Jamaican Spinners Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my dumplings taste better? ›

A teaspoon of sugar adds an extremely subtle hint of sweetness. It also helps the dumplings retain their moisture through the cooking process and slows gluten development, which ensures tender dumplings. A pinch of salt seasons the dumplings and enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.

The trickiest part of the dumplings remaining fluffy lies with the cooking time. If the dumplings are cooked for too long, then they will become hard. If they are cooked and allowed to remain in the heated environment – in the hot liquid or covered in the hot pot, then the dumpling will contract and get hard.

Use Cornstarch to Thicken Chicken and Dumplings

To give that a little thicker texture we're going to add 1 cup of cool water to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and stir it up well. Make sure the soup is brought back to a good boil and go ahead and stir in the cornstarch mixture.

Mix together a bit of cornstarch with water then stir it into the ground pork. Stirring in a bit of cornstarch and water will make the insides of your dumplings super tender. It's the secret to juicy, tender dumplings!

Adding cold water to the dumplings to not over boil them too quickly, making sure to get all of the dough thoroughly cooked is a definite pro tip.

Instead of steaming these dumplings in water, we simmer them in a vinegary cornstarch and flour slurry that creates a lacy, crunchy golden crust as the water evaporates and the dumplings brown.

It's best to have your lid ready: Immediately add about 3 tablespoons of water to the pan, just enough to cover the base of the dumplings, then cover and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the water has evaporated. Lift the lid and allow the dumpling to cook for another 30 seconds, to allow the bottoms to get extra crispy.

The dumplings will be completely cooked and ready when they float on the surface of the boiling water.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook dumplings in batches of about eight until they are cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the dumplings to a serving platter. Serve warm with the dipping sauce.

How to tell when chicken and dumplings are done? ›

Set a timer for 15 minutes, don't lift the lid during this time, the dumplings need to steam. Open the lid and insert a toothpick into the middle of a dumpling to check for doneness. If it comes out clean, it's ready. If not, cover and simmer for a few more minutes.

Yes, you can use water instead of the chicken stock. While the stock will give the chicken and dumplings more flavor, you can still make them without it. However, I recommend using all of the broth made from cooking the chicken to add as much flavor as you can.

Next, you want to make sure that your dumplings are infused with flavor themselves. Don't just rely on the broth they cook in to give them flavor. To achieve this add some rich broth to the dumpling dough.

Cover up. As you fold your dumplings, keep them covered with a slightly damp kitchen towel. This prevents the dumplings from drying out (dry skins can split when cooked).

Don't Overwork the Dumpling Dough

Stir everything together until the wet and dry ingredients are combined and you don't see any more dry flour. The dough might look a little lumpy, but that's okay! Overworking the dough is one of the easiest ways to end up with tough dumplings.

Chicken: Bone-in chicken breast or chicken thighs will add the most flavor to the broth. You can also use 2 large boneless/skinless chicken breasts or about 1.25 lbs. You can also use 3 cups cooked/leftover chicken. Add it just before the dumplings are added, (when the freshly seared chicken is added back to the soup).

The pan isn't hot enough when you fry the dumplings

In order to avoid this, you have to let the pan get sufficiently hot before dropping those little meat/veggie sacks into the oil.