Origins
Chinese dumplings are said to predate many other forms of dumplings yet the dish is also mentioned in texts from other places like Rome. A man named Zhang Zhongjian created dumplings in China during the Han Dynasty. His motivation for the dish was an observation that many of the people in his village were suffering from frostbite due to the long winter. Zhang wanted to help so he cooked a meat mixture with various healing herbs and wrapped the mix in pieces of dough to be boiled. The dumplings, or Jiaozi, were a big hit and have been served ever since. From this moment forward, dumplings can be seen as a way to stretch quantities of meat along with other ingredients to feed more people by mixing it with dough.
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Although chicken and dumplings in North America are not exactly the same as Chinese or other Asian dumplings, they originate from a similar humble beginning. Just as Zhang Zhongjian sought to warm his frostbitten neighbors, Americans during the Great Depression and also African American slaves throughout the Antebellum era wanted to cook for large numbers of people in need with the few ingredients and small quantities they had available. Chicken and dumplings was a relatively easy meal that could feed many mouths while using only several ingredients that were relatively easy to come by; these ingredients are flour, water, and chicken. We can see direct evidence of chicken and dumplings being a popular meal throughout the Civil War period in the US as The Diary of Carrie Berry mentions the meal as a dish often eaten when supplies were low and families had to cook together while men were at war.
In both China and North America, food quickly becomes a way for people to come together and share an experience. Dumplings provide warmth and nourishment while at the same time impacting social relationships and overall culture even if it was not intended. Asia and North America are not the only places that some form of dumpling can be found. Ravioli in Italy, spaatzl in Germany, and even arguably enchiladas in South America are all forms of dumplings. However, it is widely agreed that the dish originates in China. The video above explains a brief history of Chinese dumplings as well as a simple recipe.