Whole Shrimp Potstickers

1. Place 2 1/2 cups flour for dough in a bowl. Add salt and hot water and stir with a wooden spoon until it all comes together into a shaggy dough. Transfer to a work surface and knead until dough is very soft but not super sticky. Knead, roll, and stretch dough until smooth and fairly elastic, about 3 more minutes. Wrap dough with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for about 1 hour.

2. Meanwhile, combine shrimp, green onions, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Sriracha in a non-reactive bowl; toss until shrimp are thoroughly and evenly covered. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

3. Combine rice vinegar, soy sauce, chile sauce, and green onions for dipping sauce in a bowl. Stir and set aside until needed.

4. Unwrap dough and cut off a small piece. Roll it into a ball and then press it into a flat disc on a floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll it into a 3 1/2-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick. Dip your finger into some cold, fresh water and moisten the edge of the circle. Spoon 1 shrimp into the center, along with a little bit of green onion and marinade. Fold dough around the shrimp and press edges together until perfectly sealed. Trim any excess dough from the ends and either discard or reuse. Crimp the edges a bit with your fingers, if desired. Transfer to a flour-dusted plate and refrigerate while you assemble the remaining potstickers.

5. Brush a 10-inch nonstick pan with 2 teaspoons oil and place over medium-high heat. Once hot, place 6 potstickers in the pan with the flat sides down. Cook for 1 minute, then add 2 teaspoons butter to the pan. Tilt the pan as the butter melts to distribute it evenly and cook until the bottoms of the potstickers are golden brown, about 30 seconds. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons water and quickly cover with the lid. Steam dumplings until cooked through and most of the water has evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and repeat to cook the remaining 6 potstickers with remaining oil and butter.

6. Serve immediately with dipping sauce on the side.

Chef's Notes:

You can use any hot sauce in place of Sriracha or sambal chile sauce.

You can marinate the shrimp a few minutes longer than 30 minutes, but no longer, otherwise the salt in the soy sauce can start to change the texture.

Depending on the size of your shrimp and how big you made your dumplings, the cook time may vary. You can brown and crisp both sides of the dumplings if desired.

This recipe makes 12 potstickers for either 2 entrees or 4 appetizer-sized portions, however the dough makes enough for about 36 potstickers. If you want to use up all the dough, just triple the ingredients for shrimp, dipping sauce, and pan-frying.

Editor's Note:

Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of dough. The actual amount of dough consumed will vary.