Preparation

Make the dough

• Sift the flour into a bowl. Gradually add 1/2 cup cold water, mixing with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and springy, about 5 minutes. If the dough feels stiff as you work, add a little more water 1 Tbs. at a time, but don’t exceed 3/4 cup total. Put the dough in a clean bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
• Put the rested dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it for 2 minutes. Divide the dough and shape each half into a 12-inch-long cylinder that’s about 1 inch in diameter. With a serrated knife, cut each cylinder crosswise into 24 rounds. Lay the rounds on a lightly floured surface and flatten with the palm of your hand to about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle flour lightly on the pieces to prevent sticking. With a rolling pin, roll each slice into a 3-inch round about 1/8-inch thick. Pinch the edges of the rounds to make them thinner than the middle. Arrange the rounds in a single layer on a lightly floured tray or baking sheet and cover with a towel.

Make the filling

• In a large bowl, combine the ground pork with the sherry, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, ginger, and 2 Tbs. cold water. Add the cabbage and mix until thoroughly blended.
  

Fill the dumplings

• Put about 2 tsp. of the filling in the middle of a wrapper. Brush the edges of the dough with a little water. Fold the wrapper in half and pinch the edge in the middle of the rounded part of the half-moon. Make two small pleats in the wrapper surface closest to you on either side of the pinched middle by gathering the dough and folding it over onto itself. Point the pleats toward the middle of the dumpling. Seal the pleated and unpleated sides by pinching along the top.

Cook the dumplings

• In a 12-inch nonstick pan, heat 1 Tbs. of the oil over medium-low heat. Arrange the dumplings in the pan, pleated side up,
  starting from the center and radiating out, with the sides of the dumplings just touching.
• Cook the dumplings until the bottoms are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the water or chicken broth; cover the pan and cook over medium heat until all the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Uncover and drizzle 1 Tbs. oil around the inside edge of the pan. Fry the dumplings until the bottoms are golden brown, about 3 minutes. Loosen the dumplings around the edges with a spatula, and then set a large serving plate over the pan. Wearing mitts to protect your hands, quickly invert the pan. Serve the dumplings fried side up.

Make Ahead Tips

To freeze uncooked dumplings, arrange them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Transfer to a sealed plastic container, with parchment or waxed paper separating the layers. You don’t need to defrost the dumplings before cooking: just cook them a few minutes longer than usual.

You can vary this filling by substituting spinach, scallions, or bok choy for the cabbage.