The best thing about this Chilli Pork and Mushroom Gyoza, like the ground pork Chinese dumplings, is that you can be super creative and try different ingredients. Take note that Japanese Gyoza pastries are actually a little different to the Chinese ones. Japanese ones tend to be thinner and smaller, and don’t forget NOT TO BE greedy when it comes to putting fillings. By the way, I enjoy making plenty of them and freezing them in the freezer! Now, if you love Japanese appetizers, then enjoy Gyoza with the chicken skewers too!

The Best Chilli Pork and Mushroom Gyoza
The best thing about this Chilli Pork and Mushroom Gyoza is that you can be super creative and try different ingredients.
Ingredients
FOR THE FILLINGS:
1 pound ground pork (minced pork)
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon chili flakes (chilli flakes in British English)
½ pound cabbage - finely diced
6 medium shiitake mushrooms
5 grams ginger - finely diced
1 clove garlic - finely diced
1 pinch ground black pepper - to taste
FOR THE REST:
1 tablespoon cooking oil
¼ cup water - for frying Gyoza
1 tablespoon sesame oil
FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE:
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Instructions
- Soak mushroom in cold water until soft. Drain and squeeze out excess water. Finely dice.
- Add all “filling” ingredients into a large bowl. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Leave aside to marinate for 10 minutes.
- Prepare a bowl of cold water for gyoza wrapping.
- Place a wrapper in the palm of your hand. Dollop a tablespoon of filling and put it in the center of the wrapper.
- Dip your finger into the cold water and draw a circle around the perimeter of the wrapper, so it is wet. This helps the wrapper to stick.
- Fold the wrapper in half but DO NOT push firm.
- Start from one side, seal the front of the wrapper by pleating and leaving the backside straight. Make sure the two sides are sealed by pressing folded pleats tightly against each other. Use your finger to dip more water if the wrapper drys out or does not stick.
- Sit the Gyoza on parchment paper over a large flat dish, and push down gently to form a good “bottom”.
- Fold the edge of the pleat inwards with the pleat facing outward. This gives a nice round shape.
- On a cooking pan, over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Place 5 Gyoza in a line at once, so they stick to each other. Repeat another 5 on the other side of the pan. Cook until the bottom is golden brown.
- Add water into the pan and close the lid. This will steam cook the Gyoza. Wait until most of the water evaporates.
- Meanwhile, add all the ingredients of the dipping sauce together. Mix well.
- Remove the lid of the pan and continue to let the water evaporate. Add sesame oil around the edge of the Gyoza and cook uncovered until they get nice and crisp on the bottom.
- Serve warm with dipping sauce.
Notes
Tips:
- You can make a big batch beforehand and freeze them in the freezer. Ensure that you spread apart the Gyoza when you are freezing it from the first time (generally right after you finish making them). Once they are hard enough, you can place them all into a container (they won’t stick after the first “separation freeze”).
- When you steam them after freezing, there is no need for thawing. Immediately place them in a pan and cook over medium heat as suggested in the instructions.
- Do not leave frozen Gyoza at room temperature, as they will stick together when the ice starts melting.
- Pork can be replaced with chicken if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 32kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 99mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 12IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg
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