Make DELICIOUS Potstickers from Scratch on a Budget!

ground pork

🥗Healthier: ground chicken

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground chicken is leaner, while ground beef is often less expensive.

dumpling wrappers

🥗Healthier: whole wheat wrappers

💰Cheaper: wonton wrappers

Whole wheat adds fiber, while wonton wrappers are more accessible.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: low-sodium soy sauce

💰Cheaper: tamari

Low-sodium soy sauce reduces salt intake, while tamari is gluten-free.

sesame oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Olive oil is healthier, while canola is budget-friendly.

Decide to make pot stickers for dinner.

Select country-style pork ribs as the meat of choice.

Chop vegetables: celery, cabbage, green onions, and half of a serrano pepper for heat, along with ginger, finely.

Blanch the chopped vegetables by pouring hot water over them, letting them sit for a minute, then draining and rinsing with cold water.

Prepare the pork ribs by selecting a piece with less fat, and cut it into small pieces. Optionally, run through a meat grinder with a coarse blade for texture.

Make a marinade in a bowl with ginger, serrano pepper, oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, salt, sesame oil, chicken or vegetable bouillon powder, white pepper, water, and cornstarch. Combine into a slurry.

Add the marinade to the chopped pork and mix thoroughly using hands (wear gloves).

Drain the blanched vegetables to remove excess moisture and add them to the meat mixture, combining well again with hands.

Take a pot sticker wrapper, ensuring the floured side is facing out. Wet the edges with water.

Add filling to the center of the wrapper and fold it in half, pressing to seal. Optionally, crimp the edges for a more traditional look.

Repeat the filling and folding process until all wrappers are used, making approximately 49 dumplings in total.

Prepare to freeze the dumplings by placing them individually on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap or silicone liner, ensuring they do not touch each other.

Freeze the dumplings until solid, then transfer to a bag or box for storage.

Preheat a stainless steel pan until water bounces on the surface, then add oil and the pot stickers, cooking until golden on the bottom.

Add water to the pan and cover with a lid, reducing heat to medium to steam the pot stickers until cooked through, which should take a few minutes.

Prepare a dipping sauce by mixing soy sauce, a spritz of sesame oil, and a dash of aged Chinese vinegar (or balsamic vinegar/lime juice if preferred).

Stir the dipping sauce ingredients together and serve with the pot stickers.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens