Spinach and Mushrooms with Cheese Dumplings are an unusual and super flavorful vegetarian entrée.
Robert and I are trying to eat healthier, which often includes a light vegetarian entrée, like this recipe for Spinach and Mushrooms with Cheese Dumplings. Cubes of cheese are encased in wonton wrappers, briefly boiled then sautéed in soy sauce and served over a bed of spinach, mushrooms and carrots that have been sautéed in sesame oil. Sometimes I also add in brown rice. Virtually any type of medium to hard cheese will work in this recipe. I have used everything from brie to Fontina to Asiago, and they were all delicious! Note that with softer cheeses, it’s easier to cut into cubes when the cheese is cold.
Print
Spinach and Mushrooms with Cheese Dumplings
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
24 wonton wrappers
12 cubes cheese (about 1/2 inch each) – can use any medium to hard cheese
1 teaspoon light sesame oil
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 1/4 cups thinly sliced carrots
1/3 cup chopped green onions
4 ounces mushroom caps, sliced (can use shitake, Portobello, button or a mixture)
6 cups fresh spinach leaves
3 tablespoons soy sauce, divided
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- First, make the dumplings: Place 1 wonton wrapper on work surface. Place a second wrapper on top, at a 1/4 turn, to make a star pattern. Put 1 cheese cube in the middle:
Moisten wontons all around cheese with water and fold up, bringing edges together and pressing to seal just above the cheese. The edges should look sort of ruffled, like a paper bag that has been gathered in the middle: 
Repeat with remaining wrappers and cheese. - Bring 2 quarts water to a boil, add half of dumplings and cook, boiling, for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Repeat with second half of dumplings.
- For the mushrooms and spinach: Coat a large nonstick skillet with grapeseed oil spray, add sesame oil and heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add garlic, carrots and green onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender. Stir in spinach, cover and cook 1 to 2 minutes or until spinach wilts. Toss with 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, remove from heat and keep warm.
- In the same skillet, arrange dumplings in a single layer. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce with 3 tablespoons water and pour over top. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-high and cook, uncovered, turning the dumpling periodically to cook on all sides. Cook until most all of the liquid has evaporated, around 2 to 3 minutes.
- Spoon spinach mixture onto individual dinner plates, top with dumplings and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Moisten wontons all around cheese with water and fold up, bringing edges together and pressing to seal just above the cheese. The edges should look sort of ruffled, like a paper bag that has been gathered in the middle: 
Repeat with remaining wrappers and cheese.- Category: Vegetarian main
