Dumplings: Little bites. Big opportunities.

April 2023
Written in partnership with Informa

Despite their small size, dumplings are quickly becoming a huge hit. Restaurants from coast to coast are experimenting with exciting, unique applications, and diners are eating it up. Datassential reports that 60% of U.S. consumers are currently in love or “in like” with dumplings. Not only that, 43% say they want them on more menus. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing.

“Dumplings are everywhere,” reports Craig Claude, corporate chef and culinary services manager for Schwan’s Food Service. “From appetizers and sides to mains and grab-and-go — we’re even seeing dumpling bars and new restaurant concepts.”

This surge in popularity makes it a perfect time to get in on the trend. People are always up for trying new and exciting flavors, and dumplings make it easy to get creative. But more importantly, they’re simple and versatile enough to fit on any menu for any operation — no matter your familiarity with Asian cuisine. Read on to learn everything you need to know to serve them up and draw more customers in.

But First: What are Dumplings?

In broad terms, the concept of a dumpling is quite simple. It’s any small amount of dough, wrapped around a filling and then steamed, boiled or fried. These tasty little bites originated in China and have been around for more than 2000 years, which is further testament to their popularity.

When it comes to flavor, dumplings can be savory, sweet and everything in between. There are endless opportunities to get creative with fillings and sauces, ranging from familiar favorites to the totally unexpected.

“Sweet and heat is a trending flavor right now,” says Claude. To keep things simple, he suggests pairing them with sauces for an endlessly customizable take on traditional flavors. But that’s just the start.

5 Ways to Menu Dumplings with Ease

If you want to put dumplings on the menu as quickly and easily as possible, choosing a prepared option is the way to go — especially since nowadays you don’t have to sacrifice quality to enjoy all the benefits. CHEF ONE^® Dumplings, for example, deliver all the flexibility you’d want along with the finger-food fun customers love. Plus, as food prices continue to rise sharply, they won’t just save you time — they’ll save your bottom line. Here’s how you can use them across the menu:

1. Add Them as an App: Small plates and shareables are continuing to grow in popularity, so get creative. Deep fry CHEF ONE^® Chicken and Vegetable Dumplings, toss them in a buffalo sauce and serve them with traditional blue cheese dressing and celery sticks. Another popular option, says Claude, is to pan-fry pork and vegetable dumplings, toss them in BBQ sauce and serve them with a side of slaw and pickled red onions.
2. Downsize to Sides: By adjusting a serving from eight dumplings to three, you can turn a popular appetizer into a delicious side dish with ease. Along with an Asian-inspired sauce like Sweet & Sour or Teriyaki, they make a quick and easy side to salads and sandwiches or an exciting element of a combo meal.
3. Make a Mighty Main Dish. Making entrées from scratch is tasty but also time-consuming. Prepared dumplings save you time and labor without sacrificing quality, variety or value. Think Chicken Dumpling Soup, which you can make even simpler with pre-prepared chicken stock seasoned with fresh green onions and garlic. Or a Warm Dumpling Salad, featuring chicken and lemongrass dumplings in a Szechwan sauce served atop greens.
4. Grab + Go, Go, Go. College and university operators are seeing increased sales at grab-and-go kiosks, but like everyone, they need fresh and exciting fare to keep their customers lining up. One solution they’ve found is to package steamed dumplings with a packet or a cup of sauce, to give customers a unique and flavorful option they can eat anywhere. Even better, dumplings can be steamed in large batches in advance — which cuts down on labor — and held in the refrigerator for up to three days, so they don’t have to be made daily.
5. Raise the (Dumpling) Bar. Consumers continue to crave personalization in everything. A Dumpling Bar is an easy way to let diners have it their way. First, you simply prepare an assortment of dumplings (like pork and vegetable, chicken teriyaki, chicken and vegetable). Then you pair them with a selection of sauces (say Asian favorites like teriyaki garlic or even fresh takes on classics, like jalapeno ranch). Finally, you provide a choice of extras, such as steamed broccoli, Mandarin orange slices, or spicy cucumber salad and pickles, to let customers build their own perfect meal.

If you want to make the most of this latest trend, CHEF ONE^® Dumplings can fit seamlessly into many noncommercial operations. From college and university dining with all-you-can-eat service to a healthcare operation with a high-traffic cafeteria-style line in need of quick-cook items. These delicious and savory dumplings will not only cut back on labor and boost profits, they’re exactly what your diners crave.

For more information, visit https://www.schwansfoodservice.com/foodservice-justdumpling/