Although there are several kinds of breakfasts in China, I love “Jiaozi”, a kind of Chinese dumpling the best. Dumpling is a brilliant facet of Chinese culture, stands for the collective spirit of the nation. It is widely acknowledged that Chinese people are always eating dumplings, meat and vegetable.
Dumpling is a traditional Chinese food. But making dumpling is not an easy task than eating it. First of all, we should mix the flour with water, when the dough is ready, we can begin to make dumpling wrappers. We use a rolling pole to roll the dough into small, thin and round. When the wrappers are done, it’s time to prepare the filling. Usually, we use meat such as pork or beef, and vegetable such as cabbage or leek for filling. Then put some salt, oil and pepper and stir it. All these preparations are done, we can start making dumplings. First, put a spoonful of filling in the center of wrapper. And then, stick the two opposite sides together. All of them are same size and handmade. Finally, put the dumplings into boiling water, don’t let water boiling too far, we often boil them three times. When served in neat rows on a tray, they look like JinYuanBao, ancient Chinese golden ingot. The wrapping is thin, the filling are juicy, the meat tender, and the taste delicious and not at all greasy. My family makes dumpling in the morning for twice a week. We just enjoy the heartening talk and intimate atmosphere created while we are sitting together to make and eat “Jiaozi”.
Ms. Emily Jin