Recipe
Yaki Gyōza Recipe
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Yield:
48

Gyōza is one of those dishes that I will definitely order whenever I go to Japanese restaurant. Gyōza is originally a Chinese dish before becoming a staple in Japanese cuisine. Jiaozi or potsticker is the equivalent of gyōza in Chinese dish. Gyōza typically consists of ground meat, garlic, cabbage, nira (Chinve vhinces), soya sauce, and sesame oil, which is then wrapped into thinly rolled piece of dough and sealed by pressing the edges together or by crimping.
Like jiaozi, gyōza can be boiled, steamed, pan frying and deep frying. The most popular preparation method if pan frying, which is called yaki-gyōza (焼き餃子). The dumpling is first fried on one flat side to create a crispy skin. Then, water is added to the pan and covered with lid, which then forms steam to cook the upper part of the gyōza. In this case, gyōza is the equivalent of potsticker or guotie (锅贴) in Chinese. Usually, a soya based dipping sauce is accompanied with gyōza. For those who like a bit of spiciness in food, rāyu(ラー油, known as làyóu (辣油) – a chili pepper infused sesame oil) can be added. The way I like the dipping sauce is to add some Japanese chili powder in the soya sauce.
Making gyōza could be quite a lengthy process if you are also making the dough from scratch. I tend to buy gyoza wrappers from Chinese/Japanese supermarkets. When comes to wrapping the gyōza, I think it’s down to practise. I started off not very good but after wrapping a few ugly looking gyōza, they started to improve. I still think that my skill is not perfect and I still need more practice to make them nice looking. Having said that, I might have to wait until I finish all my gyōza in the freezer! I made lots of them, probably about 40-50!
As you may or may not know, Harumi Kurihara is always my inspiration in Japanese cooking. Her book, Harumi’s Japanese Cooking is one of my favourites that I will not get bored in reading and referring to! She is very talented and all her food are really healthy and yummy. I once made Chawan Mushi, based on her recipe too. Her recipes are worth trying. So, you may want to give her authentic gyōza recipe a go!
Yaki Gyōza Recipe
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Yield:
48
Ingredients:
For the Yaki Gyōza Recipe:
100g cabbage
100g chinese cabbage
0.5 tsp salt
100g chinese chives
200g minced pork
2 tbsp lard
100ml water mixed with 1 tsp chinese soup paste of rich chicken stock
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp shokoshu or dry sherry
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
15g ginger, peeled and finely chopped
50g spring onions, finely chopped
a dash of white pepper
48 round gyōza pastry skins
enough potato starch or corn flour
sunflower oil
For dipping sauce:
rice vinegar, soya sauce with a few drops of chili oil (rāyu)
Method:
1. Finely chop two types of cabbage. Mix them together in a bowl, season with salt and set aside to use later. Cut the nira in half lengthways and finely chop.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the pork and lard by hand. Add the Chinese soup mix, leave to cool then add the sesame oil, shokoshu, finely chopped garlic, ginger, and spring onions. Mix together before adding the nira.
3. Squeeze the cabbage to remove excess water. Add to the meat mixture, season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
4. The stuffing is now ready, and you can either use it now or leave in the fridge overnight and use the next day.
5. Place an even spoonful of stuffing onto each pastry skin. Wet the edges of the skin with water and pleat them to seal. (How to pleat gyōza)
6. Dust each dumpling with a litter potato starch. Heat a small quantity of oil in a large frying pan. Shake the dumplings to remove any excess potato starch and then arrange them in rows in the pan.
7. Add enough water to come a third of the way up the dumplings, cover and cook over a medium heat until the water has evaporated and you can see the bottoms of the dumplings changing colour.
8. Remove the lid and drizzle a little oil over the dumplings. Carry on cooking uncovered, until the bottom is crispy then turn them over to brown both sides. Place on a large serving dish.
9. To make the dipping sauce: mix together soya sauce, rice vinegar and a few drops of rāyu. Eat with the hot dumplings.
this gyoza sounds amazing!
Thank you!
Ah, pretty little darlings you made there! Dumplings (any kind) rock, don't you agree? 🙂
Yeah!! I love dumplings.. any kind really.. especially steamed and pan-fried like this! 😉 Let's go dim sum!!
When I was in NYC in September, she was there to promote her new cookbook! But of course, I didn't get to meet her. 😉
Cool! I like Harumi.. it's a shame that you didn't get to meet her…
I love gyoza, but only few places that are sold without pork..
Your gyoza look so gooddd
Yeah I know… maybe you can make the chicken version at home.. 🙂
Delicious looking gyoza and would you believe that I posted a recipe for this today. Had such a great time making them at home too!
Jo,
What a coincidence! I enjoyed making gyoza too!
This looks great, and I must say I love your soya sauce bowl. 😛
I think you did a really good job at pleating them as well!
Thank you, Su-yin! I wouldn't say my pleating is that good yet… ehhehe.. still have room to improve.. 🙂
Gorgeous Leemei. Your pleats are perfect!
Syrie,
Thank you for your compliment…I still need practice for my pleats, I think 😛
Gyōza also is one of my favourite. It looks like very tedious to make… but it is definitely yummy-licious! Nice shots!
Alice,
It's not tedious at all.. once you get the hang of it.. it's pretty easy… 🙂
I love gyoza and is one of the side dishes I often order when eating at a Jap restaurant. Your wrapping technique is perfect!
Same… I order gyoza as starter usually.. heheh.. thank you for your compliment..
I prefer boiled dumplings cos gyoza are relatively more time-consuming to make (pan-frying part, I mean)
I love boiled dumplings too… actually all dumplings .. hehe
This looks fabulous. The Harumi cookbook is my fave Japanese cookbook 😀
Thank you! I like her too.
Your dumpling looks better than the one in the video ! It's looks alive and more succulent.
That's a compliment for me! Thank you!! 🙂
Soon, It'll be lunch time here and I'm drooling in front of the screen…
Vanille, I wish I could share with you some.. through the screen.
They look perfect! This is a must order for me too!
Thanks!! 🙂
I love dumplings, be it Chinese or Japanese. Can never have enough of it. Your gyōza looks fantastic and very succulent! Beautiful shot as always!
Same for me, Chinese or Japanese dumplings, I love them!
Whatever one might call them in their native countries, this has to be one of the tastiest things ever invented!! You made them so prettily! Made them a while back, they were nothing like yours 🙂
Thanks for your compliment… I am blushing now.. 😛
mmm Harumi's cookbook is a real good one to have in the kitchen. She's very clear about all the ingredients and she's my mum's firm favourite! you take beautiful photos and they've now made me so hungry. 😉 x
Totally agree with you!
Sorry to make you hungry… 🙂