Oh, we have definitely made them ourselves.  (We, too, have an authentic recipe which DH and I both greatly prefer to these since it has.... um... actually GOT a taste.  LOL)


But DD likes the chicken and veggie Ling-ling potstickers just dandy.  Probably better than anything DH and I would make for ourselves, truthfully.  IMO, they don't taste like much.  (They lack the bright ginger and garlic flavors that I associate with 'real' potstickers made by our grad school friends, if you KWIM.)

You can make a sauce from soy rice vinegar, and some scallion, garlic and ginger.  A little honey or raw sugar sweetens it up a bit.

I do think we have had dd try these.  But she hates the seasonings.  I would have called back then.  But things can change.  They *are* good.

BTW, dumplings *are* easy to make.  Tedious like cookies, but easy.  I can share a recipe if desired.  I learned from a couple of different Chinese moms while ds was in preschool, and with dd in GS.  So  I think they are pretty authentic.  I have made dough, and purchased Nasoya wraps. 

The Ling-Ling potstickers contain sesame oil.

But it is on the label, at least. 

DD ate a couple of the chicken-and-vegetable ones this afternoon.  She did not eat any of the sauce, however.  Just the potstickers.

I'm going to contact them and ask about sesame, though I'm sure that's too much to ask.   . I also have less confidence in an accurate answer with sesame.

But a girl can dream, can't she?

We have bought Chung's Gourmet as they are nut free and do have potstickers.  Here's an email I received from them last year:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.  Chung's Gourmet Foods takes great pride in the quality of the products. Our products do not contain any tree nuts or peanuts. Chung's equipment and facility is not used to process products that contain tree nuts and peanuts.  If you can visit our website, www.chungsfoods.com you may print out coupons and register for upcoming promotional information.  I hope you will continue to purchase and enjoy our products in the future, including our new line of All Natural Spring Rolls and Chung's For 2 Entrees.
   
Sincerely,


Shannon C. Trahan
Quality Assurance Specialist
CHUNGS GOURMET FOODS
3907 Dennis Street
Houston, Texas 77004
Tel: 713-741-2118 Ext.167
E-mail:strahan@chungsfoods.com

I don't know what you avoid, but I have called Chung's and been satisfied with their response. DD doesn't care for Chinese food though, so she actually hasn't tried it. I just don't buy things that she can't eat (other than imported Japanese food that I keep put away and only eat when the kids are in bed, and even then nothing with nuts).

btw we love How It's Made here. I remember when they did some kind of ice cream and it was Chapman's. The pkg said nut free or something like that and I was jealous. 

These SEEM almost too good to be true.

http://www.ling-ling.com/

They are available at Costco.  Looks like the only big allergens in the product line are soy and wheat, with possibly traces of egg in the facility.

The only reason that I'm at all hesitant is that the parent company also owns Tai Pei foods:

http://www.taipeifood.com/

Holy COW, is that ever a nightmnare.  Cashew, peaunt, AND sesame abound.  Yikes.

SO if they share a facility with the Ling ling line, this would be a resounding "no" for us, safety-wise.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has ever contacted them?

You may also telephone us, Monday through Friday, from 7:30am to 4:30pm Pacific Standard Time, at 1-866-536-8008

Both companies have the same contact number, which is a bit worrisome, but not necessarily indicative that this is a shared facility in terms of production, I suppose. 

How, you might ask, did it even occur to me to LOOK at such a product in the first place?

How It's Made did a segment on them and my DH and DD saw it.  It didn't LOOK as though there was any other production/packaging equipment in place, and it seemed to imply dedicated lines for the potstickers, period.  That would be good news if it's true.