There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of biting into a delicious dumpling.
From the tender dough to the savory taste, dumplings are simply irresistible.
But what do you do when you have the leftover dough?
Here are some ideas to help you make the most of your dumpling dough.
Italian ravioli
Making Italian ravioli with your leftover dumpling dough is surprisingly easy.
All you need to do is roll out the dough, spread it with some pesto or tomato sauce, and top it with your favorite cores.
I like to make mine with mushroom, ham, and ricotta cheese – but you can use whatever you’d like.
In addition, you can also use dumpling dough as a substitute for Italian pasta.
Simply roll the dough as thin as possible, slice it into ribbons, and cook them up as you would with any fresh pasta.
Chicken pot pie
Leftover dumplings make great chicken pot pies.
Just separate your leftover dumpling dough into individual portions and place them in the bottom of a casserole dish.
Next, add your chicken and vegetables, and pour some cream over top.
Finally, bake until the dough is fully cooked and golden brown.
For added flavor, you can also use fresh dumplings in place of pie crust when making a chicken pot pie with frozen ones.
Borek
Borek is an absolutely delicious Turkish dish made of thin pastry dough.
Making it is surprisingly simple, and the perfect way to use up extra dumpling dough.
Whenever I make borek, I like to stuff mine with some garlic-spiced ground beef, feta cheese, and onion.
Drizzle your borek with some olive oil, and bake until it’s golden brown.
Potstickers
Potstickers are a classic dumpling made by pan-frying the dough after steaming.
They’re very easy to transfer from freezer to stove – making them great for last-minute snacks.
Simply fill your potstickers with whatever you’d like, cover them with plastic wrap, and freeze them.
Once you’re ready to eat, simply transfer your frozen potstickers from the freezer to the skillet and cook until lightly browned on both sides.
Sweet dumplings
Leftover dumplings make great sweet treats, too.
You can use them in place of tortillas or crepes in any dessert recipe that calls for these types of dough.
You can also use your leftover dumpling dough to make puffy apple pastries by rolling them into thin layers and adding some sliced apples, cinnamon, and sugar.
Fried dumplings
Another great way of using leftover dumpling dough is by frying them.
Simply take a few portions of your leftover dough, roll them out as thinly as possible, and fry them up in some oil until they’re golden brown.
You can use this fried dough for all sorts of things – like churros or French toast.
Dumpling soup
Last but not least, you can even use leftover dough to make dumpling soup.
Just take a few portions of your leftovers and add them into a pot of boiling water or chicken broth along with some vegetables.
Cook until everything is fully cooked through, remove from heat, and serve up.
Indian samosas
One of my favorite Indian snacks is samosas – and you can make them with dumpling dough as well.
Simply take your leftover dough and roll it into thin circles.
Place foods on one end, fold the other over and seal it shut using a bit of water.
Fry until golden brown, and enjoy.
How do you store leftover dumpling dough?
If you have plastic wrap, you can wrap the dough in it.
If you have a resealable plastic bag, that will work too.
Let the dough rest for at least 15 minutes and up to 3 hours.
You can make wrappers or refrigerate the dough for 2 days at most.
Can you freeze leftover dumpling dough?
Yes, you can freeze leftover dumpling dough.
Most dumpling recipes freeze well and the leavening will still work fine when the dumplings are cooked.
If you need to, you can cook the frozen dumplings, but they will take a little longer – about 5 more minutes. (source)
Can you make dumplings and keep them in the fridge?
No, you should not refrigerate uncooked dumplings.
The inner parts are usually moist and when you refrigerate them, the moisture will make the dumpling skins turn soggy.
The best thing to do is freeze them.
How long can I keep dumplings in my fridge?
If you have leftover cooked dumplings, they can last in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
Make sure to eat them within that time period.
How long can you freeze dumpling dough?
You can freeze dumpling dough for up to three months.
Can I freeze flour dumplings?
Yes, you can freeze flour dumplings.
Freeze them on a tray until they are solid, then put them in a freezer bag.
They will be good for up to two months. (source)
How do you reheat dumplings?
First, preheat the oven to 390 degrees F.
Then, use a baking pan with foil and place the dumplings on it.
Reheat the dumplings until they are warm.
Check to see if they are warm all the way through.
If not, bake them again for another minute or two (source)
Can you freeze suet dumpling dough?
Yes, frozen suet dumplings will last for about 6 months.
However, they need to be uncooked before freezing.
This way, you can cook them into your stew later on.
How long will chicken and dumplings last in the refrigerator?
You can store Chicken and Dumplings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Are wonton wrappers the same as dumpling wrappers?
No, they’re not the same.
But you can use wonton wrappers as a substitute for dumpling wrappers.
Wonton wrappers are thicker than dumpling wrappers, but they will still work. (source)
Can you refreeze dumpling wrappers?
If you have leftover wrappers, you can freeze them, refrigerate them for a couple of days, or reuse them.
If you don’t think you will use them, it is best to freeze them for your next wonton recipe.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many things you can do with leftover dumpling dough – and I encourage you to try making your own.
Once you realize how versatile it is, you’ll never want to waste another piece again.