A Well-Traveled Dumpling

• Dumpling is a generic name for a filling encased in a small piece of dough and steamed or cooked in water. You may also know dumplings by many other names bestowed by cuisines the world across. In China, a dumpling may be labeled as a wonton, filled with beef or pork, and usually afloat in a soup. In Poland, the dumpling moonlights as a pierogi, often filled with potato or cheese, and usually pan-fried after being boiled. And in Italy, the dumpling is known as ravioli and encases meats, cheeses, or veggies and is usually served with a sauce.

Savory Stuffings

• Meat is a common savory filling for dumplings, particularly in Asian cuisines. Ground pork and beef, chopped shrimp, and sausage often make appearances inside dumplings. The meat can also be mixed with minced vegetables, spices and other flavorings to create a robust rainbow of flavors inside the dumpling. In Italian cuisine, ravioli frequently contain cheeses such as ricotta, a pesto mixture, or a puree of butternut squash or pumpkin. Mashed potato is a savory standby in pieorgi, and is often served with sides of sour cream and sauerkraut.

100-Percent Dough

• A dumpling can also have no filling at all. The filling-less dumpling is not empty inside, it’s just made entirely of dough. If you’ve ever had a soup of chicken and dumplings, the delicate balls of dough in the broth are perfect examples. Usually made from flour, fat, and a bit of dairy, these dumplings are usually deposited directly into a soup and cooked in the broth. Gnocchi are a kind of Italian pasta in dumpling form. Dough – often made with mashed potato – is divided into small pieces that are boiled and usually served with some sort of sauce.

Dumplings for Dessert

• Just as a pizza can be topped with chocolate hazelnut spread and fruit, or a taco can be stuffed with ice cream, the dumpling can become a dessert with a sweet filling. Fruit preserves such as peaches, strawberries, or apples, are placed atop the flattened dumpling dough, folded up, and cooked. Sweet or savory dumplings can also be baked or fried to create a crisp exterior that contrasts wonderfully with a jammy or chocolate filling. A sweet sauce or scoop of ice cream really brings out the best in the dessert dumpling for special occasions.