Whereas it’s been round since 2018, I found Fly By Jing’s Sichuan Chili Crips earlier this year and haven’t seemed again — particularly at a life with out this completely scrumptious, mouth-watering scorching oil that’s full of taste and the proper quantity of warmth. The model additionally received me over with its mission to “shift tradition and reclaim the narrative on Chinese language meals,” as Fly By Jing founder Jing Gao instructed Underscored.
So I used to be completely intrigued when Fly By Jing introduced it was launching a brand new product class: ready-to-cook dumplings. It’s the corporate’s first foray into frozen meals, and whereas it initially appeared like fairly a leap from sauces and condiments, Gao says the choice was actually a no brainer.
“Dumplings are one of many first dishes I realized to make with my grandmother rising up, and I’ve since misplaced rely of what number of dumplings I’ve pleated and served through the years at my restaurant and pop up dinners,” she mentioned. “Because it occurs, we’ve heard from our clients that it’s additionally the dish they most regularly slather with our Sichuan Chili Crisp or Zhong Sauce.”
Forward, we dive into the dumplings, talk about whether or not they’re value their price ticket, and take a look at them out alongside Fly By Jing’s greatest selling-sauces.
Use code FBJCNN15 to take 15% off your order by way of Dec. 31.
In case you’re something like me, chances are high your freezer isn’t any stranger to frozen dumplings. They’re reliably scrumptious, comforting and tremendous simple to whip up for any meal of the day. So what’s totally different about Fly By Jing’s choices? To begin, these dumplings are “meticulously made with premium all-natural substances together with pork, shrimp, scallop, mushrooms and extra,” says Gao. Whereas the flavors are rooted in Sichuan custom, the dumplings are made in California and embrace USDA-certified pork and seafood.
Fly By Jing has launched three totally different selections: a pork soup dumpling; a pork, shrimp and mushroom dumpling; and a pork, shrimp and scallop dumpling. All three choices promise a savory, succulent, and tremendous easy-to-prep meal that’s bursting with taste and umami. “I made these for myself as a result of I couldn’t discover good high quality frozen dumplings on the market,” Gao mentioned.
You may get pleasure from these dumplings the best way you’d get pleasure from different dumplings — whether or not fried, boiled, steamed or in a soup. Decide to buy two baggage of 1 taste for $39.99, or get essentially the most bang on your buck once you buy six baggage (with the choice to decide on two totally different flavors) for $107.99. In case you’re used to generic grocery retailer dumpling costs, this may appear surprisingly steep, however the model claims greater costs are due to the standard substances.
I used to be in a position to check out all three flavors and pair them with a wide range of totally different sauces: some easy (simply soy sauce) and a few extra advanced — particularly Fly By Jing’s Sichuan Chili Crisp and Zhong Sauce. Whereas all the dumplings include pork, they every had completely distinctive, distinct flavors that had been extremely scrumptious and actually thrilling.
Probably the most simple of the choices are the pork soup dumplings. However don’t let that idiot you into considering they’re fundamental. Frozen soup dumplings, which boast the novelty of soup inside a dumpling, is usually a bit arduous to come back by. In brief, these had been simply as flavorful, scrumptious, savory and wealthy as those I usually get at a most well-known soup dumpling vacation spot in New York Metropolis. I steamed these (utilizing my Always Pan and Spruce Steamer) because it’s the beneficial preparation — which must be famous, is totally different from the opposite two flavors. The one shortcoming (and maybe it was within the preparation) was that they didn’t have fairly as a lot soup because the dumplings I’ve had at eating places, however there was positively sufficient to benefit from the full expertise that comes with consuming soup dumplings. What’s so significantly thrilling about these dumplings is that anybody can expertise top-tier restaurant high quality soup dumplings from your house, irrespective of the place you reside.
The 2 different flavors — the pork, shrimp and mushroom dumplings, together with the pork, shrimp and scallop dumplings — had been comparable in measurement and preparation strategies. They’re a bit smaller than most grocery retailer or restaurant dumplings, however the identical measurement as frozen dumplings I used to get at my native Chinese language grocery retailer, so I used to be conversant in the scale and form.
I ready each flavors boiled and fried. Boiling is one of the best ways to style the variations between the 2 flavors, and the distinctive parts of every. Frying the dumplings makes them much more decadent, extra wealthy and arguably extra scrumptious — this methodology ended up being the fan favourite methodology in my home. The pork, shrimp and scallop dumplings had been extremely wealthy and had such a satisfying seafood taste. There was bounciness from the shrimp, and it was total such a pleasure to eat as a seafood lover. It was a taste that I’ve positively by no means skilled in a frozen dumpling, and extra like one thing that I might anticipate to have at a high-end Chinese language restaurant. The pork, shrimp and mushroom dumplings had been extra acquainted, however nonetheless advanced in taste. There was a richness and earthiness to them that was so scrumptious and distinctive, and I feel anybody who likes pork dumplings would actually get pleasure from these.
And in the case of sauces, “If these dumplings are a canvas, then dipping sauces are the paint,” Gao says. “We embrace recipes for a couple of of my favourite dipping sauces, however the sky’s the restrict…. My go-to dipping sauce is a French dressing made with Sichuan Chili Crisp, black vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and sugar, or simply our Zhong Sauce,” she mentioned. “The dumplings are so good although which you could even eat them on their very own.”
In case you haven’t tried both of the sauces, we’d extremely suggest including one (or each) to your order of dumplings. The Sichuan Chili Crisp ($15; flybyjing.com) is scrumptious by itself or blended with soy sauce, as Gao recommends. Whereas it’s nice with these dumplings, it’s additionally scrumptious in stir frys and on a regular basis dinners that you should boost. It’s additionally the primary and solely 100% all-natural Sichuan chili sauce obtainable in the marketplace. The Zhong Sauce ($15; flybyjing.com) can also be spicy, however sweeter, just a little bit funkier and tremendous umami. It’s really impressed by the favored, basic Chengdu road snack Zhong Dumplings, so in fact it goes completely with these dumplings. I additionally like to apply it to veggie and tofu so as to add some richness to a dish.
Lastly, there’s one final merchandise we have now to offer a particular shoutout to: The Sichuan Salsero Set ($45; flybyjing.com). In case you’re choosing up one in all these sauces (and significantly if you happen to’re gifting it to somebody) — these spoons are extremely helpful and fantastically designed. They make it simple to scoop and drizzle the sauces everytime you’d like (no must screw a lid on or off) and the Guamuchil wooden can stand up to oils with none points, so you possibly can simply depart it within the jar. The sphere, which features as each a lid and because the spoon’s deal with, is on the market in rouge, jade marble or onyx rock, every with its personal distinctive coloration and sample. It’s a complete recreation changer if you happen to use these sauces on the every day (which you’ll wish to do when you strive them).
In brief, these dumplings are extremely scrumptious. The prioritization of high-quality substances is completely obvious, and the flavour of those are higher than many dumplings I’ve had at eating places. Actually, they rise up towards high-end, standard Dim Sum eating places in New York Metropolis. In case you haven’t but skilled dim-sum restaurant stage dumplings, these are an ideal entry level. You’re getting the flavour, steadiness, and expertise of one thing that no one might ever guess was sitting in your freezer.
Whereas they aren’t low-cost, you’re positively getting what you pay for, although they might not be proper if you happen to’re searching for the most cost effective frozen meals choice to preserve readily available. (Don’t overlook to make use of code FBJCNN15 to take 15% off your order by way of Dec. 31.)
As for the way properly the dumplings work alongside Fly By Jing’s current product line, this product simply is sensible coming from the model. From the sauces we talked about to merchandise like a spicy and tingly hot pot base and a 10-year aged black vinegar, all the pieces works to make incredible-tasting meals one thing you possibly can entry by opening your pantry (or freezer).
“We wish to make flavorful, high-quality Chinese language meals accessible, handy, and prepared if you find yourself,” Gao says. “Frozen dumplings are our first step in that route, however keep tuned as there’s far more to come back.”
