In which today brings a us recipe!

Left Coast Girlie says: “Here’s the yakimandu recipe. You can remove the meat and use tofu and veggies like mushrooms and cabbage…. Thought I’d share.”

Yaki Mandu

2 pkg. (30 sheets each) wonton wrappers
1 lb. lean ground beef or chopped sirloin
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
20 to 25 medium mushrooms, chopped
1 pkg. (12 oz.) firm tofu
2 green onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 egg, lightly beaten

Sauce
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 green onion, chopped
Sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds
Dash of chili oil or red pepper powder

Defrost the wonton wrappers.

Mix vegetables into meat. To soften tofu, either squeeze the tofu through your fingers or use a colander: line a colander with a paper towel, put the tofu in the colander, put another paper towel on top, put a small plate (smaller than the mouth of the colander but big enough to cover the tofu) over the tofu, and put a brick on top for one hour. Mix the tofu into your meat mixture. Add green onions and garlic, then sesame oil, sugar, pepper, and sesame seeds. Stir well, then add soy sauce and egg and stir again.

Put the defrosted wrappers in a bowl with a wet paper towel over the bowl to keep the wrappers from drying out. Have another bowl with the lightly beaten egg in it. Take a wrapper, put a little filling in (approx. 1-2 tsp.), dab the edges with the beaten egg, and close into a half circle or small square (depending on the shape of the wonton wrapper). Make sure when you seal them, there isn’t extra air inside, because it makes the mandu burst or break the seal while they are cooking. Keep a wet paper towel over the already-made mandu also. When the wrappers dry out, they crack and don’t stay together as well.

Season a skillet over medium to med. high heat. Fry the mandu on both sides until brown. Then, with a lid (or in my case, a piece of foil) in one hand, and about 1/4 cup of water in the other, quickly pour the water into the pan and cover. Be careful not to burn your hand with the steam. Let it cook for a minute like that, then take the lid off, and let the water cook off, and then you have tender, crispy mandu!

Mix together ingredients for sauce. Serve hot with dipping sauce.

Note: You can freeze the already made dumplings in a Tupperware container between sheets of wax paper.