These Money Bag Dumplings are a feast for the eyes and palate. They are made gluten free using translucent rice wrappers and napa cabbage.
Today is Chap Goh Mei, the 15th and final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations. This occasion is celebrated with greater prominence by certain quarters of the Chinese population. In the old days, Chap Goh Mei was equivalent to Valentine’s Day in the cities of the Straits Settlements comprising of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore. The cloistered damsels of rich Peranakan families rode to town in a covered trishaw, safely accompanied by a chaperon to enjoy the festivities.
Tradition of Tossing Oranges into the Ocean
Apart from exchanging glances with the local boys, there was also the custom for these girls to toss oranges into the ocean as they make their wish for a good match in the future. An urban legend has it that some of the more adventurous guys actually wade out into the ocean to collect the oranges either for eating or audaciously claim the hand of the maiden to toss it. I suppose if there is a will, there is way. This custom continues to this day in the city of Penang.
Symbolism of Dumplings
While Peranakan celebration of Chap Goh Mei does not involve dumplings, they are very much a part of the Chinese New Year offering in other segments of Chinese society. Dumplings symbolizes wealth and so I made Money Bag Dumplings and Cabbage Rolls to underscore these good wishes.
Rice Wrappers
Dumplings are usually made with pot sticker or wonton wrappers, easily purchased at the Asian grocery stores. These are wheat flour wrappers. For a gluten-free option, I use Vietnamese rice wrappers instead. They are more delicate and not as sturdy but they do give a nice translucent appearance to the dumplings. They hold up pretty well in smaller dumplings but one has to handle larger dumplings like these gently. Small tears in the wrapping will not be visible once the dumpling is immersed in the soup. Dumplings wrapped in rice wrappers should first be steamed so that the wrapper stays with the filling. Cooking them directly in the soup causes the wrapper to unravel.
Another gluten-free option is to use Napa cabbage as a wrapper. The amount of filling in the recipe below is sufficient for either 4 large Money Bag Dumplings or 8 small Cabbage Rolls. Please double the filling if you intend to do both.
Tools Used in Making These Money Bag Dumplings and Cabbage Rolls
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Circulon Genesis Stainless Steel Nonstick 5-Quart Covered Dutch Oven
Stainless Steel Folding Hot Dish Plate Clip Retriever Tongs
Chef Craft Stainless Steel Ladle
INGREDIENTS
- 4 rice wrappers **
- 8 napa cabbage leaves (blanched in boiling water for 1 minute)
- 12 green onions (blanched in boiling water for 20 seconds)
- 6 cups chicken stock for soup seasoned to taste (1440ml)
- A few drops sesame oil to serve
- Dumpling sauce to serve
Filling
- 12 oz ground pork (340g)
- 4 Chinese mushrooms (soaked, rinsed, and chopped)
- 1 medium carrot (finely chopped)
- 2 green onions (finely sliced)
- 2 tbsp Shao Hsing cooking wine
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 16 medium shrimps (cut into 4 pieces each) (6 oz/170g)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix all filling ingredients, except shrimp in a bowl. Allow it to marinate for 30 minutes.
Money Bag Dumplings
- Divide filling into 4 equal portions.
- Fill a large shallow bowl with warm water. Dip one rice wrapper into warm water and remove quickly. Lay wrapper on a lightly oiled dinner plate or cutting board. Rice wrapper will soften.
- Place a portion of filling onto dampened rice wrapper. Top with 8 tiny pieces of shrimps (equivalent to 2 shrimps).
- Gather edge of wrapper up around the filling. Tie with blanched green onion.
- Place onto a lightly oiled shallow bowl or casserole dish. Repeat with the other 3 portions of filling.
Cabbage Rolls
- Divide filling into 8 equal portions.
- Place a portion of filling onto the white edge of a blanched Napa cabbage. Top with 4 tiny pieces of shrimps (equivalent to 1 shrimp).
- Roll cabbage around the filling like a jelly roll. Tie with blanched green onion.
- Place onto a shallow bowl or casserole dish. Repeat with the other 7 portions of filling.
Steam Money Bag Dumplings and Cabbage Rolls
- Fill a large pot with about an inch of water. Place a rack at the base of the pot. Bring water to a boil.
- Place dish with dumplings or cabbage rolls on rack. Cover and steam for 10 minutes.
- Gently transfer one dumpling or two cabbage rolls with a large serving spoon into individual bowls. Ladle some soup into bowls about half way up the sides of dumplings or cabbage rolls. Add a few drops of sesame oil.
- Serve hot with dumpling sauce or soy sauce.
NOTES
NUTRITION
Money Bag Dumplings
These delicious Money Bag Dumplings make a lovely and impressive appetizer. Do not transfer the huge dumpling onto a plate. Simply cut and scoop up bite size pieces with a spoon together with a little soup directly from the bowl.
Cabbage Rolls
Cut the Cabbage Rolls into halves or thirds so that they are easier to handle.
I would love these dumplings… what a clever way to serve an appetizer. 🙂
Thanks Ramona!
Hi, Biren. Happy Chap Ngoh Mei! We had wontons , roast pork and bak Cham Kai to celebrate the last day of Chinese New Year tonight. I love your take on the Vietnamese wrapped dumplings, and the cabbage rolls, very unique and definitely something I am considering of trying for my next dinner party. Have a nice day.
Thanks DongXing! Sounds like you had a delicious Chap Goh Mei. I have been suing those rice wrappers for a gluten-free alternative for sometime now. They work quite well. If you make them into rolls, they taste like Hongkong chee cheong fun. 🙂
Aha! You have now given me another idea, to make chee cheong fun. I will be making the money bag dumplings this coming Sunday for a party. And I will certainly try to make the cheong fun as well. Knowing my daughter, she will ask for prawn cheong fun… Thanks again for the tip.
Those dumplings look delicious! I love the see through rice wrappers!
I like them too! 🙂
These are so beautiful! I love the different options you’ve presented, and the photos are so enticing. Happy Chinese New Year!!
Thanks Katherine! It is good to have options for those on a gluten-free diet. 🙂
Love the idea of using rice paper for these dumplings. That’s a very cool gluten-free alternative that I had never thought of! Happy Chinese New Year!
Thanks Victoria! Those rice wrappers are a God sent for me as one of my sons is on a gluten free diet. I have been using them as wraps for all kinds of dumplings for a while now. They are a little more delicate but works pretty well under most circumstances.
oh biren! the little purses are so cute and such a fun way to serve the dumplings. I love the filling. You are so creative
Just wondering if ShaoXing wine is gluten-free as well?
Shao Hsing rice wine is made of glutinous rice but I am not certain about the yeast used.