Pork Gyoza Recipe (Japanese Potstickers) - Good Life Xplorers (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between potstickers and gyozas? ›

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.

Heat the pan to high, then add the oil. Put about 12 gyoza quickly into the pan, wait until bottom of the gyoza to brown for 1-2 minutes. Pour 80ml of water (depending on the size of the frying pan) into the pan from rim, then cover with the lid. Reduce the heat to medium low, steam for 4 mins.

The typical gyoza filling consists of ground pork, nira chives, green onion, cabbage, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil, but some creative gyoza shops have also come up with a range of other fillings.

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.

For starters, potstickers are Chinese while gyoza are Japanese. And beyond that distinction, gyoza tend to be smaller than potstickers, with thinner and slightly more delicate wrappers. They also may be fully steamed, boiled, or fried, rather than cooked using a combination of pan-frying and steaming.

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.

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.

The steam-fry or potsticker technique is the classic method for Japanese gyoza or Chinese guo tie. Essentially, you fry the frozen dumplings, then add water to the pan and cover them to steam through, then fry them again once the water evaporates. This double-frying creates an extra-crisp bottom crust.

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.

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 unhealthy? ›

By using hot air to cook off the dumplings, you get that sought-after crunch without the oily pay-off, keeping the calorie intake low. So it turns out store-bought gyozas are actually as healthy as everyone says. The only downside of this craze is that they keep selling out.

Side or main – how many gyoza dumplings do I need? In Japan gyoza are often served as a side dish with ramen or noodle soup. You'll need around 10 dumplings per serving for gyoza on the side. If you want to serve the delicious dumplings as a main course, you'll have to make at least 15 per person.

There's a simple trick to help you tell when your dumplings are ready – all you'll need is a toothpick. Stick your toothpick through a dumpling and pull it straight out. If the toothpick comes out clean, they're ready to eat.

Gyoza are the Japanese version of jiaozi, or Chinese potstickers. This version is pan-fried but they work well deep-fried or steamed too.

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.

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.