Gyoza (2024)

While gyoza are a mainstay at Japanese restaurants, these Japanese dumplings are easy and fun to make at home. I have fond memories of making homemade gyoza with my mum; it’s lovely to invite friends and family to help make these pan-fried potstickers. (Give kids a defined task, like pleating the edge of the wrapper.)

To make this gyoza recipe, you’ll first salt the shaved cabbage to soften it and remove excess moisture. White cabbage is most common, but you can use any kind, including Savoy or Napa cabbage. Look for thin dumpling wrappers in your grocery store’s refrigerated or freezer section (egg roll and wonton wrappers tend to be thicker), and be sure to use dry hands when assembling so that they don’t stick together before you’re ready to seal. For the gyoza filling you can use ground pork or ground chicken—and if you can’t find garlic chives, standard chives or even green onions will do.

This dumpling recipe uses a two-part cooking technique. You’ll fry the gyoza until the bottoms are golden brown to achieve that trademark crispiness, then add about a cup of water to the pan to ensure tender wrappers and cooked-through filling. For the dipping sauce, a drop of chili oil takes things up a notch.

After assembly you can freeze the gyoza to cook later and serve as an appetizer. Arrange dumplings in a single layer on a parchment-lined pan, stash them until frozen, and then toss them into an airtight storage bag. Your future self will thank you.

Editor's note: This recipe was originally published in 'Sachie's Kitchen' and first appeared on Epicurious in September 2015.

Ingredients

50 dumplings

1 packet 50 gyoza wrappers

Gyoza filling:

⅛ head of cabbage

1 teaspoon salt

400 g lean ground pork or chicken

½ bunch garlic chives, finely chopped

See Also
Gyoza

4 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in hot water and finely chopped

1 tablespoon grated ginger

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons sesame oil, plus 2 teaspoons extra, for cooking

Pinch of salt

Dipping sauce:

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

La-Yu (Japanese chili oil), optional

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Dice cabbage finely and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Give it a bit of a massage. Leave for 10–15 minutes and then squeeze with your hands to remove any moisture.

    Step 2

    With your hands thoroughly mix together cabbage, ground meat, chives, mushrooms, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and pinch of salt.

    Step 3

    Dry your hands completely (or wrappers will stick). Place a gyoza wrapper on one hand and put 1 teaspoon filling in center of wrapper.

    Step 4

    Brush edge of half the wrapper with cold water. Make a semi-circle by folding the wrapper in half. Pinch open sides of wrapper together with your fingers and seal the top.

    Step 5

    Place a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add 2 teaspoons sesame oil and arrange 20–25 gyoza in pan. Add 200ml water to cover bottom of pan, cover with lid and cook on medium-high heat for 6–7 minutes or until translucent, cooked and no liquid is left in pan. Take off lid and cook for another 30–60 seconds for the bottoms to go crunchy. Cook remaining gyoza or freeze them.

    Step 6

    Mix together soy sauce, vinegar and chili oil, if using. Serve gyoza hot with dipping sauce.

Gyoza (2024)

FAQs

What is gyoza usually made of? ›

Traditionally in Japan Gyoza are filled with a mix of finely minced pork, mushrooms and cabbage, which creates a delicious mix of flavours and textures. However, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating your own Gyoza.

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 the difference between gyoza and dumplings? ›

In Japan, gyoza is almost exclusively pan-fried and steamed, served on its own or with a salty and tangy dipping sauce. Dumplings can be boiled, steamed, or fried; served as is, with a spicy sauce, or in a soup.

What do Japanese eat with gyoza? ›

Gyoza is usually dipped in a mixture of soy sauce and rice vinegar with some chili oil called ra-yu dribbled in. Often it is either served as a side order to ramen, but in Japan, you can also find people eating it with rice. Depending on the type of gyoza, the sauce it is eaten with may vary.

Are gyoza dumplings unhealthy? ›

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.

What is the Chinese equivalent of gyoza? ›

Though considered part of Chinese cuisine, jiaozi are also popular in other parts of East Asia, where a Japanese variety is referred to as gyoza, and in the Western world, where a fried variety is referred to as potstickers.

Why do Americans call them potstickers? ›

According to the stories, a chef was making dumplings and walked away from his pot for so long that the water all boiled off, and he found his dumplings had stuck to the pot. He served the crunchy dumplings to his guests—some stories say the Emperor—and the potsticker was born.

Is a wonton a gyoza? ›

Compared to a wonton, however, a gyoza tends to have a thicker wrap and a distinct, crescent-style shape. Also, a wonton is more likely to be served in the form of a soup, while gyoza are more frequently enjoyed all by themselves. Give them a try today at Wild Wasabi!

Why is gyoza so good? ›

That includes a step-by-step recipe for her mother's gyoza that discloses the secret ingredient that makes them so incredibly tasty – nira, or garlic chives. (They're also known as Chinese leeks.) “You definitely don't want to go on a date after eating them.

Is gyoza similar to pierogi? ›

What they taste like: Pierogis are heartier and heftier than Asian dumplings like gyoza and Chinese potstickers. The dumpling wrapper is thicker and the filling is often rich. The dumpling itself is also bigger and heavier, and often topped with a sauce of melted butter.

Are gyoza better steamed or fried? ›

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 gyozas meant to be 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.

What does gyoza mean in English? ›

gyo·​za gē-ˈō-zə plural gyoza or gyozas. : a crescent-shaped dumpling consisting of a thin wrapper that is filled usually with meat, seafood, or vegetables. Gyoza are very versatile—you can pan-fry, steam, boil or deep-fry them, or simply add a couple to your noodle soup.

What is Japan's number 1 gyoza? ›

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

What is the outside of a gyoza made of? ›

Gyoza wrappers are a thin and round flour pastry that wraps around the filling of gyoza or Japanese potstickers. The dough is made of wheat flour, water, and a pinch of salt. They get crispy when pan-fried or deep-fried and become a soft and tender, pasta-like texture when boiled.

Is gyoza traditionally fried or steamed? ›

Traditionally, gyoza dumplings are first pan-fried, then steamed until tender and briefly crisped just before they are served.

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.

What is gyoza sauce made of? ›

Whisk together rice vinegar, soy sauce, green onions, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and ginger in a bowl. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

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