Pork-Kimchi Dumpling Pancakes

I can hardly wait to return to the Bay Area this summer.  I get excited just thinking of  all my favorite dishes at all my favorite restaurants such as Redd’s duck confit served on a bed of lentils with a poached egg or the best beef filet I’ve ever tasted at Alexander’s Steak House (where they give each table cotton candy on  a stick after dinner).  Speaking of my favorite vacation city, Corey Lee, owner of Benu restaurant in San Francisco was featured in the January issue of Food & Wine magazine.  This particular issue contains a slew of recipes I want to try, however, it was Corey Lee’s Pork-Kimchi Dumpling Pancakes that really caught my eye.

These savory dumplings are very easy to put together once your mise en place  is done.

A dollop of filling on the wonton wrapper, fold and press the edges together.

Ten dumplings are arranged around the edge of an 8″ skillet, overlapping slightly.  After quickly frying the dumplings for 4 minutes, a slurry of cornstarch and water is added to the pan.  This creates crispy, lacy, edges and adheres the 10 dumplings together making one impressive pancake that you invert on a platter and serve with dipping sauce.

Pork-Kimchi Dumpling Pancakes

Adapted from Corey Lee’s recipe ~ Food & Wine Magazine

6 – 8 servings

Ingredients

Dipping Sauce:

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1/2 tablespoon Korean chili flakes or 1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper

1 tablespoon roasted sesame seeds

1 tablespoon sugar

Dumplings:

14 ounces ground pork

2 tablespoons minced scallions

1/2 cup finely chopped and drained kimchi

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 cup firm tofu, finely chopped

30 round wonton wrappers

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 1 cup + 2 tablespoons water

3 tablespoons canola oil

Preparation:

Mix all of the sauce ingredients until the sugar dissolves.  Set aside.

In a bowl, mix all of the dumpling ingredients except the wrappers, cornstarch and oil.  Arrange 4 wrappers on a work surface (keep the rest covered with a damp paper towel).  Brush the edges of the wrappers with water and drop 1 tablespoon of the filling in the centers of each wrapper.  Fold over one side of the wrapper to form a half-moon, pressing the edges together.  Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap; assemble the remaining dumplings.

In a bowl, stir the cornstarch with 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in an 8-inch non-stick skillet over moderate heat.  Arrange 10 dumplings around the edge of the skillet overlapping slightly (there should be almost no empty space).  Cook over moderate heat until golden on the bottom, about 4 minutes.  Drizzle one-third of the slurry over and around the dumplings, cover the skillet and cook for 1 minute.  Uncover and cook until the dumplings are cooked through and the slurry forms a thin crust, about 4 minutes.  Carefully invert the dumpling pancake onto a plate.  Repeat to make 2 more pancakes. Serve with dipping sauce.