Good-bye dragon, hello snake.
We’re feeling the energy and excitement, though the Chinese new year doesn’t begin until Feb. 10. Many restaurants will add special decorations and menus, and Chinese associations are planning banquets during the 15-day celebration.
This year’s new year symbol, the snake, is said to bring introspection, charisma, transformation — which will be a nice change after the intensity of Year of the Dragon. Right now, we’re feeling introspective about dumplings — a traditional Chinese new year food.
Serving foods symbolic of luck, wealth, abundance and longevity is customary. Dumplings are called jiao zi, a term associated with money. And since dumplings are shaped like ancient silver and gold ingots, voila.
As important as their history is their significance for family.
“It has an important meaning for Chinese new year as the family gets together to reunite,” said Shenlin Chen, executive director of the Association of Chinese Americans, the Detroit chapter of the national OCA, an organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans.
“Making dumplings is a family event and symbolizes a reunion and a sharing of food,” Chen said.
Once you get the hang of rolling the dough and shaping the dumplings, the rest is easy.
This step-by-step guide is adapted from Fine Cooking magazine and other sources.
You’ll need a skinny rolling pin with no handles. It should be about ¾- to 1-inch in diameter and 6- to 10-inches long. We made one from a wooden dowel. Just cut it to length, sand the edges, clean it off and wipe it with mineral oil.
RECIPES
Dough
Ingredients:
1½ cups unbleached flour, plus more for rolling
½ cup cold water
Instructions:
Mound 1½ cups unbleached flour on a clean work surface and make a deep wide well in the center. Pour in ½ cup cold water. Stir with your fingers at first to mix the flour and water together; be careful not to break the side walls. Using your fingertips and a bench (flour) scraper, mix in more of the flour toward the center until a dough starts to form. Add a little more water, a teaspoon at a time, if dough does not come together.
Shape into a ball and, on a lightly floured surface, knead 5 minutes until firm, smooth and elastic. Divide dough in half and roll into two 6-inch logs. Sprinkle each log with flour, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. You can refrigerate at this point, covered, up to 8 hours.
Cut each log in half crosswise and then each half crosswise into thirds. Slice the thirds into three even pieces for a total of 36. Lightly toss the pieces in flour to coat evenly and then cover with a clean, slightly damp towel so they don't dry out.
This recipe is from the Detroit Free Press.
Soy dipping sauce
Makes about ¼ cup
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil or hot chili oil
1 green onion, washed, thinly sliced
Instructions:
In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar and sugar until sugar dissolves. Stir in the oil and green onion.
This recipe, adapted from the February 2010 issue of Fine Cooking magazine, is from the Detroit Free Press.
Per teaspoon: 5 calories; 0 grams protein; 1 gram carbohydrates; 9 grams fat; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 330 milligrams sodium; 0 grams fiber.
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