Kimchi Mandu (Korean Kimchi Dumplings)
Kimchi mandu aka kimchi dumplings are spicy, tangy, and savory. These Korean dumplings are created with pork, tofu, and kimchi, wrapped in a thin dough, and steamed until perfection.
Servings 35 dumplings
Calories 70kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pack round mandu dumpling wrappers room temperature
- 2 ounces dangmyeon (sweet potato starch noodles) cooked and chopped into small pieces
- 1 cup kimchi finely chopped and drained
- ⅓ cup bean sprouts blanched and chopped
- 8 oz firm tofu 1/2 a pack drained
- ½ medium yellow onion minced
- 1 cup Korean garlic chives finely chopped
- ½ lb ground pork 80/20 lean to fat ratio
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 teaspoon ginger grated
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Kimchi Filling
- Cook the noodles. In a pot, heat water to a boil. Boil the noodles according to the package instructions until cooked. Drain and rinse with cold water. Then finely chop the noodles into small pieces.
- Chop the kimchi. Finely chop the kimchi and gently squeeze out excess liquid by hand.
- Blanch the bean sprouts. Blanch the bean sprouts in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and rinse the bean sprouts in cold water to stop them from cooking. Squeeze out any excess liquid and chop them into about 1/4-inch pieces
- Drain the tofu. Using a cheesecloth, squeeze out the excess water from the tofu. After the tofu is squeezed it should be crumbled and broken up.
- Combine. In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped dangmyeon noodles, chopped kimchi, chopped bean sprouts, drained tofu, diced yellow onion, chopped garlic chives, ground pork, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, salt and black pepper. Mix by hand until fully combined. It should look like a paste and be slightly sticky. If it is too dry and does not hold together, either add a little kimchi brine back in or add an egg. It should not be wet or runny.
- Taste and adjust. Cook a teaspoon of filling in the microwave for 15-30 seconds and taste. Adjust the seasonings as needed.
Assemble
- Wrap the dumpling. Place a dumpling wrapper in the palm of your hand and add about 1-2 tablespoons of filling in the center. Wet your finger and lightly wet the outer edge of the dumpling wrapper. Fold in half and completely seal the dumpling.
- Create a half-moon shape. To create the half-moon shape, bring the two edge pieces together and seal by adding water and pinching tightly. Place the dumplings on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover them with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out while you finish assembling the rest of the dumplings.
- Steam (option 1). Prepare your steamer, by boiling water over medium-high heat and lining your steamer basket with parchment paper. Place the mandu in the steamer leaving space between each piece to prevent them from touching. Cover and steam for 15 minutes.
- Boil (option 2). Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat. Carefully add the mandu in batches into the pot and boil in the water stirring periodically until they begin to float and then cook them for an additional 1-2 minutes or until done about 6 minutes total. Remove the kimchi dumplings with a spider strainer and serve immediately.
Notes
- Prepare dumpling station. Have a bowl of water, a parchment lined baking sheet covered with plastic wrap or a dish towel ready before you begin assembling the Korean dumplings.
- Taste the filling and adjust: Before you assemble your dumplings, take a small teaspoon and microwave it for 15-30 seconds or until cooked and taste. Adjust the seasonings.
- Check the texture and consistency. The ideal texture for the kimchi dumplings filling should be moist enough to hold together but not overly wet. If the filling is too dry, add a little more kimchi brine or an egg.
- Cover the wrappers while assembling. When you bring the wrappers to room temperature, make sure to keep the wrappers covered with a damp cloth or paper towel to prevent them from drying.
- If the wrappers are tearing, while you assemble the mandu, rehydrate the edges of the wrapper with water before you begin assembling.
- Seal the wrappers shut. Make sure to pinch the edges of the kimchi mandu tightly to prevent them from bursting when they are cooked. To make sure they are sealed, tap your finger in water and gently run it across the seam of each Korean dumpling.
- Don’t overcrowd. Whether you boil or steam the Korean mandu, do not overcrowd the pot or steamer. Give them enough space to cook without sticking together.
Nutrition
Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 58IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg