Dumplings in Crispy Cheese Skirt in 15 min
After seeing this dumplings in cheese skirt recipes on Tik Tok, we just had to try it. We were floored that something so simple and delicious could flew by our radar. Dumplings are one of our favorite meals and making them in a crispy cheese bark base is new to us, but forever on our menu. We love these gyoza/potsticker cheese skirts.
What is a Dumpling Skirt? or Dumpling Lace? or Dumpling Wings?
Traditionally, some pan fried dumplings or potstickers are cooked on top of a crispy, super thin batter. This simple batter can be made with a flour mixture or some sort of cornstarch slurry. When the light batter is poured on the hot skillet, crispy magic is made. This light and flaky thin base adds another wonderful layer of crisp texture to the dumplings. The dumpling lace or skirt or wings not only connects the dumplings as one beautiful unit, but when you crack through the skirt or lace each dumpling has a wonderful crispy base.
What is a Dumpling Cheese Skirt? Or Cheese Bark?
The crispy skirt is now made of cheese! That’s what the cheese skirt is and we’ve dubbed it as the cheese bark. This super savory and crunchy dumpling cheese skirt takes the dish over the top. It’s a modern way of enjoying dumplings, gyoza or any type of pan fried wonton to new levels of tasti-ness. We like to think of it as a cheese bark like a toffee/chocolate bark, but deliciously savory. This crispy layer of crunchy cheese bark is thicker than the traditional skirt lace or wings. Call it whatever you want. We call it cheesy crunchy goodness to modernize the traditional gyoza, dumplings or potstickers. It’s hard to not love dumplings and here’s a good article on history of dumplings.
Video: Dumplings in Crispy Cheese Skirt or Cheese Bark
Best Cheese for Making Crispy Cheese Skirts or Cheese Bark
With so many types of cheeses, there’s many possibilities for making this awesome crunchy cheese base for dumplings. Some cheese works better than others. Here’s the short list of cheeses that we know for sure work:
- Sharp Cheddar: We like to use simple grated sharp cheddar. Not only is sharp cheddar flavorful, it makes a great crunchy skirt and it’s readily available. What about mild cheddar cheese? Sure, you can use that too.
- Parmesan Cheese works great and has an awesome flavor.
- Spicy jack for you spicy lovers. If you want to add a great layer of jalapeno heat, sure spicy jack cheese!
- Colby jack also melts and crisps up nicely.
- Any other cheese that works you’ve tried and works as a cheese bark or skirt? Let us know in the comments below!
What Type of Dumplings? Frozen. Let’s not judge.
We have no problem using frozen dumplings because there are so many amazing brands out there. We’ve tried so many and even the basic brands are not bad. Frozen dumplings come in so many different flavors and styles. It’s the perfect quick dinner, lunch or snack. Seriously, let’s not judge frozen dumplings. The quality for many of them are amazing and for the price, you can’t beat it. Also, it literally only takes 10-15 minutes to whip this dish up. If you have time to make fresh dumplings, then go for it! But after a long day of work, we don’t want to go through the process of making dumplings from scratch. Quality frozen dumplings are amazing.
Tips on How to Make Dumplings in Cheese Skirt
- We love using freshly grated cheese from the block. The flavors of the cheese are better and they melt more evenly because they’re not pre-coated in a flour dusting. Sometimes pre-grated cheese is coated in a powder to keep them from sticking together. This often will keep the cheese from melting together evenly.
- Use a quality non-stick pan. This makes a big difference in getting the cheese to release. Don’t use a fancy copper pan or stainless steel pan. The cheese might not slide off the pan and you’ll have a broken mess of cheese bits everywhere.
- Some recipes say to use oil on the pan, then adding water when making the cheese skirt. We didn’t have a need to do that. Just add the cheese to the hot non-stick pan and it melts, then becomes crispy perfectly! No need for extra steps with oil or water.
- All dumplings in cheese skirt recipe details are in the recipe box below. With step-by-step images too!
Dumplings in Crispy Cheese Skirt
Ingredients
- 5-6 frozen dumplings , potstickers, wontons or gyoza (cooked to package instructions)
- 1/4 cup (30 g) shredded cheddar cheese , parmesan, or jack cheese
- 2 Tablespoons (60 g) chili crisp or spicy wonton sauce
Instructions
- Cook the dumplings to package instructions (pan fry, steam, boil, or microwave – depends on particular dumpling type and your preference).
- If you pan seared the dumplings on a non-stick pan, wipe the pan dry. Heat the non-stick pan on medium heat-high heat.
- Add shredded cheese to the pan in the shape of a big circle large enough to fit a spread of the dumplings.
- Place cooked dumplings on the cheese.
- Cook the cheese until it melts and starts to crisp on the edges.
- Use a silicone spatula to help release the cheese from the pan. Slide the cheese bark on a plate and allow to cool.
- Break the cheese bark apart between the dumplings.
- Dip in your favorite sauce.
Video
Nutrition Information per Serving
How to store leftover dumplings in crispy cheese bark
Seriously, you have leftovers? These are so good and hard to not inhale in one sitting. But if you do have leftovers, store then in the fridge for about 2 days. Then when ready to eat again warm them on low heat on the non-stick pan, cheese side down. That way you can get the cheese crispy again. Don’t freeze them. They’ll taste terrible when thawed. Don’t do it.
Best Chili Crisp or Chili Crunch for Dumplings
There’s lots of options out there. We have a homemade chili crunch recipe if you want to customize your own flavors. It’s super easy to make and fun to share. Dip your dumpling or gyoza cheese skirt in the sauce and you’re ready to party! For prepared chili crunch here’s some of our favorite brands:
More Easy Recipes:
- baked goat and ricotta cheese dip with cherry tomatoes
- jalapeno cheddar stuffed burgers
- what is vietnamese saigon cinnamon?
- dark chocolate almond bark
- baked sweet pea pot stickers
- hope you enjoy this dumpling or gyoza cheese skirt recipe.
This was such a cool recipe. And it’s so good as well. Really loving this.