番茄炒蛋 · Fān qié chǎo dàn
Tomato & Egg Stir-fry
Soft eggs, juicy tomatoes, and a little sauce to spoon over rice. A comforting place to begin your Chinese cooking journey.
A weekend project with a simple filling and ready-made wrappers. Start with a half-moon fold; fancy pleats can wait.

Mix chopped cabbage with salt and let sit for 10 minutes. Squeeze out excess liquid in a clean towel.
Stir pork with soy sauce, ginger, scallions, optional sesame oil, and the measured filling water. Fold in cabbage. Keep the filling refrigerated when you pause.
Put about 1 heaped teaspoon filling in each wrapper. Moisten the edge with water, fold in half, and press firmly to seal without trapped air.
Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil. Add dumplings in batches and stir gently to prevent sticking. Simmer about 6–10 minutes depending on size.
Floating is not a reliable safety test. Use a thermometer to check the centre of a dumpling: ground pork must reach 71°C / 160°F. Drain and serve.
Keep wrappers covered with a slightly damp clean towel while folding. Do not overfill: a firmly sealed edge matters more than elaborate pleats.
Napa cabbage: Finely chopped green cabbage can work; squeeze it after salting and expect a firmer texture.
Ground pork filling must reach 71°C / 160°F. Wash hands and utensils after handling raw meat.
FoodSafety.gov guidance ↗