You Win Some, You Dim Sum
Well…technically, Dim Sum is a meal of small plates served with tea (think Tapas if you lean more towards Spanish cuisine), but I just love that silly expression, and since dumplings can be served as part of Dim Sum I think it works! (imagine the smiley emoji here).
I also love dumplings…all kinds…meat, veggie, seafood, folded, tied, fried, steamed…the list is very long! But since everyone seems to be working on their beach bodies this time of year, I wanted to share these healthy dumplings made with seasoned turkey and wrapped up in packets of fresh cabbage. All the asian-inspired flavors of traditional dumplings with fewer calories…a win-win for sure!
“The dumplings had the flavor of paradise…” – Lemony Snicket
These are very simple dumplings to make. I used my bamboo steamer, but any steamer basket will work. Start with Savoy Cabbage or Chinese Cabbage…Savoy’s are lacy and delicate looking so they make a pretty dumpling package! You can use the traditional cabbage heads you find in most grocery stores, but the leaves are typically thicker so the dumplings aren’t quite as tender. Blanch the individual leaves of cabbage in boiling, salted water for about three minutes (this helps make them pliable), then put them on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels to cool and drain.
While your cabbage leaves cool, mix together the turkey, green onions, ginger, soy sauce (or coconut aminos), fish sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until well combined.
Pat the cabbage leaves dry. Place about 1- 1/2 tablespoons of the turkey mixture in the middle of each leaf. Fold the stem edge of the leaf up and over the meat. Fold the two sides to the inside and over the meat, tucking them in as you roll the bottom edge up towards the top (like you would roll a burrito).
Place each dumpling in the steamer basket, seam side down. Add the broth or water to a pan and place the steamer basket on top (you don’t want the liquid to touch the basket and get into the dumplings). Bring to a boil, then cover and steam for 12-13 minutes.
While the dumplings are steaming, mix together the ingredients for this wonderful dipping sauce. It hits all the notes you want…salty, sour, sweet, and spicy!
These Turkey Cabbage Dumplings are amazing, and the sauce takes them to another level of deliciousness! As an added bonus, they are easy AND healthy! How can you go wrong? And they are beautiful to look at…and we eat with our eyes first, am I right?
One more bonus, for my readers who don’t eat meat…these can easily be made with diced tofu (about 8 ounces) in place of the turkey (I’m starting to sound like one of those infomercials…”and if you order now our bonus gift to you is…”! But who doesn’t love a bonus?
Give these amazing dumplings a try, and let me know in the comments how you like them. And while you’re here, be sure to subscribe to A Slice of Spice so you don’t miss any of the goodness!
Until next time, keep it spicy!
Michele
Turkey Cabbage Dumplings
Tender cabbage dumplings stuffed with seasoned turkey and steamed to perfection.
Ingredients
For the Dumplings
- 1 pound ground turkey (can use ground chicken)
- 1/2 cup green onions – sliced (3-4 onions)
- 1/2 inch knob of ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp hoisin sauce
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional) more if desired
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 16 chinese or savoy cabbage leaves (ends trimmed)
- 2 cups vegetable broth or water
For the Dipping Sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp hot water
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp chili oil
- 1 tsp garlic – minced
Instructions
Dumplings
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Bring a large saucepan of water with a pinch of salt to a boil. Line a large sheet pan with paper towels. Once the water is boiling, submerge cabbage leaves in the water for about three minutes to soften. Transfer leaves to paper towel-lined sheet pan and let cool. When the leaves are cool enough to handle, pat dry with another paper towel.
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In a medium bowl, combine turkey, green onions, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix well.
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Place about 1 1/2 tbsp. of turkey mixture into the middle of each cabbage leaf. Fold the stem side of the leaf up over the meat. Fold the two sides towards the center and gently roll up as you tuck the sides in (similar to rolling a burrito).
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Fill a pot with two inches of broth (or water if you prefer) and put your steamer basket on top. Make sure your broth/water comes just below your steamer basket so the liquid doesn’t touch your dumplings.
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Gently place dumplings into steamer basket seam side down (you can stack them if you need to). Bring broth/water to a boil. Cover the steamer basket and let the dumplings steam 12-13 minutes, until the turkey is cooked through.
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While your dumplings steam, make your dipping sauce (below). When the dumplings have finished cooking, transfer dumplings to a paper-towel lined plate and enjoy!
Dipping Sauce
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Mix hot water and honey together in a small bowl and stir until honey is dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Serve with dumplings.
Hello this looks wonderful, I can wait to try it out.
Thank you! They are a great way to healthy up your dumplings!
Some of my most favorite ingredients I tend to get crazy with fresh ginger! These look delish and would make a perfect appetizer or quick lunch. Thanks so much for sharing 🤗
I love ginger too!
THIS looks like a recipe I would love to try!!! Yum!
Let me know if you do Tina!
I love Dim Sum and this looks delicious! I love that your recipe does not include a lot of carbs. I think this would be a great meal for my family.
Give them a try Jennifer!
Ok, this looks so delicious that I am going to have to try it this weekend!!
I hope you give them a try! Come back and let me know!
My mom would make these every holiday but in the slowcooker. I need to try this way
Give it a try! They are quick and easy!
Not certain if I have it in me to make these but will certainly eat them! YUM! Will have to “leave” this recipe out for my husband…
LOL! Good luck with that Tiffany!
I love the idea of using cabbage leaves to make dumplings. So…I don’t eat meat or soy products. I’m wondering if I could make a veggie mix to fill the cabbage leaves with? Perhaps a combo of carrots, onions, garlic, peas. I’ll give it a try.
These look amazing and cabbage is so healthy! I need more recipes for it! Thank you!
Thanks Tricia! And cabbage doesn’t deplete the calorie budget! Hope you enjoy!
This looks amazing! 😋
Thank you Erin!
Looks so yummy, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sandi. I appreciate the read!
These look yummy and healthy! Saving to try soon!
Thanks Sharon! Let me know how you like them.
These look delicious! I would definitely make these!
Thanks Lina! Let me know if you do!
I’ve never eaten a cabbage dumpling but it looks delicious! I’ll have to give them a try.
I hope you do! They are yummy!
Wow, that looks very yummy. Adding it to my recipes to try.
Thanks Carolina. I hope you enjoy!
Well. I am a vegan, but I am sure my family will love this. Thank you for sharing
Try them with the tofu…they are delicious as well!
These look delish! I would have never thought to make this combination. I am excited to give them a try.
Thanks Heather. I hope you enjoy them!
Oh yum this looks great! Adding to my list of recipes to try!
Thanks Caitlin. Let me know if you do!
I love dumplings and at first I was like, “IDK… substituting cabbage for the outside?… ” but they actually look really good!
I also love the traditional dumplings…but sometimes I don’t have the calories left in the calorie budget, so this is a good way to capture the flavors and still be “good”.
This looks so interesting and delicious. And healthy! Would love to try it.
Thank you Paloma! Let me know if you do!
Well that looks delicious
Thanks Jen! They were delicious!
Yum, this is a great recipe, very unique!
Thank you Lisa!
Like all your recipes this looks so good! Adding to my must try list.
Thank you Leigh Ann! I appreciate the feedback!
These look so delicious, and I love how the cabbage is the wrap instead of the usual dumpling. They look delicious and healthy! I use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for almost everything since my daughter is allergic to soy. I love it!
Thanks Ramae! We started using coconut aminos as well when my daughter was following a Paleo eating plan and just never stopped.