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Steamed Cabbage Dumplings with Curry Satay Sauce

We've got juicy chicken dumplings wrapped in tender cabbage leaves, packed with savoury aromatics and a hint of curry spice to take things to the next level. They're steamed until juicy, then drizzled with a creamy, spicy Hong Kong-style satay sauce and finished and chilli oil. Trust me, you're going to want to mop up every last bit of that sauce with these cabbage rolls!

Recipe Stats

Cooking time

45 minutes

Serves

3

Difficulty

Easy

Spice

Medium

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Steamed Cabbage Dumplings with Curry Satay Sauce

Ingredients

3 servings

For the cabbage dumplings

For the chicken filling

For the satay tahini sauce

To serve

Notes

Some secret knowledge

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Possible Substitutions

  • Chicken mince: Swap for pork mince or turkey mince. You could also use tofu for a meat-free option.
  • Cabbage: Savoy cabbage works well, as its leaves are naturally flexible.
  • Hot ghee: Substitute with hot neutral oil or melted butter. Ghee adds a lovely richness and helps bring out the aromas of the curry powder.
  • Bull Head Barbecue Sauce: Use another Chinese-style satay or barbecue sauce, adjusting the seasoning to taste. The flavour will vary depending on the brand.
  • Peanut Butter: Substitute with Tahini or Chinese sesame paste.
Shield

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Choose larger cabbage leaves: You'll need around 17–25 large-ish leaves, depending on the size of your cabbage. Have an extra cabbage on hand in case some leaves tear.
  • Don't over-blanch the cabbage: The leaves should be flexible enough to roll without breaking, but not so soft that they fall apart.
  • Don't overfill the cabbage rolls: Around 1–1½ tablespoons of filling per leaf should be enough, depending on the size of the leaf. Roll them snugly so the filling stays inside.
  • Adjust the sauce to taste: Bull Head Barbecue Sauce is already savoury and flavourful, so taste the sauce before adding extra sugar or MSG. Add water a little at a time to loosen it without diluting the flavour too much.

Fridge

Storage

  • Fridge: Store leftover cooked cabbage dumplings in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • Sauce: Store the satay tahini sauce separately in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It may thicken as it chills, so stir in a little water before serving.
  • Reheating: Reheat the cabbage rolls by steaming until piping hot throughout.

Method

prepare the cabbage leaves

Bring a large pot of water to boil.

Carefully separate the cabbage leaves, keeping them as whole as possible. Blanch the leaves in the boiling water for 1–2 minutes, or until softened and flexible.

Drain well and gently pat dry. Trim away any particularly thick or tough parts of the cabbage stem so the leaves are easier to roll if there are any.

make the chicken filling

Add the chicken mince, spring onion, carrot and garlic to a large mixing bowl.

Add the light soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, chicken powder, curry powder, garam masala, coriander, white pepper and sugar.

Heat the ghee until hot, then carefully pour it over the filling. Mix everything thoroughly until evenly combined.

wrap the dumplings

Lay one cabbage leaf flat on a board.

Place approximately 1–1½ tablespoons of the chicken filling towards the bottom centre of the leaf.

Fold the bottom of the cabbage over the filling, then fold in both sides and roll upwards tightly, creating a neat cabbage parcel.

Repeat with the remaining filling and cabbage leaves.

steam the dumplings

Arrange the cabbage dumplings seam-side down in a steamer, leaving a little space between each one.

Steam over medium-high heat for approximately 15 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through.

make the satay tahini sauce

Add the chilli powder, curry powder, sesame seeds and garlic to a small heatproof bowl.

Heat the oil until hot, then carefully pour it over the spices

Add the Bull Head Barbecue Sauce, sugar, msg and tahini. Mix well, then gradually add water until the sauce reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.

Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

serve & enjoy

Transfer the steamed cabbage dumplings to a serving plate.

Drizzle generously with the curry satay tahini sauce.

Finish with sliced spring onion greens and a drizzle of chilli oil.

Serve immediately while the dumplings are hot.

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