Learn how to cook like a Jamaican by trying your hand at these simple gluten free boiled dumplings. Such a basic recipe, multi purpose and only requires 3 ingredients and no more than 20 minutes of your time.
These dumplings come together in no time and are great to use in most recipes. If you want to embrace true Jamaican culture then dont skip this recipe, its a must and not complicated!
One fun fact about Jamaicans is that we tend not to pronounced the S for plural words i.e plantains is plantain but for the sake of search terms/blogging I had to change it up but I wont bore you with all that spiel.
Anyway, dumpling – fried or boiled play an important part in Jamaican and certain Caribbean island culture.
It is a multi purpose food that can be served in soup, for example I used it in my Jamaican Chicken Soup or it can be served as a side dish with your Cabbage and Saltfish or even with the national dish which is Ackee and Saltfish.
You can shape your dumpling 2 ways – discs or like little sausages and these are known as spinners. Only the boiled ones are called spinners.
On the other hand, the fried version is made with cornmeal and known as festival.
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.
The best gluten free flour to use
Thankfully these boiled dumplings are one of the easiest to replicate especially if you are using a store bought flour blend like.
Here are some recommended brands
- Krusteaz Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend
- King Arthur Measure For Measure Flour
- Bob Red Mill 1 to 1 Baking Flour
- Buckwheat Flour (Any brand will do)
- Charlas homemade Gluten Free Flour Blend
I personally like Bob Red Mill and buckwheat flour. I rotate between both depending on what Im making and for whom.
Most recently, I have started to use my very own homemade Gluten Free Flour Blend to make dumpling with.
Buckwheat is gluten free, dont be confused by the name it derives from the rhubarb family. This flour is whole grain, completely unadulterated and is the equivalent to whole wheat flour of the gluten free world.
If you do use buckwheat flour just be mindful that your dumplings will be more on the dense side and grainy in texture.
Its a trade off in a sense, do you want a flour thats independently wholesome yet dense or one that is blended for a light texture? I dont know, its down to preference!!
How to make boiled dumplings
- Fill a large stock pot or saucepan with water (about ¾ full) and add ½ teaspoon of pink salt then bring the water to a boil (Picture 1 ).
- Meanwhile, place the flour and the other ½ teaspoon of pink salt to a medium sized bowl (picture 2).
- Slowly add the water and knead until a dough ball is formed. The dough shouldnt be sticky, if it is sticky add more flour and if it is too dry, add a splash of water then re-knead (picture 3-5).
- Pinch off about a golf ball sized amount of dough, roll into a ball and then flatten it (about ½ inch)(picture 6)
- Then use your thumb to make a dip in the centre. If you are making spinners then roll your dough into a sausage shape instead. Repeat this step with the rest of the dough (picture 7-9).
- Carefully lower each dumpling into your pot of water and boil for 15 minutes (picture 10 & 11).
- After the given time you will notice the dumpling floating towards the top of the water (picture 12).
- Remove with a slotted spoon
- Serve accordingly.
How to Boil Dumplings!
FAQ
How do you know when boiled dumplings are done?
How long do you boil frozen dumplings for?
How do you boil dumplings?
Bring water and salt solution to boil. This boiling is done after you have added the salt to the water. Simply bring the water to a boil and turn off the heat when it has reached that point. There is no particular duration for this specific stage of boiling. The next time you boil, the dumplings should be inside the water.
How long do dumplings take to cook?
Generally, though, dumplings will take between 5 and 10 minutes to cook, depending on the recipe. If you are using a stovetop method to cook your dumplings, start by heating a large pot of water to boiling and then adding the dumplings. Once the water returns to a boil, cook the dumplings for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they are cooked through.
How long do you boil dumplings in a crock pot?
Depending on the number of dumplings cooking, bring a medium to large pot of water to a boil. Drop in the dumplings, and stir immediately so they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Bring back to a boil, and boil for 6-8 minutes, depending on their size. Ideally, anytime the water comes up to a vigorous boil, add 1/4 cup of cold water.
How long do you boil frozen dumplings?
Bring back to a boil, and boil for 6-8 minutes, depending on their size. Ideally, anytime the water comes up to a vigorous boil, add 1/4 cup of cold water. This cools the water down and prevents the dumpling wrappers from overcooking and becoming starchy. If cooking frozen dumplings, there is no need to thaw them first.