Name: Gyoza Dumplings with Ground Turkey
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: makes 4 appetizers or 2 main dishes
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 100 g (3.5 oz) all-purpose flour; 3 tbsp (25g) cornstarch; 65 ml (2.3 oz) warm water; 250 g (1/2 pound) ground turkey; 1 scallion; 3 cloves of garlic; 1 tsp lemon zest, grated; 2 cm (1-inch) piece of fresh ginger; 2 tbsp light soy sauce; 40 g (1.4 oz) freshly grated cabbage; 1 tbsp canola oil or sesame seed oil; 85 ml (3 oz) water; 2 tbsp canola oil for cooking

Gyoza Dumplings with Ground Turkey

We haven't been to China or Japan yet, but we still adore their culture and rich culinary world. Dumplings are something that comes to mind first when I think of Chinese or Japanese cuisine. They have mastered it, and we loved experimenting with different dumpling recipes too. These Gyoza dumplings are something that we saw on tv while watching a tv show, and we knew immediately that we need to learn more. After trial and error, we finally came up with the recipe and flavor combinations we adore. We made a simple gyoza wrapper dough and a rich but not overpowering filling made of ground turkey, spring vegetables, lemon zest, fresh ginger, cabbage, and garlic. It is incredibly delicious and perfect both as an appetizer or a main dish.

Simple Gyoza Dumplings Recipe

Mmm, trust me when I say that these are impossible to resist. Especially while they are still warm and served with a delicious sauce. We love:

golden-brown, pan-fried exterior
soft, perfectly cooked and balanced interior
easy recipe, made in less than an hour
delicious Asian flavors that aren't intense or overpowering
fantastic appetizer or main dish
great for picnics, celebrations, and parties
you can easily make these up to 2 months ahead (keep them chilled in a freezer)

How to make these simple Ground Turkey Gyoza Dumplings

Don't let the shape of these dumplings scare you away. They are super easy to make, and after making a few, you will quickly fall into creating and shaping them. This recipe is simple and made of two steps. First is the homemade gyoza wrappers dough, and the second is a simple ground turkey filling with vegetables. This is how we make it:

Make a simple three-ingredient dough. Knead into an elastic dough and leave to rest. Feel free to use store-bought gyoza wrappers dough.
In a bowl, stir to combine all the ingredients for the filling using ground turkey, veggies and spices
Divide the gyoza wrappers dough into 24 equal parts, roll it out and fill with the prepared filling, shape, and seal.
Pan-fry the dumplings, then continue to cook them for a few minutes
Serve as a simple appetizer or a rich main dish

What is Gyoza

Gyoza is a popular dumpling from Asia. It is known in China (where they call it Jiaozi), and it is popular in Japan as well, there they call it Gyoza. Gyoza dumplings can be cooked, pan-fried, or fried. In our case, they are first pan-fried, then cooked to perfection. The filling is delicious and rich, mostly consisting of ground meat and vegetables, or in our case of ground turkey, spring vegetables, ginger, lemon zest, and soy sauce—all the good stuff.

How to store and freeze Gyoza Dumplings with Ground Turkey

Make ahead and freeze: Shape and make the dumplings. Place them on a baking sheet and transfer to a freezer. Once they are completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag, return to the freezer and keep them chilled for up to 2 months. Defrost by bringing them to room temperature (leave them on the kitchen counter for a few hours), then continue with the pan-frying and cooking.

How to store cooked dumplings: Keep any cooked Gyoza in an airtight container, in a fridge, for up to 2 days. Reheat before serving.

Try these delicious Asian inspired recipes too

Ingredients

gyoza wrapper

100 g (3.5 oz) all-purpose flour

3 tbsp (25g) cornstarch

65 ml (2.3 oz) warm water

gyoza filling

250 g (1/2 pound) ground turkey

1 scallion

3 cloves of garlic

1 tsp lemon zest, grated

2 cm (1-inch) piece of fresh ginger

2 tbsp light soy sauce

40 g (1.4 oz) freshly grated cabbage

1 tbsp canola oil or sesame seed oil

85 ml (3 oz) water

2 tbsp canola oil for cooking

Tools and equipment

bowl

stand mixer (optional)

freezer bag

non-stick pan or cast-iron skillet

rolling pin

METHOD

make the gyoza wrappers dough

First, make the gyoza wrappers dough. In a bowl, stir to combine all-purpose flour, cornstarch (or wheat starch), and lukewarm water. Knead into an elastic dough using your hands or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Knead for about 5 minutes. Transfer the dough into a freezer bag and place in the fridge for 30 minutes or overnight.

Tip

Feel free to use store-bought gyoza wrappers.
make the filling

In a bowl, stir to combine ground turkey meat, chopped scallion, diced garlic, grated lemon zest, grated fresh ginger, and soy sauce. Season with salt and pepper, then add the grated cabbage and canola or sesame seed oil.
make the gyoza dumplings

Divide the dough into 24 equal parts. Shape each piece of dough into a ball, then lightly dust your working surface with flour and roll the dough into a round shape. Add about a teaspoon of the prepared turkey filling in the center of the dough. Fold one part of the dough over the filling and tightly seal together to get a dumpling. Place a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet with the oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the dumplings. Pan-fry them for 2 - 3 minutes, or until they are beautifully golden-brown. Add 85 ml (1/3 cup) water, cover with a lid and continue to cook for another 8 minutes, or until all of the water evaporates.
serve

Serve these delicious Gyoza dumplings with ground turkey as an appetizer for four people, or as a main dish for two people. Serve with your favorite sweet chili sauce or light soy sauce. Optionally sprinkle with chopped scallion and serve.