Duck Pot Stickers with Plum Sauce

This recipe is from Episode 2 of This Food That Wine

Wine Suggestion: Merlot

Yield: 2 dozen potstickers

Note: Chinese duck is available from most Asian markets or restaurants

Ingredients

• 1 cup Napa cabbage (250ml)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (5ml)
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil (10 ml)
• 2 teaspoons ginger, freshly grated (10 ml)
• 2 scallions, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon 5 spice powder (5 ml)
• 1 tablespoon dry sherry (15 ml)
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (15ml)
• 1 pound cooked duck meat, finely shredded (see note)
• Pepper to taste
• 24 round pot sticker wrappers (dumpling wrappers)
• 3 tablespoons oil (45 ml)
• 2 cups warm water (500 ml)
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar (30 ml)

Directions

1. Rinse the cabbage with cold water and chop into very thin slices (approximately 1/8th of and inch thick). Place cabbage in a colander and season with salt. Toss to combine. Let cabbage rest for approximately 10 minutes (this is done to remove excess moisture from the cabbage).
2. Place the drained cabbage into a clean kitchen towel and squeeze the cabbage over a bowl or sink to extract any excess moisture. Discard liquid.
3. Heat sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the ginger and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Stir in the cabbage, scallions, 5 spice, sherry and soy sauce. Allow to cook until cabbage wilts (approximately 30 seconds). Transfer mixture to a bowl to cool for 5-10 minutes.
4. Stir duck meat into cabbage mixture until evenly combined. Season with pepper to taste.
   Cover and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour.
5. To assemble pot stickers line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Work on one dumpling at a time, keeping the remaining wrappers covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying.
6. Place 1 tablespoon (15ml) of the filling in the middle of the wrapper. Using your fingers, moisten the edge of the wrappers with water. Fold the wrapper in the middle to form a taco shape and squeeze the edges together to seal the dumpling. Pinch small pleats along one side of the sealed edge, continuing to wet your fingers to help seal the pleats.
7. Place the filled potstickers on the baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until all the wrappers are filled.
8. Heat 1.5 tablespoons (22 ml) of the oil in a medium sized non-stick skillet over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes. Arrange half of the potstickers, pleat-side up, snugly together in the heated pan. Cook, shaking the pan once, until the dumplings are deep golden brown on the bottom, 1-2 minutes.
9. Carefully add 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vinegar to the skillet, cover partially, and cook 4-5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the bottoms of the potstickers are dark brown and very crisp and all the water has evaporated, approximately 5-6 minutes.
10. Slide a spatula under the potstickers to loosen them from the pan. Place them on a baking sheet and loosely cover with foil.
11. Wash and dry the skillet and repeat with the remaining oil and potstickers.
12. Serve hot with plum sauce.

Wine Pairing

Description: This Merlot is medium bodied with flavours of ripe and juicy berry, plum, and black cherry. It has a rich, smooth texture and a velvety finish.

Pairing: Merlot is a classic match with duck. The sweet berry flavours contrast the gaminess of the duck and the exotic Asian spices, and the body of the wine is in perfect balance with the richness of the meat. The wine’s plummy flavours also make it a great match with the plum sauce.

Wine suggestion: Try a Merlot from California, U.S.A.