Silk Road Dumplings

When my gluten-free diagnosis meant giving up my favorite dim sum restaurant, I was devastated. But determination led me to master these rice flour dumplings that are just as satisfying as any wheat-based version. The secret is using boiling water to create the perfect translucent, chewy wrapper that holds together beautifully. My kids now prefer these homemade ‘purse dumplings’ (as they call them) to any takeout, and I love that we can control every single ingredient. Plus, the folding process is surprisingly meditative after a long workday!

Ingredients

For the Wrappers:

• 2 cups rice flour
• 1 1/4 cups boiling water
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp neutral oil (like avocado oil)

For the Filling:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 2 cups napa cabbage, finely chopped and salted
• 3 green onions, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Make the Wrappers: Combine rice flour and salt in large bowl. Slowly pour boiling water while stirring with chopsticks or fork. Add oil and mix until dough forms. Knead 5 minutes until smooth. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
2. Prep the Filling: Salt chopped cabbage and let drain 15 minutes, then squeeze out excess water. Mix with pork, green onions, ginger, garlic, coconut aminos, sesame oil, cornstarch, white pepper, and salt.
3. Roll Wrappers: Divide dough into 24 pieces. Roll each into 4-inch circles, keeping unused dough covered. Dust with rice flour to prevent sticking.
4. Fill and Fold: Place 1 tbsp filling in center of each wrapper. Wet edges with water, fold in half-moon shape, and pleat edges to seal tightly. Make sure no air bubbles remain.
5. Cook to Perfection: Steam dumplings for 12 minutes OR pan-fry bottom until golden, add 1/4 cup water, cover and steam 8 minutes. Serve immediately with coconut aminos for dipping.

Tips

• Use boiling water – it’s crucial for the right texture in rice flour dough
• Keep dough pieces covered while working to prevent drying out
• Freeze uncooked dumplings on a tray, then store in bags for easy weeknight meals
• Don’t overfill – less is more to prevent bursting during cooking

🍽️ Want more like this? Our Maple Sesame Tofu is great if you love these flavors, and the Thai Coconut Curry Soup is perfect for another crowd-pleaser.