dumpling Salad with Chili Oil🥟🥗

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🥟 Dumpling Salad with Chili Oil

A refreshing twist on a favorite comfort food

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We all love dumplingsl! However, they can sometimes feel a bit heavy on their own. That's why I started pairing them with crisp vegetables and a tangy dressing, turning them into a light and balanced dumpling salad. 😋

This is similar to the “bibim mandu” you might know from Korean cuisine, where dumplings are combined with a spicy-sour sauce. But today's version offers a flavorful twist—with a simple homemade chili oil, fresh scallions, and cilantro to enhance the taste.

🌶 Let’s talk about that chili oil...

This chili oil recipe is a simpler version of the widely popular one gaining fame in the U.S. Traditional recipes often include ingredients like star anise and Sichuan peppercorns, but mine is much easier to make without losing any flavor. It’s bold, aromatic, and surprisingly addictive.

And the best part? It complements everything: on fried eggs 🍳, in spicy noodles 🍜, over soft tofu, or even mixed into soups. Once you try it, you’ll want to keep a jar in your fridge at all times.

Let’s make it together—it’s easier than you think!

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🛒 Ingredients

For the Chili Oil

• Avocado oil (or any neutral oil)

• Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru)

• Sesame seeds

• Scallions (chopped)

• Crispy onion flakes

• Garlic (sliced or minced)

• Fresh ginger (sliced or grated)

• Salt

• Optional: soy sauce, vinegar

  
  

For the Salad

• Dumplings

• Cherry tomatoes (halved)

• Scallions (thinly sliced)

• Fresh cilantro

• Crushed peanuts

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe

1. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half.

   Use the plastic container top trick to cut a bunch at once—quick and easy!

1. 

   Cutting cherry tomatoes one by one can be such a hassle—right? 😅 This trick makes it so much faster.

   

   Perfectly sliced—so satisfying! 😄

   2. Roughly chop the cilantro into 1 cm pieces.If the stems are tough, trim them off. If they’re tender, feel free to use the whole thing.

   
   

   3. Thinly slice the scallions lengthwise (or use onion as a substitute).Soak the slices in ice water for about 5-10 minutes—this will help the ends curl beautifully for extra texture and visual appeal.

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   Slice the green onion thinly lengthwise and soak them in ice water.

   

   After 5-10 minutes, the ends will curl up just like this—it adds such a nice touch!

   
   

   4. Roughly chop the peanuts

   Use a knife for rough chop—just enough to keep that satisfying crunch in every bite.

5. Make the Chili Oil (This recipe makes a generous amount—great on noodles, tofu, fried egg or pretty much anything!)

**Make sure to use oven safe bowl !

5. combine:

   • 1 tbsp Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru)

   • 1 tbsp sesame seeds

   • 1 tbsp minced garlic

   • 1 tsp grated ginger

   • 1 tbsp crispy onion flakes (optional)

   • 1 tsp salt

   • A big handful of chopped scallions

     
     

6. Heat 1 cup of avocado oil over medium heat.

   📍 Be sure to keep it at medium—high heat can cause the oil to oxidize and lose its flavor.

   
   

7. When the oil reaches 330°F (165°C)—or when bubbles appear around a wooden chopstick placed in it—turn off the heat.

8. 

   

   Heat the oil until you see bubbles form around a wooden chopstick or utensil dipped into it—just like this.

9. Slowly pour the hot oil over the seasoning mix. Make sure to use a oven-safe bowl, as the hot oil can crack regular bowls and may cause burns.

   

10. Gently stir everything to mix. You can tweak the flavor by adding a bit more salt, vinegar, or soy sauce to taste.

    

    It’s similar to a Korean-style seasoning sauce, but thanks to the hot oil, the flavor becomes deeper and more intense.

11. Place the thawed dumplings in your air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Lightly spray them with oil and gently toss to ensure they are evenly coated on all sides.

    
    

    📍 This method requires minimal oil yet results in ultra-crispy dumplings!

    It's extremely easy and mess-free. 😄

    📍 Ensure that the dumplings are thawed. If necessary, you can quickly microwave them.

    

    These mini dumplings are from Costco—they’re bite-sized, and once crisped up, they’re almost like dumpling popcorn!

12. Cook in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 13 minutes. Achieve a perfectly golden and crispy result!

13. In a large bowl, mix the cherry tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, chopped peanuts, crispy dumplings, and several spoonfuls of chili oil. Add a splash of vinegar for extra brightness, and you’re finished!