Pan-Seared Pork Dumplings with Ginger-Scallion Dipping Sauce
Golden pan-seared pork dumplings served with a tangy ginger and scallion dipping sauce, perfect as a savory appetizer or snack. This chinese-inspired chinese ready in about 40 minutes pairs ground pork, dumpling wrappers, stalks green onions for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart.
Ingredients
- 12 oz ground pork
- 30 pieces dumpling wrappers
- 3 stalks green onions
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic cloves
- 1 cup finely shredded cabbage
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Finely mince 3 stalks green onions, 1 inch fresh ginger, and 2 garlic cloves; place in a large mixing bowl with 12 oz ground pork, 1 cup finely shredded cabbage, 3 tbsp soy sauce, and 2 tbsp sesame oil; mix thoroughly until combined.
- Step 2: Place about 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of each of the 30 dumpling wrappers; wet the edges with water and fold into a half-moon shape, pressing edges firmly to seal.
- Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat; arrange dumplings flat side down and cook for 3 minutes until bottoms are golden brown.
- Step 4: Carefully add 1/2 cup water to the skillet and cover immediately; steam dumplings for 5 minutes until the wrappers are translucent and filling is cooked.
- Step 5: Remove the lid and cook for an additional 2 minutes to crisp the bottoms again and evaporate any remaining water.
- Step 6: For the dipping sauce, whisk together 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, and 1/4 tsp red chili flakes in a small bowl.
- Step 7: Serve dumplings hot with the ginger-scallion dipping sauce on the side for dipping.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Pan-Seared Pork Dumplings with Ginger-Scallion Dipping Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (25 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Pan-Seared Pork Dumplings with Ginger-Scallion Dipping Sauce?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground pork from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Pan-Seared Pork Dumplings with Ginger-Scallion Dipping Sauce?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Pan-Seared Pork Dumplings with Ginger-Scallion Dipping Sauce for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Pan-Seared Pork Dumplings with Ginger-Scallion Dipping Sauce?
Chinese chinese like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Quick weeknight meal that felt fancy. The sauce made it feel restaurant-quality.
- ★★★★★
Crispy bottoms, juicy filling. My husband now demands these every Sunday.
- ★★★★★
Made these for a dinner party and everyone asked for the recipe. So much better than takeout!