Fried Chinese Leek Dumplings

The Chinese leek is the traditionally prized food during the second month of the lunar calendar, the time of early spring. Leeks sprout at this time of year, having been nourished by nutrients in the earth over the long winter, amid light rain.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, in the spring the body may encounter frequent occurrences of disease due to toxins stored throughout winter. The leek, which heightens the life force, detoxifies, nourishes the spleen and stomach, and reinforces the liver.

Encased in crisp, golden pastry, toothsome leek dumplings are traditional Chinese folk fare.

The Chinese character for leek is jiu, which has a similar pronunciation as the character for longevity – a connotation endorsed by the leek’s rapid growth which no amount of cutting back can inhibit. The shape of a fried leek dumpling resembles a gold ingot, hence their other name which means “long prosperity dumpling.”

A legend tells about the origins of fried leek dumplings. Liu Xiu, first Emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), suffered a defeat and fled to a small village. Battle weary Liu knocked on the door to the first dwelling he came upon and begged for food. The householder welcomed the imposing Liu in and immediately set about preparing a meal. All the impoverished family had in the way of ingredients was some herbs that they cooked with flour. Unexpectedly the fried pastry was so delicious that Liu Xiu named it jiucai, meaning “a life-saving vegetable,” which gradually evolved into the present character for leek (in Chinese the words saving a life and leek are homophones).

There is no written record of this story, but researchers have followed up historical clues as to when leeks were first cultivated in ancient China, and when fried leek dumplings were a favorite of both the common people and their emperors.

To cook:

1. Add 120g warm water to 300g flour and mix. Cover the dough and let it rise for about two to four hours.

2. Mince 500g belly pork and add 10g salt, 2 tbsp cooking wine, 2 tbsp peanut oil and 5 tsp sesame oil.

3. Beat four eggs and stir fry until almost done. Chop.

4. Wash and dice 150g leek.

5. Mix the mince, 10g dried shrimps, pieces of egg, and diced leek in a basin. Add 2 tbsp peanut oil, 2 tbsp oyster sauce and 5g salt and stir.

6. Roll out the dough into long strips and cut into 30g sections. Flatten each one with your palm.

7. Roll out each section of dough, making them thin on the perimeter and thick in the middle.

8. Wrap the fillings and shape the dumpling.

9. Warm a pan and add peanut oil. When hot, add the leek dumplings and deep-fry until the pastry turns crisp and golden. Serve.