Master the Art of Perfectly Pleated Pork & Crab Bites
I prefer this over any restaurants’😌
There’s something magical about biting into a perfectly cooked gyoza or dumpling —the crispy bottom, the tender wrapper, and the burst of juicy filling~ For me, that magic started in my childhood, watching my mom fold dumplings with expert hands. Having them for one meal makes me crave for it again the next day! Now, I’m passing down this art and joy in life!
Prep work: 10 minutes, at least 30 minutes in the fridge to overnight
Cook time: ~10 minutes per batch
Ingredients
500g minced pork
200g crab meat
spring onions, chopped
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp chinese cooking wine
1.5 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
dash of white pepper
Notes
You can substitute pork for chicken mince
You can omit crab, or replace it with prawns. Add 0.5 tsp of sugar to your dumpling filling mixture if you omitted seafood
You can also omit chinese cooking wine
Method
If you’re using frozen crab or prawn meat, make sure to defrost it ahead of time
Assemble all the ingredients except crab meat in a bowl and mix well
Let it rest in the fridge, covered, for at least 30 minutes. You may also leave it in the fridge overnight
Add crab meat just before wrapping your dumplings or cooking them as meatballs
Some tips on making & cooking the dumplings:
Folding:
Place a small spoonful of filling in the center of a wrapper. Wet the edges with water, fold it in half, and pleat one side while pressing to seal. Don’t stress about perfection—each fold adds character!
Cooking:
Heat a nonstick pan with a bit of oil. Arrange the gyozas flat-side down, cook until the bottoms are golden brown, then add a splash of water and cover to steam. Once the water evaporates, uncover and crisp them up again for that signature crunch.
You may also just pan fry them without adding the water - I usually do this because it’s more straightforward.If you’re making wontons, you can either brush the wrapped wantons with a bit of oil to air fry them for about 10-12 minutes at 185ºC, boil or deep fry them!
You can also make meatballs and just boil them for (noodle) soups
Conclusion
Homemade dumplings may take a little practice, but the reward is worth every pleat! Whether you’re making them for a cozy dinner at home or to impress your friends, these dumplings always leave everyone asking for more once they are all wiped out.
