The Ugly Dumpling (April 2016), story by Stephanie Campisi, illustrated by Shahar Kober.
I’m a big fan of “The Ugly Duckling” because it’s a story of feeling less-than because of how others treat you and then finding out you’re pretty special and they were wrongย all along.
I’m also a big fan of dumplings (and steamed buns!), especially having grown up in Singapore and Hong Kong.
So this picture bookย is a perfectย literary and culinary combination!
(click image(s) to enlarge)
Setting: Golden Swan, aย dim sum restaurant. Of course!โbecause that’s where dumplings live! (And noddingย to the original tale in the eatery’s name is pretty smooth.)
Ingredients: a lonely, misunderstood dumpling and the cockroach who befriends it. (Yeah, this is one classy cockroach, another unexpected element to admire.)
Favorite garnish: the expressions on the main character’s and other steamed buns’ faces.
Flavor: clever, funny, and lively writingย with undertones of deeper meaning.
Yelp review: a story about seeing past appearances that will have you coming back for seconds.
Cockroach accepts the ugly dumpling and shows it beautiful things in the world of a restaurant kitchen. One of those things is even a bamboo steamer with its own kind. But it turns out cockroaches are pretty misunderstood too. (Big time!) And in return for the cockroach’sย welcome and kindness, the dumpling offers the same, forsaking sameness for authenticity. And that is the beginning of a beautiful, unusual, boundless friendship.
Big thanks to Mighty Media Press for images!
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And now, for the main course, courtesy of my food-genius friend Bonnie of Thirsty For Tea. I feel soย lucky she’s collaborating with me again! Her recipe is perfect for Chinese New Year on February 8thย (or any dayย of anyย month!) and combines both facets of dumpling’s journey.
Bonnie will be your chef and server:
Steamed Chinese Pork & Napa Dumplings, 2 Ways
Makes 30ย mini buns or dumplings.
Ingredients:
{Filling}
1 lb. ground pork
5 Napa cabbage leaves, minced, tossed with 1 tsp of salt, then rinsed and squeezed dry
2 green onions, sliced thin
3 Tbsp oyster sauce
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 Tbsp grated ginger
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp white pepper
{Wrappers}
Use aย 1/2 portionย of this Steamed Bun Dough recipeย (divided into 20 pieces to create 20 dumplings)ย and/or store-bought wrappers.
Equipment:
mixing bowl
Tbsp measure
work surface
bamboo steamer
wok with slightly larger diameter than steamer OR a stockpot withย exactlyย the same diameter as the steamer
Directions:
1. Make the Filling.ย Combine all the filling ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
2. Fill the Wrappers.ย For Buns:ย If you are using theย Steamed Bun Dough recipe, fill each dough portion with 1 Tbsp of the filling accordingย theย directions in this post. After filling the buns, place them in the steamer.ย For Dumplings:ย If using store-bought wrappers, fill each skin with 1 Tbsp of the filling, seal opposite edges of the wrapper with water, then place them upright in the steamer.
3. Steam Away!ย Fill the wok or stockpot with 3-4โณ of water. Set water on high heat and let it come to a full rolling boil. Place the steamers in/on top of the wok/stockpot and cook the dumplings for 10 minutes on over high heat.
4. Sip, Eat, Read, & Enjoy!ย
Check out theย post at Thirsty For Tea for more! Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing your five-star literary/culinary creation with us!ย
You might want to check out my last collaboration with Bonnie on Please, Mr. Panda, too!
Yum! Yum! One yum for the book, and one yum for the recipe!
A two yum review makes me very happy! ๐
Yum! and fun! This book sounds great! It reminds me of the story told by Jarrett Krosoczka (Punk Farm/Lunch Lady author) in his Ted Talk about one of the books he wrote as a kid. Have you seen the talk? Marcie Colleen posted it in 12×12, I think, yesterday. Krosoczka’s story tells of three friends who live in the refrigerator and are threatened by an evil toaster, among other kitchen appliances. Quite creative. Cheers!
Haven’t seen itโthanks for pointing me in that direction. ๐
Gee – I’ve been wonton to read this book since I saw the preview in PW!
This is just delightful!
You slay me, Cathy. ๐
How lovely! I’m excited to get this book (and try the recipe)! You might be interested in my post on picture books about China – feel free to check it out!
Glad to hear it, Beth! Yay! I’ll have to check out that last one in your roundup, which is new to me. Big fan of both RUBY’S WISH and THE EMPTY POT!