Chinese cuisine is so present in the world that it is difficult to write anything about food that is not already known to everyone but, let’s speak about dumpling!
And what is a dumpling? Simply a Chinese ravioli
They have different shapes and change their name, but under “Dumpling” one of the cornerstones of Asian cuisine is called ravioli. A fairly thick white, elastic dough containing a vegetable or meat filling, steamed in round bamboo baskets. It’s as simple as that.
The way the cooks make this irresistible ravioli is a spectacle in itself. It’s a crisp, tender gesture that closes the dough without tearing it and keeps the stuffing well inside while it cooks. Always the same size, absolutely perfect, immaculate and tender as a baby, they are extremely appetizing.
The saleswomen who have a stall in the street go out onto the pavement and call out to the barge with their little flutey voices. The others wander around carrying their fragrant baskets.
With meat or vegetables Dumpling is the traditional Chinese breakfast
Dumpling is very cheap. It is good, it is eaten very quickly, almost on the go, with chopsticks, without bread and without coffee, it goes without saying.
In the street where I stayed throughout my stay in Beijing, I would go out early in the morning, walk down the street before having breakfast, just for the pleasure of seeing the volutes of smoke dancing on the steam baskets in the timid early morning light, the gestures of the saleswomen in a hurry, the noise that rises little by little. And of course, the perfume of the Chinese ravioli that perfumes the alleys.
A photo, a drawing would describe all this to you marvellously, but I am not talented enough for that. I just give you the ingredients, it’s up to you to imagine the scene!
When traveling, make your taste buds dance!
In all countries of the world (or almost) you can find this dish. The stuffing changes, the shape too, but it’s always ravioli!
