Fallback Meal- I don’t have time to make freaking dinner so we need a fallback meal that tastes good, doesn’t take too much effort, & that I can keep on hand.
If you are anything like us then you likely have Fallback meals… See above? A Fallback Meal! I’ve used that term for a long time because this happens frequently for us (okay, for me since I’m the one who cooks) & today I’m going to share one of my favorite meals with you using Trader Joe’s brand Chicken Gyoza Potstickers. (Other great options are pre-made & ready pizza crusts, frozen lasagna, & frozen enchiladas! Let me know if you’re interested in any of those! Keep reading to see our go-to Teriyaki Chicken Potstickers for busy nights & other bloggers fallback meals!
First off, let’s knock out a basic teriyaki recipe. I like this one here from Food Network, basic & to the point. Add in some green onions, extra ginger, lemongrass, etc. & you have a customized blend. Really short on time? A low sodium option from the market is nothing to shrug at, there’s a reason people buy them for marinades & such!
The reason we like the Trader Joe’s Chicken Gyoza Potstickers are pretty basic- they’re frozen, I can toss them in soup when I’m sick, I can fry them up, I can steam them, they can be an appetizer, they are a nice size & very filling….there’s more but I will likely start to repeat myself. They’re also very reasonably priced at our local Trader Joe’s. Can you make your own? Of course! & freeze them? Sure! & I plan to. But when you need them, they’re there. Plus they have two other options- shrimp & pork in case chicken isn’t your thing. They likely have a vegetarian option as well.
Filling for the Trader Joe’s Chicken Gyoza Potstickers : boneless chicken, cabbage, onion, soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat, salt), sesame seed oil, tapicoa starch, salt, sugar, ginger powder, white pepper, garlic powder and black pepper. dough: bleached enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, tapioca starch, salt, soybean oil.
All you need for this meal is potstickers, sauce, rice, toasted sesame seeds, & a veggie. I sometimes make mine on the side like I did this night, roasted green beans in the oven while I fried the potstickers in my non-stick wok. A regular pan works too though, no need to get fancy.
I like to heat up my oil of choice on med-high heat (sometimes just regular ol’ oil & sometimes Asian inspired or with a touch of chile) until popping & then add the wontons/potstickers/gyoza to the hot pan carefully on one flat side. You want enough oil to coat the entire base of the pan, don’t be stingy. Cook until browned on the first side then add a few tablespoons to 1/2 cup water or stock (depending on pan size) & top with a tight lid. This will steam them the rest of the way through. Serve hot. I cook mine straight from the freezer, for shorter cook time you can thaw beforehand or use fresh ones.
What is your favorite fallback meal? Have anything you want to see up on the blog? Any favorite potsticker/gyoza/dumpling recipes I need to try out? Would love to hear them! Also don’t forget to figure out the other fabulous ideas below from other bloggers & their fallback meals!
