Air Fryer Crispy Dumplings (Print Version)

Golden dumplings filled with savory pork or tofu, paired with a tangy soy ginger sauce, crisped in the air fryer.

# What You Need:

→ Dumpling Filling

01 - 7 oz ground pork, chicken, or crumbled firm tofu
02 - 1 cup napa cabbage, finely shredded
03 - 2 green onions, finely chopped
04 - 1 clove garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

→ Dumpling Assembly

10 - 20 round dumpling wrappers
11 - Water for sealing

→ Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce

12 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
15 - 1 teaspoon honey or sugar
16 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated
17 - 1 teaspoon green onion, finely sliced
18 - 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes, optional

# How To Make It:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine ground pork, napa cabbage, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and white pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
02 - Place a dumpling wrapper in your palm. Spoon 1 heaping teaspoon of filling into the center of each wrapper.
03 - Moisten the edge of each wrapper with water using your fingertip. Fold and press firmly to seal, creating pleats if desired. Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers.
04 - Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
05 - Lightly brush or spray the dumplings with oil. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch one another.
06 - Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking, until dumplings are golden brown and crispy.
07 - While dumplings cook, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, ginger, green onion, and red chili flakes in a small bowl. Stir until well blended.
08 - Transfer hot dumplings to a serving plate and serve immediately with the prepared soy ginger dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Your air fryer finally justifies its counter space with restaurant-quality results and virtually no oil mess.
  • These dumplings are ready to eat before anyone finishes their first drink, making you look effortlessly prepared.
  • The filling is flexible enough to accommodate vegetarians, picky eaters, and spontaneous substitutions without falling apart.
02 -
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket is the quickest way to ruin the texture, so cook in batches if you have to because the difference between crispy and steamed is real and heartbreaking.
  • Don't skip flipping halfway through, as air fryers have hot spots and one side will brown faster than the other without this simple step.
  • The filling can be made a full day ahead, which means you can fold dumplings whenever inspiration strikes and even freeze them unbaked for weeknight dinners.
03 -
  • Keep a damp paper towel near your workspace while folding to wipe your fingers occasionally, as sticky hands make pleating frustrating and messy.
  • If a wrapper tears while you're filling it, don't sweat it, just toss that filling back in the bowl and grab a fresh wrapper because it's not worth salvaging a compromised seal.
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