Steaming Dumplings: Pressure Cooker Method

Cooking dumplings in a pressure cooker is a quick and easy way to make a delicious meal. You can use a variety of frozen dumplings, including potstickers, gyozas, wontons, and vegetable dumplings, or make your own. The process is simple and mostly hands-off, requiring just a few steps and less than 15 minutes of cook time. You'll need a steamer basket, which can be made of steel, silicone, or bamboo, and a pressure cooker with a steam setting.

How to steam frozen dumplings in an Instant Pot

What You'll Need:

• Instant Pot
• Steamer basket (steel, silicone, or bamboo)
• 1 cup of water
• Frozen dumplings (any type, including potstickers, gyozas, wontons, vegetable dumplings, pork potstickers, and even the Ling Ling brand)
• Optional: cooking spray or olive oil spray, and a skillet or saucepan

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Place one cup of water inside your Instant Pot. This is essential for creating the steam that will cook your dumplings.

Step 2: Get your steamer basket ready. You can use a steel, silicone, or even a bamboo steamer basket. If using a steamer basket, it's a good idea to spray it with cooking spray or olive oil spray to prevent your dumplings from sticking.

Step 3: Place the steamer basket inside the Instant Pot, and then arrange your frozen dumplings in a single layer inside the basket. Ensure that the dumplings do not touch the water.

Step 4: Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and make sure the pressure valve is set to sealing. Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.

Step 5: After 3 minutes, carefully release the pressure using the quick-release method. Open the lid and remove the steamer basket from the Instant Pot. Your dumplings are now ready to be enjoyed!

Optional Step for Crispy Dumplings:

If you prefer your dumplings with a crispy bottom, there are two methods you can use:

Method 1: Remove the cooked dumplings from the Instant Pot and place them in a heated pan with oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes on medium heat until the bottoms turn golden brown.

Method 2: Before steaming the dumplings, add a tablespoon of oil to the bottom of the Instant Pot and sauté the dumplings for about 1-2 minutes until the bottoms are browned.

Safety Tips for Quick Releasing Your Instant Pot:

• Use a long oven mitt to protect your hand when opening the steam vent.
• Point the steam release away from walls and other objects by slowly moving the Instant Pot before opening the vent.
• If the steam starts splattering, immediately stop the venting process by closing the vent. Wait about 10 seconds before trying again.
• Never place a towel or any other object on the steam valve, as this can obstruct the valve and create a fire hazard.

How to make the dumplings crispy

There are a few ways to make dumplings crispy in a pressure cooker. One way is to cook the dumplings in a heated pan with oil after removing them from the pressure cooker. Cook the dumplings for 2-3 minutes on medium heat until the bottoms turn golden brown.

Another way is to use the saute feature on the pressure cooker. Before steaming the dumplings, add a tablespoon of oil to the bottom of the pressure cooker and saute the dumplings for 1-2 minutes until the bottoms are browned.

How to make a quick dipping sauce

Making a quick dipping sauce to go with your dumplings is easy. You can make a delicious sauce in just a few minutes with a handful of simple pantry ingredients. Here is a simple recipe for a Chinese-style dumpling sauce:

Ingredients:

• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 scallion, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Chinkiang vinegar (or balsamic vinegar with soy sauce)
• 1 tablespoon chili oil (or sesame oil)

Instructions:

• Peel and mince the garlic clove.
• Add the garlic to a bowl along with the chopped scallion, soy sauce, Chinkiang vinegar, and chili oil.
• Stir the ingredients together until combined.
• Serve the sauce in individual dipping bowls alongside your freshly cooked dumplings.

This sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

If you prefer a Japanese-style dumpling sauce, you can make the following adjustments to the recipe:

• Use Japanese soy sauce, which has more depth of flavour.
• Use rice vinegar instead of Chinkiang vinegar. Rice vinegar is less harsh and has fruity, tangy, and slightly sweet flavours.
• Keep the amount of chili oil the same, or use sesame oil for a non-spicy sauce.

This variation will keep in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.

How to steam dumplings without a steamer basket

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can still steam dumplings in a pressure cooker. Here's what you'll need to do:

Firstly, add water to the pressure cooker. Use at least one cup of water, and place it inside the cooker. This allows the cooker to come to pressure and generate steam.

Next, you'll need to create a makeshift steaming platform. You can use a trivet that comes with the pressure cooker, or you can get creative and use a metal cooling rack that fits inside the pot. If using a trivet, carefully place each frozen dumpling on top, ensuring they don't fall into the water. If using a cooling rack, tear cabbage leaves in half and place them on the rack to prevent sticking, then place a dumpling on each leaf.

You can also use aluminium foil to create a steaming platform. Form a few large balls of foil and place them in the pot of water. They should be large enough to elevate a plate inside the pot. Weigh the foil balls down with a dinner plate, ensuring it's small enough to fit inside the pot and allow steam to circulate.

Once you have your platform set up, coat it with oil or non-stick cooking spray. This will prevent the dumplings from sticking. Carefully place the dumplings on the platform, cover, and allow them to steam. For frozen dumplings, this should take around 7-8 minutes.

And that's it! You can now enjoy your steamed dumplings without needing a steamer basket.

How to prevent dumplings from sticking to the steamer

To prevent dumplings from sticking to the steamer, you can use a few different methods. Firstly, you can use a steamer basket, which is a good idea for electric pressure cookers. It is recommended to use a cooking spray on the steamer basket to prevent sticking. Alternatively, you can use a trivet that comes with the pressure cooker, but this may cause the dumplings to stick. If you are using a bamboo steamer, you can line it with parchment paper, lettuce or cabbage leaves. You can also brush the dumplings with olive oil before placing them in the steamer, ensuring you only brush the area that will touch the steamer. Finally, you can stir the dumplings occasionally while they cook to prevent them from sticking.

Frequently asked questions