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Japanese Pan Fried Dumplings (Gyoza)

Ever wanted to learn how to make that delicious Gyoza, or pan fried dumplings that you get at Japanese restaurants? Now you can make them at home and impress your friends!

yaki gyoza on a plate

Pan Fried Dumplings

Tender dumplings, steamed and pan seared to give them crispy bottoms, make an appetizer you can’t beat! Similar to Chinese potstickers, these gyoza are a delicious way to experience Japanese cuisine.

I am not very skilled when it comes to Asian dishes, so I had help with this one.

This recipe came to me from the mother-in-law of the best neighbor you could ever ask for.

We only lived next door to the Burnett clan for a very short 14 months, but they will always be family. Grandma Machie is Scotty B’s Japanese mother and she makes the best gyoza, or Japanese Pan Fried Dumplings.

We sat on the back porch and stuffed and sealed about 200 of them that afternoon. I asked “why so many?”

“Because that’s what the recipe makes,” was the response I got. So I went with it.

This recipe makes 200, restaurant style, Japanese Gyoza! Tender and juicy filling, tucked in a light wrapper, and pan seared to give it that trademark crispy side.

Serve them with a simple dipping sauce for a delicious appetizer or quick weeknight dinner with a broccoli Asian slaw.

If you like these, try my Crab Rangoon, Shrimp Rangoon, and Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce. You will never have to order take out again!

pan fried dumpling in chopsticks

What is the difference between gyoza and dumplings?

A dumpling or potsticker is made with a wheat wrapper, is usually cooked in a variety of different ways such as steamed, boiled, or pan fried.

Gyoza are made with thinner dumpling wrappers and the filling is more finely chopped. Most often these are prepared pan fried with a crispy side to enhance the flavor of the fillings.

Is gyoza a potsticker?

While they are both considered Asian food, a potsticker is typically found in Chinese cuisine while a gyoza is the Japanese dumplings version.

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labeled picture of gyoza ingredients

Ingredients Needed

Cabbage – Use a medium to large head of green or white cabbage. I like to core it and cube it before putting in the food processor for easier chopping. You can also use Napa cabbage if you can find it.

Beef – Most recipes use pork but I like a lean beef such as 93/7. You will not need to cook it before you put it in the wrapper.

Gyoza wrappers – You can use wonton wrappers that are square and just fold in half but I like the round ones. Most Asian grocery stores will carry them or you can order online. Because of the round shape the pleats come out so pretty.

Pantry Staples – Green onions, garlic powder, soy sauce, sesame oil.

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How to make Pan Fried Dumplings

First: Mix the filling by adding the cabbage, beef, and green onions to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.

I like to chop most of my cabbage in batches since my processor is small, and then add the beef and onions to the last batch of cabbage.

Second: Move the filling to a large bowl. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and the garlic powder. Mix to combine thoroughly.

Third: Wrap the gyoza by adding 1-2 teaspoons filling to the middle of a wrapper. Fold in half, pressing out all the air. The pinch and pleat the edges closed. Repeat until all the filling is used.

I like to place them on a sheet pan while I’m filling them. It mades them easier to handle and freeze.

Fourth: Pan sear the gyoza by heating scant amount of vegetable oil in a nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 5-8 gyoza to the hot oil.

Sear for a few minutes until the bottoms of the gyoza is crispy and golden brown.

Fifth: Flip the gyoza, add a small amount of water to the pan (this will splatter so be careful). Cover with a lid and steam for a minute or two.

Remove the lid and let the water cook off. Remove the gyoza from the pan and place aside. Repeat until all gyoza are cooked.

Sixth: Make the dipping sauce by combining the soy sauce and lemon juice. Add the sliced onions. Serve with warm gyoza.

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

overhead tray of pan fried dumplings

How long does it take to pan fry dumplings?

It only takes a few minutes to cook them. That’s the beauty of the thin wrapper and the finely chopped filling.

The quick pan sear gives you the crispy texture and the quick steam allows the filling to cook without being tough.

The cooking time can be even quicker if you have a strictly vegetable filling. Try them deep fried!

Can you make gyoza with won ton wrappers?

Yes, you can. You can leave them square and fold them in half or cut the wonton wrappers into a circle with a biscuit cutter.

The only difference is that a gyoza wrapper (or a wrapper made specifically made for dumplings) has a thinner skin than wonton wrappers.

What does gyoza have in it?

While many Chinese dumplings are made with a variety of meats, traditional Japanese gyoza are made with ground pork.

Along with a variety of spices and sauces that you can add, I like to keep mine plain.

If you like to add more flavor, try adding rice vinegar, garlic chives, Japanese chili oil, spring onions, or other ground meat.

chopsticks holding gyoza over bowl of sauce

Cooking Frozen Gyoza

You can pan sear frozen, uncooked gyoza in just a few minutes. Let them sit at room temperature for 3-5 minutes. Then cook gyoza per regular instructions.

You can reheat previously cooked and frozen dumplings in the microwave for a minute or two, depending on your microwave, until they are hot.

I like to make mine on a Sunday afternoon, make all 200, freeze 150 of them and cook the rest for dinner! These reheat well during the week for an afternoon snack or a quick side dish for dinner.

gyoza in dipping sauce with ponzu

Tapas Tips & Tricks

This recipe makes around 200 delicious dumplings. You can break it into various steps and finish when you are ready.

  1. You can make the filling, portion it and freeze it uncooked.
  2. Make the filling, fill part of the wrappers, and freeze the rest.
  3. You can make all the gyoza and freeze them uncooked. If you want to stop here, lay them out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, in a single layer, and freeze for a few hours. Then you can consolidate them into a freezer bag for later.
  4. You can make the mixture, stuff the wrappers, cook, and then freeze.
  5. You can also eliminate the meat from the filling and make them completely vegetarian!

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

chopsticks holding dumpling

This delicious gyoza recipe, with a tender and juicy filling and a crispy bottom, is great as an appetizer or main meal. Serve them with other Asian tapas, this delicious Ramen Noodle Salad, or on a bed of steamed rice.

chopsticks holding gyoza

Japanese Pan Fried Dumplings

Yield: 200 gyoza
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ever wanted to learn how to make those delicious dumplings you get at the Japanese restaurant? Check out this easy recipe!

Ingredients

  • 4 (14 ounces) packages dumpling wrappers (I like to use the round ones)

Filling:

  • 1 head green cabbage
  • 1 bunch green onions (ends trimmed)
  • 1 pound ground beef (can substitute turkey, pork, or venison)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder (you can substitute 2 fresh cloves)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Dipping Sauce:

  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 bunch green onions (thinly sliced)

Instructions

Make the filling

  1. In a food processor, combine the cabbage, spices and onions.
  2. Pulse until finely chopped.
  3. Add the beef and pulse a few more times.
  4. Remove to mixing bowl and add the soy sauce and sesame oil.
  5. Mix until completely incorporated.

Prepare the wrapping station

  1. Get a tray together that contains the wrappers, filling, and small bowl of water.
  2. Add a scant amount of filling (about 1 teaspoon) to the middle of the wrapper.
  3. Add some water around the edges.
  4. Fold over and remove all the air.
  5. Pinch and pleat the edges.
  6. Repeat until all the filling is used.

Pan Fry the dumplings

  1. Add 1 teaspoon canola oil to a non-stick pan.
  2. Heat over medium high heat.
  3. Add a few gyozas to the pan and cook until the bottom is brown and crispy.
  4. Flip over and add 1-2 tablespoons water the pan.
  5. Cover and steam for 2-3 minutes.
  6. When all the water has evaporated, remove the gyoza from pan.
  7. Serve warm with dipping sauce.

Make the dipping sauce

  1. Combine the soy sauce and lemon juice. If you want to adjust the lemon juice level to your liking. I like mine tart!
  2. Sprinkle the sliced green onions over the sauce to soak up the juice.

Notes

This recipe makes around 200 dumplings. You can break it into various steps and finish when you are ready.

  1. You can make the filling, portion it and freeze it uncooked.
  2. Make the filling, fill part of the wrappers, and freeze the rest.
  3. You can make all the gyoza and freeze them uncooked. If you want to stop here, lay them out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, in a single layer, and freeze for a few hours. Then you can consolidate them into a freezer bag for later.
  4. You can make the mixture, stuff the wrappers, cook, and then freeze.
  5. You can also eliminate the meat from the filling and make them completely vegetarian!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 50 Serving Size: 4 dumplings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 40Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 333mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g

This nutrition information was generated via a third party. I can not be held liable for any discrepancies in the information provided.

Thursday #SummerGamesWeek Recipes

Originally Published 5/26/15 – photos and recipe notes updated to improve reader experience 07/22/21}

gyoza on a wood board

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Radha

Monday 26th of July 2021

Amazing gyoza! I don't mind making 200, this sounds delicious and can feed a crowd. Yum!

Amy Nash

Saturday 24th of July 2021

I love that this makes 200 gyoza! They freeze so great and I like that we can enjoy them any time we want to now!

Terri Steffes

Thursday 22nd of July 2021

My husband adores these. I cannot wait to make them for him.

How to make Pot Stickers - Bowl Me Over

Thursday 18th of June 2020

[…] panfry – adding a small amount of oil to a pan searing the bottom until they are golden brown, then adding some chicken stock or and finish by steaming. For step-by-step directions check out this post from Take Two Tapas  –  Grandma Machie’s Gyoza Pan Fried Dumplings […]

Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet

Thursday 21st of January 2016

Loooove these! I want to make a huge batch and freeze them so I can conveniently grab some whenever I want!

chubcheeks@bellsouth.net

Monday 25th of January 2016

That sounds like a great idea! Pop a few out when you are having some soup!

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