FRIDAY FOOD THING
Potstickers — otherwise known as steamed dumplings — are one of my all-time favorite Asian dishes. I like them so much, they have become my benchmark for judging Asian restaurants: if a restaurant can’t make a decent steamed dumpling, forget about the rest of the menu. The steam dumplings you see to the left (served with sesame crackers) are some I made years ago while my friend, Rich, was visiting for a weekend of culinary invention and bliss. I will post a full version of this “Potsticker Afternoon” here on my blog in the near future.
Today’s Friday Food Thing, however, is about a commercial variety worth mentioning that recently showed up in my local grocery store’s frozen foods section, called “Pagoda Express Potstickers“. This particular Pagoda variety is pork; a chicken variety is also available.
The Pagoda Potstickers were delicious. However, the sauce was a disappointment, being just a simple packet of regular soy sauce. REAL potsticker sauce is a bit more intricate than that. Potsticker sauce recipes are way more creative and generally contain a mixture of soy sauce, sweet sauce, hot pepper, chopped chives or green onions, and sesame oil.
I was impressed with Pagoda Express pork Potstickers, and have every intention of trying their chicken variety.
Had to wait for your next post, as I couldn’t remember what your website was… to post my review. My husband agreed on the potstickers. He took a bite and immediately said “These are like what they are supposed to be like.” The crab rangoon on the other hand isn’t so good in my opinion. It really is more cream cheesey than anything else. Very little crab flavor of any kind. So not so good in my book and not worth trying.
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I now have a package of crab rangoon in my freezer. I think it will stay there for a while.
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I just found these at my grocery store too and picked up a box. They were on sale for $3 per box and I had a $1 coupon that doubled, so $1. Now I have to have an Asian food night soon. Not sure if I should do lo mein, or sweet and sour… I have chicken and pork that I can thaw… Decisions, decisions. I also picked up a box of the Pagoda crab rangoon as my son loves the stuff and I had more than one coupon. Can’t wait to try them. Thanks for the review and maybe I will look at those recipes for sauce that you mention too.
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I gotta admit I was eyeballing a box of the “Pagoda crab rangoon”, too. Although I’m not a fan of “A savory combination of cream cheese and crab meat make these PAGODA EXPRESS™ Crab Rangoons a treat to remember.” (the cream cheese part), I will most likely give in and try a package soon.
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