Chinese apple dumplings, also known as "ping guo bao," are a popular dessert in China that features a sweet, tender apple wrapped in a delicate pastry shell. This recipe is a classic example of Chinese pastry making, combining traditional ingredients like flour, sugar, and apples to create a tasty and satisfying treat.
How To Make:
To start, you'll need a few basic ingredients, including all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, butter, and water. You'll also need some fresh, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, as well as some cinnamon and brown sugar for the filling.
To make the pastry dough, you'll mix the flour, sugar, and salt together in a bowl, then cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the water gradually while working the dough until ball forms. Cover the dough and let it rest for about 30 minutes to relax the gluten.
While the dough is resting, you can prepare the apple filling by peeling and slicing the apples and mixing them with the cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll out the pastry dough on a floured surface and cut it into circles using a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass.
Place an apple slice in the center of each circle of dough, then fold the dough up around the apple, pinching the edges together to seal. Repeat with the remaining apples and pastry circles, then place the dumplings on a baking sheet and brush them with an egg wash.
Bake the dumplings in a preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are tender. Serve the dumplings warm, either on their own or with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.
Overall, this Chinese apple dumpling recipe is a delicious and satisfying dessert that's perfect for any occasion. Whether you're looking for a new twist on classic apple pie or simply want to try something new and exciting, this recipe is definitely worth a try.
Tips and Variations:
Tips:
Make sure to use firm and crisp apples that will hold their shape when cooked.
You can add a teaspoon of lemon juice to the sugar mixture to prevent the apples from browning.
To save time, you can use store-bought pie dough instead of making your own.
If you're baking the dumplings, brush the dough with an egg wash before baking to give it a shiny finish.
You can serve the dumplings with a dollop of whipped cream or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Variations:
Instead of using cinnamon, you can add other spices such as nutmeg or cardamom to the sugar mixture for a different flavor profile.
For a savory twist, you can fill the apples with a mixture of ground pork, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce.
Instead of steaming or baking the dumplings, you can deep fry them until they are golden brown and crispy.
You can also experiment with different types of fruit such as peaches, pears, or even bananas.
To make the dumplings gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend or almond flour instead of all-purpose flour.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup water
4 apples (peeled and cored)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
Instructions:
Flour and salt should be beaten together in a mixing basin. While stirring, add the water until a dough forms.
On a floured surface, knead the dough until it is elastic and smooth. After 15 minutes of repose, cover with a towel.
In another bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped nuts, and raisins (if using).
Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and then flatten it into a disc.
Place an apple in the center of each dough disc. Fill the apple cavity with the sugar mixture.
Gather the dough around the apple, pinching to seal the seams.
Place the dumplings into a steamer basket or on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
If steaming, steam the dumplings for 20-25 minutes until the dough is cooked and the apples are tender. If baking, bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes.
Serve warm with a drizzle of caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.