Pyeonsu(편수) is a traditional wheat flour dumpling made in central Korea. It is typically made with vegetables like aehobak in summer and wrapped in a square shape. Tofu, bean sprouts, mushroom, meat, ground sesame seeds, and even oyster can be added. Sometimes a few pine nuts can be added to each dumpling.

Pyeonsu is a famous dish in Kaesong(개성), a historic Korean capital city close to the southern border of North Korea. Kaesong is one of the first places in Korea where wheat was widely used for dumplings, so pyeonsu has a long tradition there, though today it is not as widespread as other varieties of dumplings.

Aehobak(애호박) is a Korean green summer squash. Although it is more closely related to pumpkins like calabaza and butternut squash, its appearance and usage are similar to zucchini, and zucchini is often used as a substitute.

Pyeonsu can be served freshly cooked or cold. It is typically served with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce and rice vinegar.

Dumpling Wrapper(만두피) Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cup all-purpose wheat flour
• ½ tsp salt (optional)
• ¾ – 1 cup water

Directions

• combine flour, salt
• gradually mix in water until combined into dough
• let dough rest 5 minutes
• knead
• let dough rest 30 minutes
• divide into 1″ diameter balls
• coat with flour
• flatten each ball into 4″ disk
• use immediately for pyeonsu or store in refrigerator

Summer Squash Filling Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 aehobak(애호박), sliced and cut into thin strips [substitute zucchini]
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 fresh or rehydrated shiitake, chopped
• ½ cup soybean sprout (optional)
• 1 tsp sesame oil

Directions

• combine aehobak, salt
• let sit until softened, about 10 minutes
• rinse and drain
• mash tofu
• mix in aehobak, shiitake, bean sprout, sesame oil
• use or store

Basic Filling Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cup extra firm tofu, well-drained
• 1 cup fresh or rehydrated shiitake, chopped
• 1 cup soybean sprout (optional)
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp sesame oil

Directions

• mash tofu
• mix in shiitake, bean sprout, salt, sesame oil
• use or store

Pyeonsu(편수) Recipe

Ingredients

• 30 – 40 dumpling wrapper
• 4 cup filling

Directions

• add filling to wrapper
• bring 4 opposite sides or corners together around filling and press edges together tightly to close
• steam 5 to 20 minutes
• let cool
• serve

Vinegar Soy Sauce(초간장) Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 – 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp water (optional)
• 1 tbsp piece ginger, minced (optional)
• 1 scallion, finely chopped (optional)
• 1 asian chive, finely chopped (optional)
• ½ tsp sesame oil (optional)
• 1 – 2 tsp sesame seed (optional)
• ½ tsp gochugaru (optional)

Directions

• combine all ingredients
• serve