An easy-to-follow tutorial on gyoza folding two ways with step-by-step pictures and tips. Let’s make delicious Gyoza (Japanese pan-fried dumplings) at home!
I received some requests from readers to show you how to fold gyoza, so here’s my tutorial. There are different ways to fold gyoza and there are 2 popular ways: folding toward the one side (two left columns) vs. folding toward the center (two right columns).
How to Make Gyoza Wrappers at Home
If you can’t get gyoza wrappers in Japanese or Asian grocery stores, the last option is to make your gyoza wrappers at home. It’s fun and quite satisfying to be able to make your own wrappers at home with just 3 ingredients – flour, salt, and water!
Gyoza Recipes
Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
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How To Fold Gyoza
Ingredients
- Gyoza Filling (homemade) (My gyoza recipe)
- Gyoza Wrappers (homemade or store bought) (My homemade recipe)
- water (prepare in a small bowl)
Instructions
To Fold Gyoza
- Take a wrapper and place it in the palm of your non-dominant hand. Use a teaspoon to take a small amount of filling and put it in the center of the wrapper.
- Dip one finger in a bowl of water and draw a circle around the outer 1/4” of the wrapper with your wet finger until it’s wet all around.
Method 1 - Pleats toward the Center
- Fold the wrapper in half over the filling and pinch it in the center with your thumb and index finger (but don’t seal yet!). Using your right thumb and index finger, start making a pleat about once every ¼ inch on the top part of the wrapper from the center toward the right.
- Once you make 3-4 pleats, continue with the left side of the gyoza. Start making a pleat from the center toward the left.
- As you fold each pleat, press the folded pleat tightly against the back part of the wrapper using your other thumb and index finger.
- Press the pleats and shape the gyoza.
- Place the finished gyoza on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the gyoza so they won't get dry while you're folding gyoza. Repeat until you run out of the filling or wrappers.
Method 2 - Pleats toward one side
- Fold the wrapper in half over the filling.
- Using your left thumb and index finger, start making a pleat about once every ¼ inch on the top part of the wrapper from the right toward the left.
- Once you make each pleat, press it down with your right thumb and move toward the left
- Continue all the way till there is no more top wrapper to pleat left.
- Press the pleats and shape the gyoza.
To Store Gyoza
- Flash freeze uncooked gyoza by spacing it out on a tray, freezing it until it's firm.
- Store the gyoza them in more space-efficient freezer bags for up to 2-3 months in the freezer.
