Nothing beats a homemade dumpling.
OK, perhaps I exaggerate slightly. There are some transcendent dumplings out there that I have no hope of every recreating.
However, by and large, I almost always prefer the dumplings I make at home to restaurant dumplings (in the US), and definitely above all frozen dumplings. I find that most restaurant dumplings (with the exception of those at my beloved Din Tai Fung), are too meat-heavy for my taste. Often, it seems like I’m eating mostly pork, maybe with a little bit of chopped scallions. I personally prefer a more balanced dumpling that incorporates Chinese chives, napa cabbage, and pork in more equal proportions.
In northern China, dumplings are traditionally made at home on New Year’s Eve after dinner. They are meant to be eaten right at midnight as the family ushers in the new year. The Chinese like to eat dumplings because they are shaped like gold ingots (yuan bao), and thus symbolize prosperity and wealth.
Since Chinese New Year is fast approaching (hello year of the dragon!!!), I thought it was the perfect time to share with you how I make dumplings, one of my favorite foods in the world.
When I was growing up, my mom used to hand chop all of the vegetables with a cleaver. These days, with the help of modern technology (hello food processor!), you can quickly and finely chop both napa cabbage and Chinese chives in mere seconds. Definitely use the pulse function, but don’t pulse too many times! You’re not trying to make chive & napa pesto!!
It’s best to use reasonably fatty ground pork. Your dumplings will be juicer and much more flavorful. 
Mix together!
Although it’s horribly messy (Bryan would absolutely hate this), it’s probably easiest to just get your hands in there and make sure everything is incorporated especially if you’re working with such large quantities as I was!)
Wrapping the Dumplings
[Please look at the photos, going counterclockwise]
You can easily buy pre-made store bought wrappers in most Asian grocery stores. Do not buy the square wonton wrappers, which are thinner and egg-based. Instead, look for the circular, white wrappers.
If you are really ambitious and want to make your own dumpling wrappers, scroll to the bottom of the post for that recipe.
Add a small, teaspoon-sized dollop of pork mixture in the center of the wrapper. Moisten the outer edges of the wrapper using your index finger. Bring together opposite ends of the wrapper (as if you are making a half moon), and press together. For the simplest dumpling, simply connect remaining edges together to make a half moon shaped dumpling. This type of dumpling is good for boiling, but not as good as pot stickers.
For a potsticker style dumpling (which can stand on its own with a flat bottom), press together most of one half of the dumpling, leaving a small loop, which you then flatten into a pleat. Repeat on the other side. Alternatively, start on one side and form multiple pleats down the entire edge of the half moon. The dumpling should be able to stand on its own. Place the finished dumplings, flat side down (pleat side up), in one layer on a piece of foil.
If freezing, freeze the entire tray until the dumplings are frozen. Then remove them and pile them individually into a freezer bag.
Pan frying dumplings (to make potstickers)
You will need to work in batches here, since each pan can only pan fry one layer of dumplings at once. Add 1-2 T of vegetable oil to a nonstick (e.g., cast iron pan) pan and heat to medium high heat. Once the pan is really hot, place the dumplings (either fresh or frozen) in one layer (flat side down) inside the pan.
You should hear significant sizzling. Let the dumplings cook for about 2-4 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown.
Add about ½ cup of water (or enough that there is about ¼ inch of water in the pan). Cover, and reduce heat down to medium. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until all the water evaporates and you begin to hear that sizzle sound again.
To see the video that I made with Nina Simonds that shows you how to do this step by step, click here.
Boiling Dumplings (Alternate Cooking Method)
Bring a large pot of water to boiling. Add the dumplings and cook until they float to the surface. Add about 1/2 cup of cold water. When the water reboils again, add another 1/2 cup of water. On the third “reboil”, the dumplings should be done. Remove with a slotted spoon and serve.
[Note – the above method is the traditional “Taiwanese Mom” method. Most package instructions will tell you just to reduce the heat to medium after the dumplings initially float and cook for 5-6 minutes. That probably works as well, but I find the Taiwanese Mom method to be more fun and cool!]
EAT!
Serve hot, with soy sauce, optionally mixed with black vinegar, sesame oil, hot chili sauce, chopped ginger, garlic, and/or scallions (it’s really up to personal preference!).
Making the Dumpling Wrapper
This is seriously optional – it’s a lot of work and you can easily buy store-bought wrappers that are pretty good. However, homemade dumpling wrappers are more moist, don’t require water when wrapping, and overall have better texture.
You can check out the video I made with Nina Simonds where we show you how to make the skins, wrap the dumpling, and pan fry it!
Ingredients
makes about 50-60 wrappers – you will need to make several batches if you are using the pork recipe above
4 cups all purpose flour
1.5 cups hot boiling water
additional flour for the work space
Measure out flour into a large work bowl. Slowly add the hot water to the flour and stir with a spoon or chopsticks until it is combined and sort of lumpy. Knead the dough in the bowl with your hands until smooth and sort of elastic. Cover the dough in plastic wrap or a damp paper towel, and let rest for at least 15 minutes, up to two hours.
When ready to wrap, pull off a portion of the dough that is just large enough to roll out into a 5-6 inch log about 1 inch diameter (pictured below). Wrap the rest of the dough back up. Cut equal sized nuggets about 1 inch thick. Lay the cut cylinders on their sides and flatten into 1 1/2 inch wide discs. Using a rolling pin, flatten the outer edges while turning the disc. You want the middle of the disc to be just slightly thicker than the edges, which is why you roll from the outer edges.
Set aside, and wrap!
Chinese Pork, Leek, and Napa Dumplings
Makes about 200 to 250 dumplings (I think I served over 10 people with this recipe)
Ingredients
1 head Napa cabbage (about 1.5 lbs)
4 bunches of Chinese chives
16 oz firm tofu
4 lbs ground pork
2 tsp salt
tsp pepper (white or black)
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger root, finely grated
2/3 cup soy sauce 4 eggs, beaten
1 T sesame oil
2 T Shaoxing rice wine
4-5 T corn starch
Commercially available dumpling wrappers (enough to make ~250 dumplings) or homemade dumpling wrappers (see bottom of post)
a small cup of water for wetting the wrapper
Dipping Sauce
soy sauce
additional optional ingredients
vinegar (either black or rice)
sesame oil
hot chili sauce
minced ginger
minced garlic
chopped scallions
Filling
Using a food processor (in batches), finely chop the Napa cabbage and Chinese chives by using the pulse function. Be careful not to pulse for too long. Otherwise, you may pulverize the vegetables!
Alternatively, chop and then mince by hand.
Separately, add salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine, and corn starch to the ground pork and mix well. Combine the vegetables, tofu, beaten eggs, and the ground pork mixture, using hands to thoroughly mix together if necessary.
Wrap dumplings according to instructions shown above.
Cook (choose from pan frying or boiling, both described in detail above) and eat!
Enjoy!!!!
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You are totally right! Home made dumplings are the absolute best!
What a wonderful post. I love these little dumplings and your photos and instructions are quite clear. I am going to try making the wrappers myself. Thanks for sharing your recipe and Happy New Year.
I was thinking of doing a lunar new year dinner for my friends here! And was considering dumplings. Thanks! 😀
I made my own dumplings from scratch once a few years ago, and I was so sad when we finally got through the supply I stashed in the freezer. I really want to find time to make them again!
Now you have me craving dumplings. Wonderful step-by-step guide.
We spent two years (and two Spring Festivals) living in China … this recipe is basically exactly the same one we were taught to make (except without the dofu). We’ll make them again tomorrow night and remember our friends in our 2nd homeland.
What a great tutorial!
I adore Chinese-style dumplings, particularly the pan-fried crispy kind, but making my own always seemed so time-consuming and scary when compared to grabbing them ready-made from the frozen foods aisle at the Chinese market. Thanks for taking the scary out of the equation… now I just need to find the time to give it a try! 🙂
The dofu is an interesting addition that I actually learned from watching the Food Network! My parents actually never added it either, and I think the recipe still works fine without it. 🙂
Thanks so much!
Hee hee, it’s Chinese New Year, a perfect time to try making them again!
You’re welcome! Hope you were able to make some. 🙂
You’re welcome! Happy New Year!
🙂
You’re welcome! Hope you’re able to find some time to try it. 🙂
I made these tonight and my son asked that I pass along the following to you for showing me how easy it is to make these myself (for him of course)… “I love you” =D
I have a friend who showed me how to make these. But I did the boiling method. We made everything homemade. Including the wraps. So easy and yummy. In the states I’ve had them the other way. In the frying pan. Still yummy either way.
wow! I just tried your recipe and my husband and kids flipped out! We live in Denmark and my daughter’s best friend NEVER wants to eat our food, but this time she asked for more! Thanks so much for sharing such a great recipe!
Thanks for such a kind comment! You made my day. 🙂
I made this recipe by subbing morningstar soy crumbles for the pork and it was delicious! It tasted more like a beef dumpling so I hope to try with pork sometime soon… I need to find a family (or 3) that I can cook for! ^_^
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made these for dinner tonight, my kids and husband couldn’t get enough!!! thank you sooooo much for the recipe, instructions and yummy food-love!!! XOXO
Yay! I love hearing comments like this. So glad your family enjoyed it. 🙂
🙁
Wonderful recipe. I had a great time making these with my 10 year old dumpling connisor (sp?). She loved them, my husband liked them, (that’s a great compliment b/c he hates vegetables) and my son did not spit them out ( this is the true test…! :). )
I will make these over and over. Thank you for making it accessible to people…who were not born into families that make these regularly. I.e. white people!
Looks so good and easy to make. Thank you for sharing the recipe 🙂
wow ! lovely.
I love your recipe – especially your pictures on how to fold the dumpling skins nicely was really helpful.
Wow these look amazing. I actually stumbled across your video with Nina Simonds whilst searching for a different recipe. I found her really annoying as she just didn’t let you talk and chatted a lot of rubbish. She was rolling everything wrong and wrapping the dumplings awfully. You did really well to put up with her but I’m sorry I couldn’t watch the video. I guess she’s probably some big person in the US?
Anyway, I’m glad I actually found your blog and you actually had some instructions here – thankfully she mentioned your blog 🙂 I love potstickers and would love to try them myself with a bunch of friends. Looks like a great thing to learn to do – thank you!
Hi! When you serve a dumpling dinner for guests, what else do you serve for food that evening?
I agree with you that I prefer dumplings with more cabbage. I salt the cabbage and squeeze out excess water before mixing together with the cabbage. Thanks for the idea to add chives and tofu.
look nice. i will try.
Great post! Loving the dumpling wrapping instructions! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Just used your dumpling wrapper recipe (for the traditional Jewish Christmas observance, with Chinese food and movies) and it was perfect – came together beautifully, handled like a dream, and tasty, tasty. Thanks, and happy holidays!
This is by far the best article about how to make dumpling I read, and I have been researching for several weeks. Thanks!
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Jen, I am so excited to try this recipe! I lived in LA for many years and frequented China Town for dim sum. Then my sister and her husband moved to Taipei so we went to visit them! We love Taiwan! Even tried to figure out a way to live there for a time. I have eaten at your beloved Din Tai Fung! Thank you for sharing!!!
Yay! Hope you enjoy it!
Jen
I just found your recipe for Homemade Chinese Dumplings and can’t wait to try it. I would like to try and make my own wrappers, but wonder if there is an easier way than by ‘hand’. Have you ever tried to make the dough in a bread machine, just using the dough setting? Since I have arthritis in my hands, I was hoping to use the bread machine for this step only. Thanks in advance for your – or others’ – reply.
Hi Dawn,
I have never tried making dumpling skins in the bread machine. It’s an interesting idea! If you try it or find out, let me know!
Jen
dumplings=delicious
What made me laugh a little and then read your whole recipe posting is when you said homemade dumplings beat restaurant dumplings and then you had in parentheses “in the US”. Well I will tell you I have been living in China for 18 years now and homemade dumplings beat restaurant dumplings here too!
My wife is from the north east of China the home of Chinese dumplings, homemade ones always are better
While your recipe and instructions are great there is a few things I would just like to add.
First do not limit your choices of fillings to only this combination there are many many combinations you can use. While pork and leek are still at the top of my list we also enjoy meats such as beef, lamb and we even tried venison dumplings. Be they with leaks cabbage celery bell peppers whatever vegetables you like try them
You left off my favorite method for cooking dumplings which is steaming them. Like many people I preferred fried dumplings in the beginning but later many people change to prefer steamed or boiled. In our house we tend to steam some and fry some
Lastly the dipping sauce which to me is one of the most important things I personally detest soy sauce for dumplings. Try it without. Instead use mostly black vinegar base instead, lots of chopped red chilies in oil, A dash of sesame oil and some finely chopped cilantro.
Enjoy!
Just made these, first time doing dumplings. Came out great, love the taste. Came out with a lot less than 200 (from the dough recipe) think I made them a bit big. Still absolutely delicious.
Hi 🙂
Thank you for your wonderful recipe and instructions. They look delicious. I was also wondering if you have a gluten free version for the wrappers.
I was wondering if I could have permission to copy and paste your article for my recipe file since it is your work. I find this method fast and accurate.
It would take too long to retype it all and I have carpal tunnel in both hands so I only type what I must to not over do things.
Thank you
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for your email. You may copy and paste the recipe into your recipe file for personal purposes. Thank you for asking. As for gluten-free, I do not have a recipe, but I bet there are versions out there that use rice flour or other gluten-free flours. Good luck!
Jen
You are totally right! Homemade dumplings are the absolute best!