Food star Diana Chan reveals the $3.20 surprise ingredient that'll take your frozen at-home dumplings to another level

Diana Chan is one of Australia's most recognisable chefs.

The TV star, author and cook, 37, known for having her own dumplings range in Aussie supermarkets after her win on MasterChef Australia, has shared one of her easy go-to recipes to perfect your frozen dumplings at home.

Speaking to nine.com.au, Chan says there's one must-have ingredient for the dish that you may not even be aware of.

Watch the videos above.

That's lime leaf, often used in traditional – and tasty – Asian dishes.

At Coles, classic Kaffir lime leaves cost $3.20 a packet for 10g, per their official website.

"The best way to serve frozen dumplings at home is to pan-fry them and then steam to finish, that way you get crispy bottoms and a juicy interior," Chan says.

READ MORE: It took 182m videos, but this food giant is bringing back a fan-favourite

READ MORE: Maccas drops 10 new menu items, but there's a catch

READ MORE: Coles and Woolies target popular kitchen item in bid for customer loyalty

"For seasoning, keep it simple: soy sauce, vinegar, a pinch of sugar, fresh chillies and a little lime leaf."

Chan spoke to nine.com.au as part of a Metricon and Lunar New Year celebration, where she led a cooking masterclass for some lucky guests.

The cook, who says her signature dish is beef rendang, also divulged some of the cost-effective pantry staples she believes everyone should have in their kitchens for the ultimate at-home meal.

"Something versatile like tuna for a quick pasta, or mince that can become patties paired with a refreshing salad," she says.

"I love doing grilled minced pork patties with Asian herbs and mung bean noodles, simple, affordable and full of flavour," she adds.

"When people ask about my go-to mid-week meals, I always say rice paper rolls."

About her collaboration with Metricon, she adds: "I genuinely love working in Metricon's kitchens, they're beautifully designed, functional and make entertaining effortless, which made the celebration even more special."

"It was about bringing vibrant Lunar New Year flavours to life at my sixth event with Metricon."

Chan won MasterChef Australia back in 2017 after battling co-star Ben Ungermann for the winner's title.

The Malaysian-born cook also is a cookbook author, recently releasing The Golden Wok after her success off the show.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.