steamed veggie dumplings, miso soup with pea shoots

Ingredients:
Won tons: (makes enough for about 30)
1 large carrot, shredded
1/2 lb extra firm tofu, frozen then thawed, cut into 1 cm cubes
1 small onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch red chard, fine chiffonade
2 tsp ginger, minced
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp pepper
1 package won ton wrappers
1 egg white (optional)
2 Tbsp canola oil

In a frying pan over medium heat add the canola oil. Add onions and sweat for 4 to 5 minutes, the small size of all of the vegetables makes this cook really fast! Add garlic, ginger, and tofu and cook for another 6 to 7 minutes until the tofu starts to brown. Add the carrots, chard, soy sauce and pepper and cook until the greens are wilted, about 3 minutes. Set aside and let cool. You could totally do this a day in advance as well. When it has cooled enough to where you would be comfortable handling it, its time to make the won tons! Pile about 1 Tbsp. of filling in the center of the wrapper and apply egg white* to the edges, fold the skin over into a triangle, and press to seal. Make sure the edges are sealed and there is no filling sticking out or you will have exploding won tons, and that is no fun. Set aside, and keep making more! When you have finished, steam for 3 to 4 minutes and they are ready to go!

* Egg whites are totally optional in this recipe. They do make the finished product more sturdy and are a must if you were going to deep fry these, but for steaming water should hold up just fine.


Soup:
In each bowl: (our soup bowls are about 20 oz. so adjust accordingly)
2 Tbsp Miso Paste (We like mellow white.)
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp minced ginger

Bring a pot of water to a boil and turn off heat. You never want to boil your miso. After a few minutes add a cup or so of the water to eat bowl and whisk in the miso, soy, and ginger to incorporate. Add 1 bunch of roughly chopped pea shoots to the pot of water and stir to wilt, only takes about 1 to 2 minutes. While the greens are cooking place as many steamed dumplings as you want to eat in your bowl. Add the greens and liquid to fill your soup bowls, stir and eat!