Shrimp Dumplings in Dashi Broth

Shrimp Dumplings in Dashi Broth
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Delicious Dumpling Delight!

Shrimp Dumplings, floating in a light and luscious dashi broth!  Yes, please.  By the way, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a delicious dumpling.  These delightful little gems are filled with shrimp, herbs and crispy little vegetables, then set afloat in a flavorful umami  broth.  Ready to jump in?

It’s so easy to make dumplings.  You can make them using ready made wonton wrappers.  Make your filling, and you’re almost finished.  It’s a super easy way to make a flavor filled soup that will impress anyone.  Shrimp Dumplings in Dashi Broth features the fifth flavor, umami.  Bitter, Salty, Sour, Sweet and Umami! 

By the way, don’t let waiting to become a master dumpling maker stop you.  As you can see, it didn’t stop me!  These are easy and fun to make they don’t have to be β€œinstagram perfect”.   As Nike says, just do it!

About The Broth

Dashi (出汁, だし) is a class of soup and cooking stock used in Japanese cuisine. Dashi forms the base for miso soup, clear broth, noodle broth, and many kinds of simmering liquid to accentuate the savory flavor as umami.[1] It is also mixed into flour base of some grilled foods like okonomiyaki and takoyaki.

My version uses a combination of kombu (dried seaweed sheets) and wakame,  a sweeter variety of dried seaweed.  You can buy various types at Asian markets, Whole Foods or try on line at Amazon Prime. 

Fish King Time

My sister lives near the greatest fish market!  I’ve written about it before, but I love any occasion that that takes me there.  I took a little road trip to visit and we planned to make lunch for our mom.  So, what’s got to be on the menu?  Anything from Fish King.   Just like her daughters, she loves everything that comes from the sea.

Shrimp, oysters, clams, you name it’s at Fish King and it’s the freshest, always.  So many shrimp, so little time!

For the Dumplings

Into a food processor,  add 1/2  pound of cleaned and deveined shrimp. 

Peel and devein shrimp
Peel and devein shrimp

Pulse to combine.  Add 1/4 cup finely chopped scallions, 1/4 cup finely chopped water chestnuts, 1/4 cup each of fresh chopped basil and cilantro.  Next, add 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of low sodium soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sesame oil with 1 tablespoon cornstarch.  Pulse to combine but do not over mix.

Shrimp Dumpling Soup
Shrimp dumpling filling is made easily right in your food processor

Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

For the Broth

Into a medium sized pot, add 8  cups of vegetable or chicken broth.  To make a very light but flavorful broth,  add the shells from the shrimp.  Add the dark green portions of the onions. 

Add 1 to 1/2  sheet of kombu.   Kombu is a dried seaweed  which will bring another layer of flavor to the broth.  Add 3 tablespoons of either dried bonito flakes or  3 tablespoons of wakame.  Wakame is another form of dried seaweed.  It’s a bit sweeter in flavor.   

Umami flavors from dried seaweed. Kombu and Wakame pictured here
Umami flavors from dried seaweed and dried bonita fish flakes, boiled, then steeped

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low for about  1 hour.

Strain the broth though a fine sieve, careful to remove any shell and all the other ingredients, discard the solids.  You should be left with a light amber to  light green dashi broth.

broth simmering with ingredient to be removed before serving
The broth is filled with flavor makers that are all to be removed before serving

Return the broth to the pot and heat on low.   Add the shelled edamame.

For the Dumplings

Fill the wonton wrappers with a heaping teaspoon of the chilled filling mixture in the center.  Using your a small brush or your finger,  moisten the edges of the wrapper with water.  Gather the edges together and twist to close completely. 

filling placed in the center of the wonton wrapper
Place filling in the center of the wonton wrapper

Place the finished dumplings onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.  Once completed, cover with plastic until ready to cook.

dumplings filled, waiting to be cooked
Filled dumplings set on a tray, waiting to be cooked

Fill a large pot with water heat on high to boil.  Once boiling, add the dumplings to the water and cook for about 5 minutes, until they float to the top of the pot.  Drain the dumplings then add them to the broth.

Boiling dumplings until they float to the top of the pot
Cook dumplings in boiling water until they float to the top, about 5 minutes.

To Serve

Into a serving bowl, ladle soup.  Garnish with fresh cilantro and some freshly chopped scallions.

Shrimp Dumpling Soup
Shrimp Dumpling Soup

Enjoy!

shrimp dumplings in dashi broth
Shrimp Dumplings in Dashi Broth

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