No-Fuss Dumpling Folding Video

In July I traveled back East to do a consulting job, stopping enroute in New York City to see my friends at Saveur. (I've been a contributing editor at the magazine since 2007.) We'd been talking about making a video of me giving a cooking tip or two and settled on one about folding dumplings.

If you have Asian Dumplings, you know my motto about shaping dumplings. If you don't have the book, it's this: Get the wrapper closed. Practice pretty shapes later.

Senior video producer Anique Halliday is a veteran of doing wonderful, fun educational videos; she worked on PBS projects before coming to Saveur. We huddled over the phone in June and then in July, spent a couple of hours at the Saveur test kitchen to produce this:

Saveur's "Test Kitchen Tips" videos have run the gamut from the viral one on how to peel garlic in less than 10 seconds to the practical one on dipping truffles in chocolate. Asian food-wise, editor in chief James Oseland has shown folks how to tie a knot with lemongrass and how to use and chop kaffir lime leaves into fine hairs. (James wrote the amazing Cradle of Flavor cookbook, which I reference and use all the time.)

All of the "Ask the Test Kitchen" videos have been done with the Saveur staff and I was the first guest in their series. Anique said I was "a natural" and welcomed me back anytime. Let's just say that it helps to have a professional like her tell me what to do, and two terrific, seasoned cameramen to boot.

If you're looking for more Asian dumpling tips, jump over to these links my other site devoted to dumplings for these videos:

• How to roll out Asian dumpling wrappers
• Basic Asian dumpling shapes: Half Moon, Pea Pod and Big Hug
• Advanced dumpling shapes: Pleated Crescent
• How to shape a rope edge (for empanadas, turnovers, curry puffs)
• How to fold basic wonton shapes
• How to Fold a Closed Satchel
• How to Make Shanghai Spring Roll Wrappers 

There are more tips listed on this page at ADT.

If there are cooking tips that you need want via video or text and photos, let me know below. I may not be able to get to them all soon but will put them on a to-do list.

I'm hitting the road for the Pacific Northwest book tour tomorrow. My posts may be erratic for the next 3 weeks. But then, I'll be back. 😉