JAPANESE DUMPLINGS - GYOZA - andrealflavor - Andrea Steffen (2024)

Homemade Japanese Dumplings?? Yes, it’s possible. I became familiar with Gyoza (their official Japanese name) from Street Food Festivals and they were always my top choice at these kinds of events. I used to think these were the only places where I could find them. I loved seeing all the bamboo steamers at the stand and observing how much they expanded in there. Never, ever would I have thought that I’d make them at home one day. That is, until the day we cooked Japanese food at culinary school. It was the first of many times that I made them for myself at home, with NO special equipment whatsoever. This recipe I learned at school is not difficult to recreate, and with a little patience, it’s doable for anyone who’s willing to try.

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Tips for making Japanese Dumplings for the first time

Gyoza are made out of two components: the dough and the filling. The dough is very simple and straightforward to make. The filling is also quite easy to make, but might be a little trickier as far as flavor goes. Since you’re working with raw meat, you cannot taste the filling before you finish cooking the Japanese Dumplings. So, you just have to trust the quantities I suggest below for your first time, and then you can adjust them to your liking for your next time around.

Now, the trickiest part is forming the dumplings. I always tend to overload them which makes it more difficult to shape them nicely. Do not overdo them with the filling, or else your Gyoza will not look very pretty.

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How to shape and cook Gyoza

The original Gyoza has 6 pleats on one side and is flat on the other side. This flat side is going to get browned, while the side with the pleats will never come into contact with the bottom of the pan and will only be steamed. The goal is to get the Gyozas browned on the bottom, and steamed on top.

The technique to shape the Japanese Dumplings might be a little tricky at first, but once you know how to do it, you will master it perfectly. Here’s a detailed explanation as follows:

Take one disc and place it in the palm of your hand. Wet your index finger slightly and moisten the edges all around the disc. Place one ball of filling into the center.

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Now, fold the disc in half over the filling into a crescent shape, without sealing the edges.

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Using your index finger and thumb, start forming small pleats at the top of the half moon starting at the center.

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Pleat first moving towards the left, and then, once again, starting from the center, form pleats towards the right. As you fold each pleat, press the folded pleat tightly from front to back, and once you’ve formed all the pleats, gently squeeze the seams to seal all the pleats together.

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See Also
Gyoza

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Repeat with all discs. Roll out the second half of the dough, form all the dumplings, and at the end, repeat with all the leftover dough.

If you want to spare a little bit of time, simply fold the discs into a crescent without adding the pleats and seal well.

So now, happy shaping, it will be worth the time!

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JAPANESE DUMPLINGS – GYOZA

A classic made easy

Course Appetizer, Starter

Cuisine Japanese

Keyword Bite-size Appetizer, Chopsticks, Steamed

Prep Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours

Servings 30 pieces

INGREDIENTS

Dough

  • 175 cl water
  • 350 g all-purpose flour plus a little more to roll out
  • 35 g butter soft

Filling

  • 100 g spring onions
  • 100 g Napa cabbage
  • 60 g mushrooms
  • 2 cloves of garlic finely grated
  • 300 g minced beef and pork use a mix of both meats
  • 20 g ginger finely grated
  • 1 tsp chili flakes
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 hints of black pepper

To cook

  • 2 tbsp sesame oil for frying

To serve

  • Soy sauce for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Dough

  • In a large bowl, mix together the flour and water by hand. As soon as it starts to form a dough, add the butter and fully integrate it by hand. Then, transfer the dough to your working surface, knead for approx. 5 minutes until you have a soft, uniformed dough. Wrap in transparent foil and let it sit in the fridge until the filling is ready.

Filling

  • Chop the spring onions, Napa cabbage and mushrooms into very small pieces of approx. 1-2 mm (0.04 – 0.08 inches). In a large bowl, mix the vegetables well with all the other ingredients by hand. Then, form small balls weighing approx. 10 g each and set them aside on a tray in the fridge.

To shape

  • Roll out half of the dough with a little flour until 1 mm (0.04 inches) thick. Cut out round discs of approx. 7 cm (2.8 inch) in diameter. Wrap the leftovers back into the foil and set aside in the fridge.

  • Take one disc and place it in the palm of your hand. Wet your index finger slightly and moisten the edges all around the disc. Place one ball of filling onto the center.

  • Fold the disc in half over the filling into a crescent form, without sealing the ends. Using your index finger and thumb, start forming small pleats at the top of the half moon starting at the center. Pleat first moving towards the left, and then, once again, starting from the center, form pleats towards the right. As you fold each pleat, press the folded pleat tightly from front to back, and once you’ve formed all the pleats, gently squeeze the seams to seal all the pleats together.Repeat with all discs. Roll out the second half of the dough, form all the dumplings, and then, repeat with all the leftover dough.

  • Freeze the dumplings for at least 30 minutes. If you have space in your freezer, place them on a baking tray, wrap with one big piece of foil and freeze on the tray. If not, layer them, using a piece of parchment paper to separate the layers from one other.

To cook

  • Heat the sesame oil in a large frying pan, remove the pan from the stove and place the dumplings in it in a spiral shape, with the flat side in contact with the pan. Fry on the stove for about 5 minutes until nicely browned on the bottom. Then add water up to a little less than half of the height of the dumplings (about 1 cm / 0.4 inch), cover with a lid, and simmer over minimum heat until all the water has evaporated, for about 20 minutes.

  • Serve immediately with soy sauce.

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JAPANESE DUMPLINGS - GYOZA - andrealflavor - Andrea Steffen (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a gyoza and a dumpling? ›

Gyoza are a type of crescent-shaped Japanese dumpling consisting of thin dough wrappers with a meat (traditionally pork) and vegetable filling. All gyoza are dumplings, but not all dumplings are gyoza, as this term refers to the specific style of dumplings enjoyed in Japan.

What is the history of gyoza dumplings? ›

Gyoza are a Japanese version of jiaozi that were developed from recipes brought back by Japanese soldiers returning from the Japanese-backed puppet state of Manchukuo in northeastern China during World War II.

Are gyozas Japanese or Chinese? ›

Gyoza (餃子, gyōza) are dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables and wrapped in a thin dough. Also known as pot stickers, gyoza originated in China (where they are called jiaozi), but have become a very popular dish in Japan.

What are the three types of gyoza? ›

There are usually three types of gyoza that are found and enjoyed in Japan. That is yaki gyoza, age gyoza, and sui gyoza. The traditional method of steaming isn't so often seen in Japan unless dining in a Chinese food establishment.

Are gyoza better steamed or fried? ›

Steamed Dumplings

The steaming process is what creates the shiny-looking soft exterior! Steaming is the traditional way of preparing dumplings and has never gone out of style. Many people around the world are loyal to this method of cooking and prefer it over pan-fried dumplings.

Are Gyoza dumplings healthy? ›

The wonton skins you buy from the store, or make at home, are made from all-purpose flour, water, and a little salt. The dough is roughly equivalent to what you'd use to make a pastry, minus the fat. No, regular steamed or pan-fried gyoza aren't that unhealthy.

Is gyoza just potstickers? ›

Gyoza is the Japanese variation on the traditional Chinese recipe of potstickers. They are usually made with thinner, more delicate wrappers, and the filling is more finely textured. The thinner skins mean that gyoza get crispier than chewy potstickers.

What is a fun fact about gyoza? ›

Gyoza was Invented to Treat Frostbitten Ears (Maybe)

Zhang believed this was due to poor nutrition and a lack of warm clothing amongst the poor in China and would fill dough wrappers with a mixture of boiled lamb, peppers and various other medicines.

What to eat with gyoza dumplings? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Asian dumplings (East Asia) are ramen, tomato and egg stir fry, fried greens, chilli miso steamed aubergine, pork belly fried rice, cucumber salad (Oi Muchim), tahini miso noodles, and claypot tofu.

What is the American name for gyoza? ›

Dumplings, AKA Pot Stickers

This common side dish is cooked many different ways. Dumplings are most commonly steamed, pan fried, deep fried, or boiled.

What is Japan's number 1 gyoza? ›

N°1 GYOZA IN JAPAN: Ajinomoto gyoza are the best-selling gyoza on the Japanese market.

Why do Americans call gyoza potstickers? ›

Once the water has cooked off, a little more oil is added to the pan to re-crisp the bottoms of the dumplings. If you don't use a very well seasoned cast iron pan or a non-stick pan, you will learn why they are called “potstickers;” they will cook to the pan and not want to release.

Do you eat gyoza hot or cold? ›

After it has been cooked it is best to eat it straightaway while it's still hot, though some people like a cooler, or even cold, gyoza, however you don't just eat it as it is. If you are eating in a restaurant then they will provide a dipping sauce, and if you buy it in a supermarket it will normally come with a sauce.

How are you supposed to eat gyoza? ›

When eating Gyoza, they shouldn't be eaten on their own, a good dipping sauce is essential. This can be as simple or as complicated as you'd like. Many eat their Gyoza with just soy sauce for dipping, if you wanted to be a little more adventurous you could pick a Ponzu sauce for an additional citrus tang.

What is the difference between a dumpling and gyoza? ›

The simple answer: there is no difference; since gyoza is a dumpling. The complicated answer: there are so many differences since not all dumplings are gyoza. The most significant differences between traditional dumplings and gyoza are their shape, wrappers, and method of cooking.

Is gyoza a fried dumpling? ›

Gyozas are Japanese dumplings that are typically made with a pork and vegetable filling. They are pan-fried or steamed, and are often served with a dipping sauce. Dumplings, on the other hand, can be found in many different cuisines.

What's the difference between dumplings and potstickers? ›

Unlike dumplings, potstickers are made with a thin wrapper, sometimes referred to as a dumpling skin. This is because they are steam fried to get a crispy golden bottom layer and to ensure that the filling is juicy and delicious.

Is gyoza made with wonton wrappers? ›

Add ground pork and egg; cook and stir until pork is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Make the gyoza: Place about 1 tablespoon pork mixture into the center of a wonton wrapper. Fold wrapper in half over filling, then seal the edges with moistened fingers.

Does gyoza always have meat? ›

The most traditional filling for Gyoza consists of minced pork (sometimes beef), cabbage, garlic, ginger and sesame oil. But these days, many varieties of Gyoza are available, both with meat fillings and vegetarian. Shrimp, chicken, mushrooms and/or tofu are also often added to the filling.

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