Dill Chinese Dumplings

Published on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, by Sarah Perry / Edit Post

Chinese dumplings filled with dill, pork, and shrimp are delicious if you love dill, but not so good if you don’t, says Mark P. But, even though dill is not commonly used in many Chinese cuisines, the dill dumpling is authentic and not some American artifact of fusion. HLing remembers eating large amounts of sautéed dill as a child growing up in Taiwan. While he hated it at the time, he now loves northeastern Chinese dill-and-pork-filled dumplings.

HLing recommends that those amused by the novelty of dill dumplings also try dumplings filled with another northern Chinese specialty: pickled Napa cabbage (often listed as sour cabbage) with pork. “The northern Chinese pickle Napa cabbage in such a way as to resemble the taste of sauerkraut,” says HLing. “Go figure.”

Board Link: Dill Dumplings (Chinese)–Authentic? Regional?

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  • I think it's really dill that they put in the dumplings. The chinese name for dill is 莳罗，it tastes a lot like fennel, a popular filling for making dumplings in Beijing and its surroundings. But the No.1 popular filling is chive mixed with ground pork or fried eggs. I just love them all. Fennel has a very strong smell I don't really like. But I think it could be a good spice for other kind of...+READ

    I think it's really dill that they put in the dumplings. The chinese name for dill is 莳罗，it tastes a lot like fennel, a popular filling for making dumplings in Beijing and its surroundings. But the No.1 popular filling is chive mixed with ground pork or fried eggs. I just love them all. Fennel has a very strong smell I don't really like. But I think it could be a good spice for other kind of dishes.-COLLAPSE

  • That spice is a part of Chinese five spice powder. They are really good dumplings.

  • I originally thought dill didn't belong in Chinese cuisine either, but I was surprised when a grandma, who was an old family friend, came over one night and created some delicious dumplings with dill. Just being Chinese isn't enough to know all of the different types of specialties in every province, without some searching and surprises.

  • Dill? Interesting. Never encountered that. Are you sure it's not garlic chive (韮菜)? That would be pretty traditional in many regions of China, such as in Shanghaiese cuisine.