Pan-Fried Dumplings
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(sheng   jian)

This traditional northern dish is a popular breakfast food in Shanghai.  4 pieces sell for RMB 1.5 (US$ 0.18).  Dumplings cook in 8 minutes and customers line up waiting for a fresh batch, either to eat on the spot or to take home.
 

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Crescent moon-shaped dumplings, filled with ground pork, are lined up cheek-to-cheek in a shallow pan. Frying over high heat for 2 - 3 minutes first sears the bottom.  A dash of water is added and the pan is tightly covered to create steam.

Every few minutes the pan is rotated for even cooking.   Finally, a dash of MSG, chopped chives and black sesame seeds are sprinkled over the top, the cover is removed to finish browning the bottom of each dumpling.