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

by Jana 6 Comments

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This pork gyoza recipe with dipping sauce is absolutely amazing! Traditional fried Japanese dumplings made using store-bought wrappers. So simple anyone can make it!

Pork Gyoza Recipe (Japanese Potstickers) - Good Life Xplorers (1)

Pork Gyoza or Japanese Potstickers are one of my favorite dumplings. Next to Tonkatsu, it’s one of the things I miss the most from my trip to Japan. I could eat pork gyozas everyday!

If you never had them, you are in for a treat!

These savory dumplings are a party favorite. Have it out as an appetizer for Super Bowl and watch them disappear!

Gyozas are crunchy and delicious and served with an easy sauce – it’s an explosion of flavors. And the best part of it is, this recipe makes a lot of them and they freeze really well.

Gyozas are similar to Chinese dumplings except that Japanese Potstickers are made with thinner dough. Both can be steamed, boiled or pan-fried and the fillings are similar. I ate it in both Japan and China and both were delicious!

Pork Gyoza Recipe (Japanese Potstickers) - Good Life Xplorers (2)

For this gyoza recipe, I will be using store bought wrappers, but if you want to make your own, it’s not hard. The only hard part is getting it so thin. I am a fan of using ready made products when I need lots of it and since this recipe makes 40-50 gyozas, I preferred to buy the wrappers at my grocery store.

There are several different fillings for gyozas and you can experiment with different flavors that are not necessarily Asian, but for this gyoza recipe, I stayed true to the traditional pork gyoza that I ate while visiting Japan.

Pork Gyoza Recipe (Japanese Potstickers) - Good Life Xplorers (3)

Although gyozas are absolutely delicious and you can’t ever just eat one, they are labor intensive. Prepping and mixing the ingredients for the filling takes 10 minutes, but wrapping them takes 45-60 minutes if you are by yourself.

A trick is to get the family to help. Have a gyoza wrapping party and it will get done in no time. It also gets easier as you get used to it.

Thankfully, they freeze amazingly well, so next time you make gyozas, make a double batch and freeze them for another day.

There are two methods of pinching the gyoza wrapper closed. One is to pinch it from the middle towards the ends and the other is to pinch it from one side to the next. I found the latter to be easier. Once I did about a dozen, the rest went pretty quickly.

It also helps to not overfill the gyoza wrapper as it will leak out and sometimes causes the wrapper to tear. You also don’t want to skimp on the filling – the best gyozas have a good ratio of dough to filling. You will know pretty fast after wrapping a few Japanese dumplings what is the right amount.

Now on to the good part- the recipe!

Pork Gyoza Recipe (Japanese Potstickers) - Good Life Xplorers (4)

Enjoy!

Pork Gyoza Recipe (Japanese Potstickers) - Good Life Xplorers (5)

Print Recipe

Pork Gyoza Recipe

This pork gyoza recipe is absolutely amazing! Traditional fried Japanese dumplings made using store bought wrappers. So simple anyone can make it! It's delicious with the easy to make dipping sauce!!

Prep Time1 hour hr

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Party Favorites, Snack

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: appetizers, dinner, dipping sauce, dumplings, easy dinner recipes, fried, gyoza, homemade, japanese, lunch, pork, simple, traditional

Servings: 40 gyozas

Calories: 67kcal

Ingredients

Gyoza Filling

  • 1 package gyoza wrappers
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 3 green onions chopped finely
  • 1-2 garlic cloves chopped finely
  • 2 tsps grated ginger
  • 1 tsp red miso paste substitute for soy sauce if not available
  • 3 cups chopped napa cabbage chopped finely

For frying

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or sesame oil

Gyoza sauce

  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • drops chili oil optional

Instructions

Making Gyozas

  • Mix all the filling ingredients into a bowl and mix it with your hands until it is well combined.

  • Open the gyoza wrappers and place a small amount of the pork mixture in the center of the wrapper. Dip your fingers in water and run it around the wrapper’s edge so it will stick together. Fold the wrapper in half, forming a half moon and with your fingers, create pleats around the edge to close the gyoza. See pictures above.

Cooking Gyozas

  • Turn heat to medium low on your stove. Place half of the oil in a frying pan.

  • Wait a few seconds until the oil is warm and place the gyozas flat side down. Fry it for 2 minutes minutes without moving them.

  • Pour water into the pan and close it with a lid to steam the gyozas.

  • Cook for 8 minutes until the skin becomes soft and the water is all evaporated.

  • Remove cover and let any remaining water evaporate. Add the extra oil and let the gyozas fry to 2-5 minutes. It’s important not to try to move them before at least 2 minutes as the bottom may be stuck to the pan and the skin will tear.

  • Once the gyozas can be removed from pan. Let it rest for a couple minutes as you make the gyoza sauce.

Gyoza Sauce

  • Add soy sauce, vinegar and chili oil to dipping container. Taste it for acidity and heat. Add more vinegar and oil if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

If you liked this recipe, you might also like Beef Gyudon!

What recipe should I make next?

For more recipes, click here or follow my Recipe Board on Pinterest.

Don’t forget to follow my travel or lifestyle accounts on Instagram and to subscribe to my YouTube channel for videos.

Pork Gyoza Recipe (Japanese Potstickers) - Good Life Xplorers (6)
Pork Gyoza Recipe (Japanese Potstickers) - Good Life Xplorers (7)

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This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and participant in other programs, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

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

FAQs

What is the difference between Japanese gyoza and 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.

How to steam gyoza? ›

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.

Is gyoza eaten with soy sauce? ›

When eating Gyoza, they shouldn't be eaten on their own, a good dipping sauce is essential. This can be as simple or as complicated as you'd like. Many eat their Gyoza with just soy sauce for dipping, if you wanted to be a little more adventurous you could pick a Ponzu sauce for an additional citrus tang.

Is gyoza always pork? ›

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.

Are gyozas Japanese or Chinese? ›

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.

What is Japan's number 1 gyoza? ›

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

Is gyoza usually steamed or fried? ›

Steam-frying, or the potsticker method, is employed for dumplings like gyoza and gow gee (also known as jiaozi or guo tie). The dumplings are seared on their base to create a golden, crispy bottom, and then water is added, and they are covered to steam through.

Are dumplings 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.

How long should I steam gyozas for? ›

Spread the napa cabbage on the steam grate. Cover with lid, and steam until the leaves are slightly wilted (about 1 minutes). Arrange the gyoza pieces in a single layer on the napa cabbage. Cover with lid, and steam for 7 - 8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

What do Japanese people eat with gyoza? ›

Traditionally in Japanese cuisine, it is eaten with soy sauce and vinegar mixture with some ra-yu chili oil added for taste. Enjoy on its own as a meal or as a side dish!

What do you eat next to gyoza? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Asian dumplings (East Asia) are ramen, tomato and egg stir fry, fried greens, chilli miso steamed aubergine, pork belly fried rice, cucumber salad (Oi Muchim), tahini miso noodles, and claypot tofu.

Is there MSG in gyoza? ›

Do you know that most Gyoza's you eat at restaurants and in stores are filled with MSG chemicals? MSG is one of the worst food additives on the market, you can find it in a lot of restaurants and supermarkets where you buy your gyoza or dumplings.

What is the difference between Japanese dumplings and gyoza? ›

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.

What is the difference between Japanese and Chinese gyoza? ›

In short, the Japanese gyoza is the same as a Chinese jiaozi. Both are filled with the same fillings, both are the same shape, both are steamed or boiled, and both are delicious.

What sauce do you eat gyoza with? ›

Gyoza sauce is a slightly-spicy Japanese dipping sauce for potstickers or spring rolls.

Is a potsticker a gyoza? ›

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

What is a Japanese gyoza? ›

Gyoza are Japanese pan-fried dumplings that are crisp and golden on the bottom and juicy inside. These meat-filled treats are easy to fold using one of the methods I show here. They're so delicious served with my savory dipping sauce. Prep Time: 1 hr. Cook Time: 30 mins.

Are potstickers Chinese or Japanese? ›

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.

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