Vegan Tofu Dumplings

These are one of the best homemade vegan tofu dumplings you’ll ever have! Simple, satisfying, and loaded with fresh veggies and tofu for protein. These vegan dumplings are better than take-out and are great for any occasion as an appetizer, snack, or side dish.

Why you will love these

• They are perfect for meal prep. Since these potstickers are freezer friendly, you can prepare and make a large batch and freeze it to grab anytime you want to eat vegan tofu dumplings. They are easy to grab from the freezer and don’t require thawing.
• These dumplings are so much better than the store-bought and take-out. Once you make your vegan tofu dumplings at home, you will realize that they are tastier and better than those you order at the restaurant. You can also add some of the ingredients you like to add and adjust all the seasonings.
• These steamed vegan dumplings are nutritious, delicious, and guilt-free. It is a good source of vegan protein and fiber-rich food in one dish.

Main Ingredients

• Extra-firm Tofu – Use extra firm to use as a protein source. Make sure to get rid of water as much as you can.
• Dumpling wrappers – To make these vegan tofu dumplings more convenient, we will use store-bought wrappers but making your own wrapper is great. I use square shape wrappers from the freezer section in the Asian grocery store.
• Carrots
• Ginger, garlic, green onions – For aroma and flavor.
• Soy sauce, brown sugar, chili powder – To season and taste.
• Salt and pepper – To taste

Instructions

1. Preparing the Tofu. Drain the excess water from the block of tofu. Using a heavy cutting board or plate on the top, press it down to drain as much water as possible. Some people leave a heavy board or plate on top of tofu for 20 minutes to drain the liquid, but I find it unnecessary. Crumble the tofu into tiny pieces using your hand or food processor for convenience.
2. Cooking the tofu filling. Over medium heat, add cooking oil and saute ginger and garlic in a skillet. Add tofu, carrots, soy sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir-fry for 3 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed. Add green onions and sesame oil, then stir to combine everything. Turn off the heat and let it cool down.
3. Assemble the dumpling. Lay one piece of square dumpling wrapper and place one teaspoon of the filling in the center. Using your finger, moisten the sides with water and fold diagonally into a triangle shape. Press edges to seal completely. Then close both edges again. Or you can fold them the way you want. Repeat until all the mixture is finished. Check the photo below.
4. Steam the dumpling. Using a steamer, lay a few dumplings and let them steam in medium heat for 5-8 minutes. Make sure to grease the steamer and add about 1 cup of water into the steamer so it won’t burn the bottom.

How to make an easy sauce

Dipping Sauce. You can make your own dipping sauce using 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon, a drizzle of sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds. Mix everything together using a fork. You can also try my 5-ingredient healthy sweet and sour recipe.

Variations

Although steamed vegan tofu dumpling is the most popular, you can also try other variations and methods of cooking this tasty dish.

• Pan-fried: These yummy dumplings can be pan-fried to get an extra crunch is an excellent option for crispy dumplings. To pan-fry them, you can use a skillet to cook the dumplings in 1/4 cup of water for a few minutes and cover them with a lid. Once the water evaporates, pour some cooking oil and fry the dumplings until the bottom is golden brown.
• Air-fry: The air-fryer is getting more popular because of the ability to fry all kinds of dishes without adding a lot of oil. To air-fry, these vegan dumplings, brush them with oil and put them in an air-fryer rack or basket. Air fry for about 10-12 minutes at 400F or until nice and golden brown.
• Stew or soup: One of my favorite to cook dumplings is to make a soup or stew! I love both of these variations, and they are super easy. Boil a few cups of vegetable broth or water with salt, pepper, and dry herbs to make a dumpling soup, and drop the dumplings in boiling liquid—Cook in medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Make-ahead, Storage, and reheating tips

• Make-ahead: These Vegan tofu dumplings are great for meal prepping and grab-and-go snacks or great as appetizers. Double this delicious recipe and make a large batch, then keep it in the freezer for up to 4 months. It will only take a few weeks in our house since we all love to grab and cook it up. In 10 minutes or so, you can have it ready to serve.
• Storage: Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezing: You can freeze these dumplings for up to 4 months in an air-tight container. You do not need to thaw it before cooking, but it will take a few more minutes to cook if it’s from the freezer.
• Reheating: Reheat your cook dumplings in a steamer with some water until warm through for about 3-5 minutes. You can use the microwave for 30 seconds.

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