Potstickers

Potstickers are those irresistible Chinese dumplings that are steamed on one side, pan-fried on the other. Whether you call them wortip (roughly translated as “pot stick”), guotie (the Mandarin word), Peking Ravioli (a term coined by restaurateur Joyce Chen), or just plain pan-fried pork dumplings, it’s impossible to eat only one. It all comes down to how they are cooked. While it is common to steam or pan-fry dumplings, cooks use both methods to make potstickers. The filled dumplings are pan-fried on one side and then steamed in broth or water. Properly made, the potstickers are crisp and browned on the bottom, sticking lightly to the pan, but easy to remove with a spatula. The trick to making potstickers is not to overcook them or they will live up to their name by sticking firmly to the pot.

The Chinese have been enjoying potstickers since the Song dynasty (960 to 1280 A.D.). The exact origins of potstickers are lost to history. However, according to a charming legend, they were invented by a chef in China's Imperial Court, who accidentally burnt a batch of dumplings after leaving them on the stove for too long. The overcooked dumplings were burnt on the bottom only, and not on top. With no time to prepare a new batch, the chef served the dumplings with the burnt side on top, announcing that they were his own special creation. Fortunately, court members loved them.

Pot stickers are typically filled with ground pork and cabbage, but they can be stuffed with other ingredients too. They're usually pan-fried and steamed to give a soft, tender texture to the filling and a crunchy texture to the dumpling dough.