of your palm and bottom half of the fingers of your nondominant hand. Spoon 1 tbsp filling into wrapper, and fold. Once folded, placed on a lightly greased baking tray and cover with plastic wrap.

1. Steam the dumplings for 7 to 9 minutes over medium-high heat, until the skins are semi-translucent. Serve immediately with black vinegar and chili sauce or oil on the side.