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When it comes to Chinese New Year dishes, there is no shortage of auspicious fanciful names that bring positive energy, good fortune, harmony and good health! Take this easy to make Steamed Money Bag Dumplings 年菜平安金福袋 for example, who doesn’t like to ring in the Lunar New Year with heaps of good fortune?!

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, celebrate the family reunion with an abundance of good food. Traditional Chinese New Year’s Eve menu always includes whole fish, whole chicken, sumptuous seafood and elaborate appetizers.

Nose to tail proteins signifies unity, completeness and good fortune all year round!

一年好到尾。年頭好到年尾。

Steamed Money Bag Dumplings is a beautiful appetizer that can be prepared ahead of time and cooked in a bamboo steam basket in just 6 to 8 minutes!

Vegan, Vegetarian or Seafood Money Bag Dumplings:

Fold these golden purses to look like little money bags and tie a green cilantro string on the top! We used yellow wonton wrappers to give it a nice golden glow. You can use dumpling skin, tofu bean curd skin, or baby napa cabbage leaves, too, if you prefer.

An option is to make either vegan, vegetarian or seafood versions of these steamed dumplings using the following fillings.

• Five ingredients (vegan option): carrots, Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginger and green scallions.
• Seven ingredients (seafood option): prawns, ground pork, carrots, Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginger and green scallions.

The colourful variety 5 ingredients (五彩 /wǔcǎi/) or 7 (七彩 /qīcǎi/) ingredients signifies good fortune, radiance and abundance.

I always like to double my recipe and make extra fillings. You can make extra stuffing for other dishes like spring rolls, pan fried gyoza or even add it to soup noodles.

If you are worried that you’ve made too much, store it in the freezer for later!

How To Make Money Bag Dumplings:

Rehydrate dried Chinese mushrooms overnight. Read our post on how to prepare dried Chinese Mushrooms.

During Chinese New Year, I always soak extra shiitake mushrooms the night before, so I can also make this Instant Pot Braised Chinese Mushroom 髮菜炆冬菇.

Defrost, remove shells and devein prawns. Rough chop and place in a mixing bowl.

Add in ground pork.

Add in the marinade: ground white pepper, sesame oil, Shaoxing Wine, corn starch and salt. Mix well. Stir in one direction.

Let marinade for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

While waiting for the prawns and pork to marinate;

Finely dice carrots, Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginger and green scallions.

In a non-stick pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.

Once the oil starts to simmer, add finely diced carrots, Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginger and green scallions. Stir fry for 2 minutes.

Add Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Mix well and cook until the liquid has evaporated.

Remove from pan and let cool completely.

How To Make The Ties For Your Money Bags

In a medium pot, boil water and prepare an ice bath in a mixing bowl.

Blanch the cilantro steams for 5 seconds.

Remove from boiling water and immediately place in the ice water bath to stop the cooking process.

Drain and pat dry. Remove the cilantro leaves from the stems. You will want a clean looking string.

Weaving cilantro throughout also plays on green jade symbolism for harmony, purity and wealth!

How To Assemble The Money Bag Dumplings

Add approximate half a tablespoon of filling to the middle of the wonton skin.

Gently fold and gather the wonton wrapper to the middle while leaving the top to fan out.

Use one cilantro string to tie the money bag bundle close.

Pro Tip: Cover wonton wrappers with a damp towel to avoid drying out.

How Do You Steam Homemade Dumplings?

Once you have assembled all your dumplings, it is time to steam!

How long should you steam dumplings? Bring water to boil over high heat in a wok or a pot that fits your bamboo steam baskets’ diameter.

Line the bamboo steam basket with parchment paper, thinly sliced carrots (ensure that the carrots have a diameter wider than the base of your dumplings), or cabbage leaves, so the dumplings do not stick to the steam basket.

Arrange the Money Bag Dumplings in the steam basket and cover the lid.

Place steamer over the wok, ensuring the base doesn’t touch the water.

Pro Tip: You can use a trivet rack stand to raise the steam baskets.

Steam dumplings for 6 to 8 minutes or until tender and thoroughly cooked.

We wish everyone a healthy, prosperous, joyful New Year!

新年快樂、財源廣進、大吉大利、年年有餘、步步高升、事事如意、心想事成、萬事如意、富貴有餘、金玉滿堂、福壽雙全、龍鳳呈祥、鴻圖大展!

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Other Great Recipes For Chinese Lunar New Year:

HOKKAIGAI ARCTIC SURG CLAMS with GINGER & SCALLIONS Cold Appetizer 薑蔥北極貝冷盤 with a Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce 辣椒豉油

INSTANT POT BRAISED CHINESE MUSHROOM 髮菜炆冬菇食譜

SICHUAN MALA MOUTH WATERING CHICKEN 四川麻辣口水雞

NOURISHING SQUAB SOUP 桂圆枸杞蓮子淮山炖乳鸽汤

RED BEAN SOUP INSTANT POT 蓮子百合紅豆沙

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