This Japanese Gyoza recipe is my mothers’, and it’s a traditional, authentic recipe. Juicy on the inside, a golden brown and crispy base, these are made in a skillet and are one of my all time favourite Japanese dishes! Watch the recipe video and you’ll be a Gyoza-Wrapping-Master in no time.
Though my brother, sister and I all know how to make Japanese food, it’s an unspoken rule that when it comes to Japanese food, that’s mum’s domain. So if any of us have a particular craving for a Japanese meal, we submit requests.
Sister: “Mum, can you make oden for us this weekend? Puh-lease??”
Brother: “Mum, we’re heading out to the harbour for New Years’ Eve fireworks. Can you make us some bento boxes?”
Me: “Mum, we haven’t had karaage in ages. I need some!”
And typically, she obliges. Though normally, her response to my request is firstly “Aren’t you on a diet?”, to which I always respond (defensively) with “I’m not going to have much!!“.
Gyoza is requested every couple of months or so – it’s a huge favorite in our family. Even though I’m perfectly capable of making it myself, as are my brother and sister, I don’t think any of us make it without mum present! It’s like some kind of unspoken tradition that mum makes the filling then one of us – sometimes all of us – gather to help wrap them.
And LOOK! You can WATCH how easy it is to make gyoza in this video!!! Starring my mother instead of my BabyHands!
Though you can find gyoza in many eating places in Japan, the most traditional place they are found is in ramen joints. A big bowl of steaming ramen and a side of gyoza. It’s so Japanese. Even though I can barely manage to get through an entire bowl of ramen myself, I always get gyoza.
And you know what? Without fail, every single time we order gyoza, whether here in Sydney or even in Japan, one of us always says “It’s not as good as mum’s”. 😉
The main thing you will find, especially outside of Japan, is that there is more cabbage used so the filling is less “meaty”, and there is very little garlic flavour. Don’t skimp on the meat!!! And definitely don’t skimp on the garlic flavour!!!
I am seriously in love with Gyoza. The crispy golden base and the steamed top. I also love the way it’s cooked – just in a skillet – no steamer required!
It’s honestly one of my all-time favorite foods. And I do get a little kick out of our tradition to gather and wrap the Gyoza together. 🙂
On another note……I think I may have bullied my mother into starting a Japanese food blog! WOO HOO!! I’ve been very sneaky, I totally guilt tripped her into it by saying it would be her legacy to us kids. And it’s actually very true that I have alarmingly few of her recipes in my collection.
I think it WORKED!!! I’m sooooo excited! All my favourite real proper Japanese recipes, all in one place! So watch this space…… – Nagi x
PS Traditionally, gyoza is served as part of a multi-course meal or as a side. But in my family, we make an enormous batch, enough to have just gyoza as a meal. That’s the way we roll!
My mother's traditional recipe for Gyoza, Japanese dumplings. You can get the gyoza wrappers at Woolworths and Coles! The best way to learn how to make these is to watch the RECIPE VIDEO below!
- 1 1/2 cups green cabbage, very finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt, separated
- 1 lb / 500g ground pork (mince) (fattier the better)
- 1 cup garlic chives, finely chopped (Note 1)
- 1 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch / corn flour
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp cornflour (cornstarch) - for tray
- 40 - 45 round wonton (gyoza) wrappers (Gow Gee wrappers) - 1 1/2 packets (Note 2)
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil (or other cooking oil)
- Soy sauce
- Rice wine vinegar
- Chili oil (Rayu is Japanese chili oil)
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Combine cabbage and 1/2 tsp salt in a small bowl, then set aside for 20 minutes to allow the cabbage to wilt slightly.
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Place remaining Filling ingredients (including remaining 1/2 tsp salt) in a large bowl. Squeeze out any excess water from the cabbage and add to the bowl.
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Use your hands to mix the Filling.
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Sprinkle a baking tray with 1 tsp of cornstarch / cornflour.
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Place 1 gyoza wrapper on your palm (left hand for right-handed people). Dip your finger in water and run it around the edge of half the gyoza wrapper (to seal).
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Place 1 slightly heaped tbsp of Filling on the wrapper. Fold wrapper over and use your right hand assisted by your left hand thumb to create 4 pleats. Press to seal and place on the tray. Repeat with remaining wrappers. (See video for demo)
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Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet (that has a lid) over medium high heat.
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Place about 12 gyoza in rows, slightly overlapping each other. Cook until the underside is light golden, then pour 1/3 cup of water around the gyoza and place the lid on.
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Cook until the water has completely evaporated (so the golden underside is not wet and soggy) and the wrapper is slightly translucent on top - about 3 to 4 minutes. (See video)
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Use an egg flip to transfer onto a plate upside down i.e. golden side up.
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Serve with Dipping Sauce.
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Serve each ingredient separately so people can mix according to their taste. I use about equal portions of soy sauce and vinegar with a generous splash of chili oil.
1. Garlic chives is the authentic way to make this but if you can't find any, you can use either normal chives or the green part of shallots/scallions + 1 garlic clove. The flavour is not exactly the same but it is pretty similar.
2. Round wonton wrappers are also referred to as Gow Gee and Gyoza wrappers. They are available at Coles and Woolworths in the refrigerator section alongside noodles (usually next to tofu, pasta / lasagna sheets).
They usually come in packs of 30 so you will need 2 packets.
3. FREEZING: In an airtight container, place raw gyoza in a single layer and top with cling wrap (for extra air tightness / or multiple layers). To cook, cook from frozen using the same method, just add a splash of extra water and cook for 2 minutes longer. It won't burn the underside because you add a bit of extra water.
REFRIGERATION: Same as frozen but won't require longer cook time / extra water.
4. Nutrition per piece, assuming 40 (largish) pieces.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Japanese Gyoza recipe video!
LIFE OF DOZER
Drying off after a morning at the beach….
My Mom was Japanese. She would make Big batches of Gyoza! The only difference between her recipe and Mom’s is the kind of cabbage she used. She used Chinese or Napa cabbage. Sure miss her and like you, I can make them, but hers were always better! I have passed her recipe on to my daughter. Her family love them as well!
I’m sorry to hear she is gone Linda. I am sure she is resting in peace, and I hope this recipe does her memory justice ❤️
This is the first gyoza recipe I ever made and I was blown away with how delicious they were! Better than restaurants and makes a generous amount. They freeze wonderfully!
I’m so glad! Thank you for letting me know Clare! N x