After-Practice Recipe

Late Dinner Dumpling Soup

Frozen dumplings simmer straight into a gingery broth with greens, a slurpable, warming bowl that is ready in ten minutes from the freezer.

IngredientsTimingStoragedumplings
Comic-book style illustration of hungry kids coming home from practice to a fast hot dinner for Late Dinner Dumpling Soup.

Late dinner

A gingery dumpling soup that goes from freezer to bowl in ten minutes.

It is late and cold and you want something warm you can sip without much effort.

Frozen dumplings drop straight into simmering broth, the greens wilt in a minute, and a scatter of scallions finishes a bowl that soothes.

Ingredients

late dinner dumpling soup starts with the groceries below, plus a realistic 10 minutes to finish (plus earlier prep) window.

  • 20 frozen dumplings or potstickers
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups baby bok choy or spinach
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 3 scallions, sliced

How to Make It

Get late dinner dumpling soup hot, sorted, and ready before the kitchen fills with shoes and bags.

  • Bring the broth, soy sauce, and ginger to a boil in a pot.
  • Add the frozen dumplings and simmer 5 minutes until they float and are heated through.
  • Stir in the bok choy and cook 2 minutes until it wilts.
  • Turn off the heat and stir in the sesame oil.
  • Ladle into bowls and top with scallions.

Do the Slow Part Early

Measure the broth seasonings and prep the greens so the soup is a quick simmer.

  • Grate the ginger and slice the scallions in the morning
  • Wash and trim the bok choy ahead
  • Keep the dumplings frozen until they go in the pot

Store and Reheat

Store the dumplings and broth apart so the dumplings do not turn mushy overnight.

  • Reheat the broth to a simmer, then add the dumplings for 2 minutes
  • Microwave a full bowl 2 to 3 minutes if you stored it together
  • Keeps 2 days in the fridge
  • Serve with: steamed rice, sliced cucumber, a drizzle of chili crisp

Parent Tip

Do not thaw the dumplings first. They cook straight from frozen in the broth.

Make It Fit Tonight

Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land

Add an egg

Swirl a beaten egg into the simmering broth for ribbons.

Bulk it with noodles

Add a nest of ramen for a heartier bowl.

Use veggie dumplings

Keeps the whole soup meatless.

Add mushrooms

Sliced shiitake simmered in the broth add deep flavor.

Pack tomorrow's lunch

Pack hot broth and dumplings in a thermos.

Plan The Next Step

Stock the freezer for late nights

Use the planner to keep freezer-to-pot soups like this ready for the coldest, latest evenings.

Stock the freezer for late nights