Pot stickers make great party food.
Asian cuisines include a wide variety of finger foods that are ideal for parties. The diversity of Asian food styles and ingredients offer options that also lend themselves to attractive displays. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Spring Rolls
Thai spring rolls, or fresh rolls, are made from wide, flat noodles wrapped around fillings of rice noodles, vegetables, shrimp, pork or tofu. You can purchase the wrappers in Asian groceries and some mainstream supermarkets. To assemble the rolls, dip each rice paper wrapper in water and spread them out in front of you on a work surface. Place spoonfuls of each of the fillings in the center of the wrapper, taking care not to use so much that it will be difficult to assemble. Fold the bottom of the wrapper up towards the center and fold the sides partially towards the middle, and then continue rolling from the bottom to the top. The rice paper is sticky enough that the roll will hold together on its own. Refrigerate and then serve with a sweet chili dipping sauce.
Sushi
Sushi makes a great party food because it is colorful, festive and lends itself to a considerable amount of variety. Sushi is traditionally made with raw fish, but you can fill it with anything from smoked salmon to seasonal vegetables. Cook rice in advance, seasoning it with salt, sugar and rice vinegar. Use a sushi mat if you have one to create smooth, even rolls. Lay a sheet of nori, or toasted seaweed, horizontally on the mat starting about an inch from the lower edge and spreading it about two thirds of the way up to the top. Lay your filling ingredients in a neat line down the center of the rice layer, and then roll the nori around the filling from the bottom to the top, sealing the roll with a bit of soy sauce. Slice the rolls into bite-size pieces and serve them with wasabi horseradish and pickled ginger.
Pot Stickers
Pot stickers are Chinese dumplings that are traditionally filled with pork or vegetables. The wrappers are made from wheat flour and are usually about the same diameter as a baseball. Prepare a filling from meat or vegetables. Place a spoonful of the filling in the center of each wrapper, spread a bit of water around the edge of the wrapper, and then press the edges together to seal it. Pan fry the pot stickers for a minute or two, and then add a cup of water to the pan, cover it, and cook for about five minutes until the water is absorbed. Serve with a dip made from soy sauce, rice vinegar and toasted sesame oil.
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