Chinese Dumplings

Chinese Dumplings, Lay The Table

Gong Hei Fat Choi! Chinese New Year is just round the corner and everyone seems to be busy planning and preparing food to celebrate this special occasion. Rather than invent something new, I thought I’d re-introduce three of the most popular posts on Lay The Table, seeing as so many people are searching for Chinese dumplings or jiaozi recipes.

It’s traditional for Chinese families to get together to make dumplings (it requires many pairs of hands to make so many dumplings!) and catch up with each others’ lives while making them. The shape of the dumplings is also symbolic of wealth and prosperity as they are said to resemble ingots from old China. Dumplings are eaten throughout the year, not just for Chinese New Year. And home-made is best!

Today was a first for me. I used to eat boiled jiaozi regularly when I lived in Beijing in the mid-90s, and also made them with friends. But I’ve never before attempted to make the wrappers without any help. Last year the vegetarian husband and I started to make steamed and pan-fried dumplings, which were a success, but using only shop-bought wrappers. So I decided to make both boiled and pan-fried dumplings using home-made wrappers, with the traditional minced pork and cabbage filling.


Chinese Dumplings, Lay The Table

It took two hours from start to finish, and it would have been much more fun with family or friends. But I overcame my fear of making dumpling wrappers, and learnt a lot in the process. I hope these posts will help you make many delicious dumplings for both Chinese New Year and to enjoy during 2009.

Now that I’ve made all three types – boiled, steamed and pan-fried – I have to say that I still prefer pan-fried. It’s the least healthy option, but the most delicious…!

  • How To Make Chinese Dumplings or Jiaozi – how my mother boils dumplings filled with pork and cabbage, using home-made wrappers. These can also be pan-fried
  • How To Make Chinese Steamed and Pan-fried Dumplings – how we make steamed and pan-fried dumplings with vegetarian fillings, using shop-bought wrappers
  • What Are Chinese Dumplings or Jiaozi? – a summary of the many different types of Chinese dumplings that you can find

See more Chinese recipes on Lay The Table


Please leave me a comment if you have any questions or tips!


@ Lay The Table

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