Jiaozi (饺子), Chinese iconic crescent-shaped dumplings, are more than just delicious – they’re a cultural experience. Besides being delicious and easy to prepare, making them is an opportunity to gather with family and friends. In this post, I bring you a tried-and-tested jiaozi recipe that you can easily make at home, even if it’s your first time cooking Asian food. Plus, you’ll expand your Chinese vocabulary with useful cooking-related phrases!
What Are Chinese Dumplings Called in Mandarin?
Chinese dumplings are called jiaozi (饺子). This dish is often prepared during celebrations like Chinese New Year, as it symbolizes unity and happiness.
Now, let’s get cooking! Here’s our step-by-step jiaozi recipe:
Chinese Dumplings Ingredients
For the dough:
- 600g flour
- A pinch of salt
- 250ml water
For the filling:
- 450g ground meat
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 spring onion (finely chopped)
- 1 egg
- Salt, pepper
- Ginger (fresh or powdered)
Instructions
- Knead the dough from flour, salt, and water. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Divide the dough into small balls (about 10g each – this amount makes around 60 dumplings).
- Roll each ball into a circle, place filling in the center, and carefully seal.
- Drop the jiaozi into boiling water and cook for about 10 minutes, or until they float.
- Serve with soy sauce or your preferred dipping sauce.
Useful Mandarin Cooking Phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 饺子 | jiǎo zi | dumplings |
| 面粉 | miàn fěn | flour |
| 水 | shuǐ | water |
| 肉 | ròu | meat |
| 葱 | cōng | spring onion |
| 鸡蛋 | jī dàn | egg |
| 酱油 | jiàng yóu | soy sauce |
| 香油 | xiāng yóu | sesame oil |
| 盐 | yán | salt |
| 胡椒 | hú jiāo | pepper |
| 姜 | jiāng | ginger |
| 面团 | miàn tuán | dough |
| 切 | qiē | to chop |
| 搅拌 | jiǎo bàn | to mix |
| 煮 | zhǔ | to boil |
| 煎 | jiān | to pan-fry |
| 炸 | zhà | to deep-fry |
| 和面 | huó miàn | to knead dough |
| 包 | bāo | to wrap/fill |
Video Tutorial
Check out how my jiaozi turned out in this Instagram reel!
I hope this recipe helps you make delicious dumplings at home while learning something new about Chinese culture and language. If you enjoy such recipes and want to learn more useful Mandarin phrases, follow my blog and Instagram!
Enjoy your meal!