Description
This Viral Crispy Dumpling Salad combines crunchy fried dumplings with a fresh mix of salad greens and a flavorful Asian-inspired dressing. It’s a quick and easy dish perfect for a light lunch or dinner, offering a delightful contrast of textures and bold flavors in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Dumplings
- 8-10 frozen dumplings (potstickers or any variety of your choice)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for frying)
Salad
- 2 cups mixed salad greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula, etc.)
- 1/2 cucumber, julienned
- 1 carrot, julienned
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon crushed peanuts or cashews (optional, for garnish)
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for spice)
Instructions
- Fry the Dumplings: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the frozen dumplings and fry until golden and crispy on both sides, about 4-5 minutes per side. Once crispy, remove them from the pan and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, julienned cucumber, julienned carrot, thinly sliced red onion, and chopped cilantro.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), sesame oil, grated ginger (if using), and chili flakes (if using) until well combined to form a flavorful dressing.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chop Dumplings: Once the fried dumplings have cooled slightly, chop them into bite-sized pieces to distribute throughout the salad.
- Combine Dumplings and Garnish: Add the chopped dumplings to the salad, toss gently to mix, then sprinkle with sesame seeds and crushed peanuts or cashews if desired for added texture and flavor.
- Serve Immediately: Plate the salad and enjoy immediately for the best combination of crispy dumplings and fresh salad flavors.
Notes
- Use any variety of frozen dumplings; potstickers work particularly well for frying.
- Adjust the spiciness by adding or omitting the chili flakes in the dressing.
- For a vegan option, substitute honey with maple syrup and ensure dumplings are vegan-friendly.
- Serve the salad immediately to maintain the crispiness of the dumplings.
- To reduce oil absorption when frying, heat the oil thoroughly before adding dumplings.
