Description
At its core, the French Onion Soup Dumplings recipe is a creative take on the Chinese Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumpling. Traditionally, Xiao Long Bao is filled with pork and a gelatinized broth that melts into a hot liquid when steamed. This version replaces the traditional pork filling with the iconic components of French onion soup: slowly caramelized onions, rich beef stock, and nutty Gruyere cheese.
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 2 large onions (thinly sliced)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
- ½ cup shredded Gruyère cheese (or Swiss)
For the soup gelatin (key step!):
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1½ tsp gelatin powder
For the dumplings:
- Round dumpling wrappers (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
🥣 Step 1: Make the Soup Gelatin
- Heat 1 cup beef broth until warm (not boiling).
- Sprinkle gelatin over it and stir until dissolved.
- Pour into a shallow dish and refrigerate ~1 hour until firm.
- Cut into small cubes.
👉 This is what melts inside and creates the “soup” effect.
🍳 Step 2: Caramelize the Onions
- Heat butter + olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat.
- Add onions, sugar, and salt.
- Cook slowly (25–30 min), stirring often, until deep golden brown.
- Add garlic and cook 1–2 min more.
- Pour in ½ cup broth and thyme; simmer until most liquid is gone.
- Let cool completely.
🥟 Step 3: Make the Filling
- Mix caramelized onions with cheese.
- Gently fold in the gelatin cubes.
🥟 Step 4: Assemble Dumplings
- Place 1 wrapper in your palm.
- Add about 1 tbsp filling.
- Pleat and seal tightly (important to prevent leaks).
♨️ Step 5: Steam
- Line a steamer with parchment or cabbage leaves.
- Place dumplings spaced apart.
- Steam for 8–10 minutes.
Notes
The key to this dish is patience—slowly caramelized onions and a well-set broth gelatin create that signature burst of soup inside each dumpling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 dumplings
- Calories: ~220 kcal
Keywords: French onion potstickers, caramelized onion soup dumplings, onion soup dumplings, cheesy beef broth dumplings, fusion soup dumplings