Peanut Dumplings – With Ginger Syrup

  Dumplings are cooked ball of dough , which can  be steamed , boiled , fried or baked. They may have a filling or there  may be other ingredients mixed into the dough.

  Dumpling may be sweet or savoury. The dumplings are made of all purpose flour. Another type is made of glutinous rice flour. Usually , the glutinous rice dumplings Zongzi  are triangle or cone shaped can be filled with red bean paste , Chinese dates or cured meat depending on the region. Glutinous rice dumplings are traditionally eaten during the Duanwu festival.

 Sweet dumplings is called as Tangyuan. These are smaller dumplings made with glutinous rice flour and filled with sweet sesame  , peanut or red bean paste. This is eaten on the 15 th day of the Chinese New Year or the Lantern festival.

 These peanut dumplings are a popular recipe served with ginger syrup.

  Peanuts are rich in nutrients providing over 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients. It is a good source of niacin , folate , fiber , vitamin E, magnesium , protein and phosphorous.

 Usually glutinous rice flour is used , as I didn’t find them , I used the normal rice flour.

 This dish is similar to our kozukkatai / modak which we prepare here in India.

 It is simple , healthy and easy to make snack / dessert.

Requirement :

Rice flour – 2 cup

Water – ¾ - 1 cup

Salt a pinch

Filling :

Roasted groundnut – 1 cup

Sugar / Brown sugar – ¼ cup

Peanut butter – 1 tbs ( optional )

Ginger Syrup :

 Water – 4 cup

Sugar – 1 cup

Chopped Ginger – 1 tbs

Pandan Leaf ( optional )

Method :

Dough :

Lightly warm the water and add to the rice flour to make a soft and smooth dough.

If using glutinous rice no need of heating the water.

Cover the dough to avoid drying.

Filling :

 Grind the peanut , brown sugar together and mix in the peanut butter.

Make into small marble sized balls.

Ginger Syrup :

Bring the 4 cup water to boil .

Add the chopped ginger and let it simmer till reduced to 3 cup of water.

Add the sugar and mix well.

Let it boil for ten minutes.

Shaping of the Dumplings :

Make the rice dough into small balls.

Take a ball and flatten in the palm, place the filling in the middle of the flattened ball.

Fold the edges to seal the dumpling.

Lightly roll into a sphere shape using both palms.

Repeat with the remaining dough.

Do these while the syrup is boiling.

Boil another pan of about 4 cups of water , drop the prepared dumplings into the hot boiling water.

Don’t stir , as there is chance of breaking the dumplings.

 As soon as the dumplings are cooked , they will float on top, transfer them into the boiling ginger syrup.

Serve the peanut dumplings along with the syrup immediately.

Peanut dumpling with Ginger syrup is ready to serve.

Note :

If peanut butter is not available , it can be avoided. Use little water to make the peanut filling sticky.

The dumpling has to be served immediately to enjoy its softness. As time passes , it becomes bit hard, even though I liked it.