Steam-Free Soup Dumplings: A Trader Joe's Kitchen Hack

Trader Joe's soup dumplings are a convenient and tasty option for those looking for a quick fix of authentic Asian cuisine. They are delicious bite-sized dumplings filled with savoury broth and tender meat. While the dumplings are usually cooked in a steamer, there are several other ways to cook them if you don't have one at hand. This includes using a pressure cooker, a wire rack, aluminium foil, or even chopsticks and instant noodles (the TikTok method). However, it is not recommended to cook them in the microwave as it may affect the texture of the dumplings.

Using a pressure cooker

If you want to cook Trader Joe's soup dumplings without a steamer, one option is to use a pressure cooker. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Firstly, you'll need to gather your equipment. You will need a pressure cooker, a colander or wire rack that fits inside it, a steamer liner from your soup dumpling bag, and of course, the dumplings themselves.

Once you have everything ready, fill your pressure cooker with water and place the upside-down colander or wire rack inside. Ensure that the water level does not exceed the height of the rack or colander. Then, place the steamer liner on top of the rack or colander. This will prevent the dumplings from ripping and spilling their delicious soup into the water.

Now it's time to add the dumplings. Place them on the steamer rack and cover the lid. The timing will depend on your appliance, but a good rule of thumb is to steam the dumplings on low pressure for at least three minutes in an Instant Pot or similar appliance. If you're using a rice cooker, you'll need to steam them for a full 10 minutes at a rolling boil.

Once the dumplings are cooked, carefully transfer them to a serving platter using tongs or a spatula. Serve them hot and enjoy the burst of flavours as you bite into the tender dumpling skin, revealing the rich and savory soup inside. You can even dip each bite into your favourite sauce to enhance the flavours even further.

And that's it! You've now successfully cooked Trader Joe's soup dumplings using a pressure cooker without a steamer. Enjoy your delicious and convenient taste of authentic Asian cuisine.

The wire rack method

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a wire rack to steam your soup dumplings. This method requires a saucepan, pot, or wok, and a wire steaming or cooling rack.

First, place the wire rack on the bottom of your chosen pot. Then, pour in enough water so that it doesn't evaporate during the steaming process but also doesn't overflow. Place the pot on the stove and turn it on.

Once the water is at a rolling boil, place one of the steamer liners from your bag of soup dumplings onto the wire rack. Set your frozen soup dumplings on top of the liner, leaving about an inch of space between each dumpling.

Once the dumplings are in place, cover the pot with its lid and set a timer for 11 minutes. After the timer goes off, let the dumplings sit for another minute. You can use this time to prepare a sauce for your dumplings.

And that's it! Your soup dumplings are now ready to be devoured.

The aluminium foil method

This method is perfect if you don't have a wire rack to steam your soup dumplings. All you need is a plate, a shallow pan, and three pieces of balled-up aluminium foil. The aluminium foil balls should be roughly the same size.

To begin, place your three aluminium foil balls in the pan and fill it with about 1.5 inches of water. Turn the heat on and wait for the water to reach a rolling boil. Once it's boiling, carefully place the plate on top of the three foil balls, ensuring it is level. Cover the setup with the pan's lid.

This process will take around 11 minutes. Once the time is up, let your dumplings sit for another minute. Then, prepare your chosen sauce and enjoy your soup dumplings!

Chopsticks and instant noodles (TikTok method)

Chopsticks and Instant Noodles (a.k.a. "The TikTok Method")

This method of cooking soup dumplings without a steamer became famous on TikTok some time ago.

The theory is that you only need to get water boiling and cook the instant noodles of your choice. Once the noodles are cooking, place a pair of flat-headed chopsticks over the boiling water, then place the dumplings on top of the chopsticks, and cover the whole setup with the pot's lid.

However, this method doesn't allow the dumplings to heat through correctly, so it might be better suited to other types of pre-cooked dumplings.

Using a frying pan

If you don't have a steamer, you can use a frying pan to cook Trader Joe's soup dumplings. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Dumplings and Frying Pan

Take the desired number of soup dumplings out of the packaging and set them aside. Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. You can add a small amount of oil to the pan to prevent sticking, but this is optional.

Step 2: Pan-Fry the Dumplings

Place the dumplings in the pan, ensuring they are in a single layer with some space between each dumpling. Cook them for 2-3 minutes until the bottoms turn golden brown. You can cover the pan with a lid to help the dumplings cook through.

Step 3: Add Water and Steam

Once the bottoms of the dumplings are golden, it's time to add water to the pan. Pour in enough water to cover the bottom of the pan or the bottom third of the dumplings. Cover the pan with a lid to trap the steam.

Step 4: Steam the Dumplings

Let the dumplings steam for an additional 4-5 minutes. The wrappers should be cooked through, and the soup inside should be hot. You can check by carefully cutting into one of the dumplings to ensure it is heated thoroughly.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once the dumplings are cooked to your desired level of doneness, turn off the heat and carefully transfer them to a serving plate. Serve them hot and enjoy the delicious soup inside. You can also dip the dumplings in soy sauce or your favorite dipping sauce to enhance the flavors.

By using a frying pan, you can still enjoy perfectly cooked Trader Joe's soup dumplings without needing a steamer. This method combines pan-frying and steaming for a delicious result.

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