TEMPEH DUMPLING FILLING

Dumpling fillings are capable of endless variation. I won't labour the basic technique: you make a filling, put it in the dumpling wrapper, seal it by wetting the edges then cook by steaming (or boiling or deep frying). The only question is, what to put in them? Here is a filling that features tempeh. I use tempeh quite a bit - more than I use tofu - because it is a fermented soy product. Soy is much better fermented. I first started using it decades ago, but after my journey to Java (Indonesia) where it features in local cuisine I really began to appreciate it. There are dozens of different tempehs all with subtle differences in flavour and texture, but all are nutty and rich and somewhat meaty - excellent for vegans and vegetarians.

INGREDIENTS

6 dried shiitake mushrooms
150 gms of tempeh cut into thinly sliced strips
3 spring onions finely chopped
A small handful of finely chopped chinese cabbage
2 teaspoons grated ginger
1 clove of garlic crushed
Fresh chopped coriander to taste
Sesame oil
Soy sauce
Sea salt

METHOD

Put the dried mushrooms in a bowl and pour over boiling water to reconstitute them. Let stand for half an hour until they are soft. Strain, saving the water for broth or other purposes. Chop the reconstituted mushrooms.
Lightly fry off the cabbage in a hot pan with a small quantity of sesame oil
Pan fry the tempeh strips in a hot pan until they are golden brown on both sides. Set out onto absorbent paper.
Place the mushrooms, fried tempeh strips, cabbage, onions, garlic, coriander and salt in a food blender. Buzz into a thick paste consistency.
Moisten with a few drops of soy sauce and sesame oil.
Set it aside for half an hour in the refrigerator.

Basically, the fried tempeh takes the place of the chicken or pork mince or other meat used in standard Chinese dumplings. It is quite an acceptable substitute, especially when combined with the shiitake mushroom. You could use fresh shiitake but the dried ones reconstituted have a much meatier texture and in this case texture is what you want.