TF's & MY's Shu Mai Dumplings

Ingredients for the shrimp filling:
1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined
1/2 pound ground pork
1 green onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, grated
2 egg whites
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 T low sodium soy sauce, plus some for dipping
1 T sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 (10-ounce) package round wonton wrappers

canola oil, for brushing the steamer

savoy cabbage, for lining the steamer, optional

arugula, for garnish

Preparing the shrimp filling:
Pulse all the ingredients in a food processor until partly smooth but not completely pureed. It should have a little texture. Season with salt and pepper.

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Assembling the dumplings:
Hold a wonton wrapper in your hand. Dip a spoon in cold water and then drop 1 tablespoon of the filling onto the center of a wrapper (dipping the spoon in cold water first will make the filling come off easier). Gather the edges of the wrapper up around the filling and squeeze the sides slightly with your fingers. The sides will naturally pleat, leaving the filling slightly exposed. Tap the dumpling on the table so the bottom is flat and it stands upright. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling. (You can freeze the leftover filling for 2 or 3 weeks.)

Lightly oil the bottom of a 10-inch bamboo steamer and line it with the whole cabbage leaves. Stand the dumplings in the steamer in a single layer and don't let them touch. You should be able to get 12 shu mai in the steamer at a time. Bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil in a pot. Set the bamboo steamer over the pot, then cover it with the bamboo lid. Steam for 10 to 12 minutes or until the filling feels firm and is cooked through. Serve with arugula, soy sauce and/or duk sauce (or if you don't want to spend the time and can't find a good quality commercial duk sauce, I mix together some orange marmalade, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, a pinch of salt and a few drops of toasted sesame oil (play with the ratio to suit your taste).

Makes 36 dumplings