Gyoza (Japanese Dumplings)

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This Gyoza recipe is Japanese dumplings stuffed with cabbage, ground pork, garlic, ginger, and green onions, all pan-fried and steamed to perfection. I love to serve them with a simple three-ingredient dipping sauce.

They are so much better than your local Japanese restaurant and so easy to make. Enjoy these delicious appetizers right in the comfort of your kitchen tonight, or pop some in the freezer for easy entertaining. I love to serve them with classic homemade egg rolls, lettuce wraps, and coconut shrimp.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.

Cabbage: I use regular green cabbage, but you can substitute Napa (Chinese cabbage) or Savoy
Grated ginger: Freshly grated or ginger paste. Ginger paste works just as well as fresh ginger, and once opened, it lasts about a month in the fridge.
Potsticker or gyoza wrappers: Sometimes, potsticker wrappers or gyoza wrappers are difficult to find. You can purchase wonton wrappers and modify them. Using a lid from something in the kitchen that is about 3 inches wide as a guide, cut the wontons into a circular shape with a sharp paring knife. This works out well for Gyoza because they are traditionally made with a thinner wrap than a pot sticker wrap. Wonton wrappers are slightly thinner than pot sticker wrappers.
Mirin: Mirin is a sweetened sake and can be found in the Asian food section of some grocery stores. Substitutions for mirin include 2 tablespoons of sherry mixed with 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar.

How to make Japanese Gyoza Dumplings

This is the summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.

First, add the chopped cabbage to a colander and sprinkle with a little salt. Stir to combine and let the colander sit in the sink for about 15 minutes. This will help draw any extra moisture out of the cabbage. Squeeze any excess water out.

Then in a large bowl, combine the cabbage, ground pork, garlic, green onions, and grated ginger. Gently combine with your hand. Now holding a pot sticker wrapper in the palm of your hand. Dip your index finger from your other hand in cold water and moisten the whole outer edge of the wrapper. Place 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture in the center of the wrapper.

Some of the steps for making gyoza. Then in a large bowl combine the cabbage, ground pork, garlic, green onions, and grated ginger. Gently combine with your hand. Now holding a pot sticker wrapper in the palm of your hand.

Now using your right hand (reverse if you are left-handed), start to fold the pot sticker in half, making pleats about every 1/2 inch as you pinch to seal the dumpling. Place them on parchment-covered baking sheets as you go. I like to flash freeze these to keep the dough from drying out and to save half the batch for another time.

Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add some of the dumplings to the hot oil, flat side down, in a single layer, leaving space between them. Pan fry until they are golden brown on the flat side, then add a small amount of water and cover with a lid. The steam will cook the filling and create the perfect texture. The gyoza will be crispy pan-fried on one side and steamed tender on the other side. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, mirin, and sesame oil. Serve the dipping sauce with the warm dumplings.

Some of the steps to making gyoza. Now using your right hand (reverse if you are left handed) start to fold the pot sticker in half making pleats about every 1/2 inch as you seal the dumpling.

Preparation Tips

Chop the cabbage and green onions finely. After all, a dumpling is only a little over 3 inches long.
Moisten a paper towel with cold water (squeezing out the excess) and place it over the dumplings or wonton wrappers that you are not working with at the moment. This keeps them from drying out and prolongs flexibility.
The sauce can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
You may want to double the sauce ingredients if cooking all the dumplings at once.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Gyoza (Japanese dumplings) on a platter with sauce and green onions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze gyoza?

Flash freeze the dumplings by placing them on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet without touching each other to keep them from sticking. Then place the sheet in the freezer on a level area for about 2 hours or until they are frozen solid. Move the dumplings to a heavy-duty freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Take as many or as few as you want from the freezer bag and cook from frozen just as directed in the recipe.

How do I reheat gyoza?

The preferred way is in a covered skillet on the stovetop over medium heat with a couple of tablespoons of water to steam them. My second choice would be to microwave them at reduced power.

What can I use if I can not find gyoza or potsticker wrappers?

This is becoming more of an issue lately as stores are carrying less inventory than they used to. You can purchase wonton wrappers and modify them. Using a lid from something in the kitchen that is about 3 inches wide as a guide, cut the wontons into a circular shape with a sharp paring knife. This works out well for Gyoza because they are traditionally made with a thinner wrap than a pot sticker wrap, and wonton wrappers are slightly thinner.

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