Gyoza Vs Dumpling- what is your favorite dish? Whether you are confused about the best one or you are clueless about these dishes, you should go through this article. I hope this article will help you to know everything about these two popular dishes so that you can pick a side easily.
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Most people from around the world become confused when it comes to differentiating between these dishes. You may find some close similarities between them but might struggle to find the differences.
When you talk about dumpling vs gyoza, you may come across some relevant questions. Are dumplings Japanese or Chinese? Is there only one kind of dumpling? Is gyoza a dumpling? You might hear about the term ‘potstickers’ and ‘jiaozi’ as well.
So, gyoza vs dumpling- how do they differ from each other? A dumpling is a kind of dough stuffed with several sweet or savory items like veggies or meat. They are pretty much popular in China. On the other hand, gyoza is a specific type of half-moon shape dumpling which is steamed and pan-fried where ground pork and different vegetables are used as fillings. Gyoza is mainly consumed in Japan.
Read on for further clarification.
What is a Dumpling?
A dumpling is a type of dough filled with meat and vegetables which is quite popular in China. When you talk about the Chinese dumplings, they can be taken as a main dish, appetizer, or side dish. One of the popular Chinese dumplings is jiaozi. It is mainly consumed on Chinese New Year’s Eve and other occasions.
Typically vegetables are first finely chopped, which are then mixed with minced meat (mainly pork) for use as the filling. The filling is wrapped up with a thin or thick dough before steaming them. Generally, pork, chicken, beef, mutton, shrimp, and fish are used for meat fillings. They are usually minced properly which will increase the taste of the dumplings.
In some particular places like Guangdong, shrimp dumplings or har now are more popular. As shrimp dumplings are comparatively smaller and wrapped with thin dough, they can be steamed easily. Finely chopped leek, celery, napa cabbage, carrot, mushroom, etc. are used as vegetable fillings.
Why is the Term “Dumpling” Confusing?
Many people get confused with the term dumpling. The main reason behind this is you will find different types of dumplings. A dumpling is not simply a single dish. People usually think that dumpling is a Chinese dish only which is not true. That’s where the confusion begins.
Dumpling has a broader meaning. Any dish made of a piece of dough and filled with several food stuffs is called a dumpling. However, sometimes, dumplings can be even without any filling. A wide variety of food ingredients can be used as dumpling fillings. Vegetables, meat, or a combination of both can be used as fillings. Moreover, it can be sweet and savory.
When it comes to the cooking methods, several options are open for the dumplings. It can be made by simmering, frying, baking, boiling, or steaming. One interesting fact about dumplings is in every region of the world, you may find a specific dumpling variation. In most cases, those variations come with unique names.
No wonder, dumplings are widely made in Asia. Still, it can be found in Europe, America, and Africa. There is no denying the fact that most of the world’s famous dumpling variations are based in Asia, mainly China and Japan. That’s the reason, you always think about Asia when you hear about dumplings.
Different Types of Dumplings
There are different types of dumplings. Different types of fillings are used in different dumplings. The thickness of the dough and the cooking method are also varied in different dumplings. Explore below some of the popular types of dumplings in the world.
Shiu Jiao or Jiaozi:
Jiaozi is a popular dumpling in China. Usually, beef, chicken, pork, lamb, or even leek meat are used as the fillings of this dumpling. It is quite long and comes with ruffled edges. There are some similarities between Jiaozi and gyoza. Gyoza which is a Japanese dumpling is inspired by the Jiaozi. The cooking method used for this dumpling is cooking or boiling only.
Banh Bot Loc:
This dumpling is quite popular in Vietnam. They usually take this dumpling as an appetizer. Tapioca is used to wrap this unique dumpling. Typically, shrimp and pork belly are used as the fillings in this dumpling. People dip this food in sweet chili sauce before eating. \
Gyoza:
Gyoza is a traditional Japanese dumpling that is stuffed with minced pork or shrimp along with different vegetables like cabbage or green onion. It has a half-moon shape.
Mandu:
Mandu is a popular dumpling type widely used in the Korean region. Different cooking methods are used to make this dumpling. Steaming, boiling, pan-frying, or deep-frying any method can be used to get the job done. Minced pork and beef are mainly used as the fillings in this food item. It has the shape of a round boat.
Wonton:
Another popular type of Chinese dumpling is wonton. It comes in a flat shape. Although it is a type of dumpling, many people are still interested in the wonton vs dumpling conversation. Wontons are mainly consumed with the soup. Shrimp paste, minced pork, or a combination of both are used as the fillings of Wonton. They can be cooked by steaming or deep frying. Although they are mainly added to soup, still you can eat them with chili sauce.
Xiao Long Bao:
These Chinese dumplings are made with a dome shape. They have perfectly shaped edges. Xiao Long Bao is considered a staple of dim sum.
Guo Tie:
Guo-Tie is served in many American restaurants. These dumplings or potstickers are mainly pan-fried and people take them as appetizers. The shape of this dumpling is like a half-moon and they have thicker wrappings. Ground pork, chicken, beef, or vegetables are widely used in Guo Tie as fillings. They are usually served with soy sauce.
How to Cook Dumplings
When it comes to dumplings, there are four pillars- filling, wrapper, cooking method, and topping. First of all, you have to make the filling. You can use ground pork, beef, chicken, or different vegetables as the filling.
You have to add minced garlic, ginger, mushroom water, cilantro or cabbage, vinegar, soy sauce, egg, etc. to the meat and vegetables. Then mix them well and wait for 15 minutes to marinate. Then you have to make the wrapper which is mainly dough made with flour.
At this point, place the fillings in the wrapper and wrap properly. Then, you need to go for the cooking. There are several cooking methods for dumplings. Baking, boiling, steaming, or simmering are some popular cooking methods for dumplings. When they are cooked, they can be dipped into chili sauce or specially made sauces.
What Is Gyoza?
In a general sense, Japanese dumplings are known as Gyoza. They are small Japanese dumplings that are typically stuffed with minced pork and veggies. In Japan, they are also broadly known as fried dumplings. Dough pieces are used in this dish as a wrapper.
These dough pieces are mainly made of several types of starch sources. They are typically flattened to thin sheets so that they can be wrapped around the filling. However, some dumpling recipes are made without filling.
Types of Japanese Gyoza
There are several types of Japanese Gyoza which are briefly discussed below.
Yaki Gyoza:
Yaki is a Japanese word that means to fry. Although you will find several gyoza types, the Yaki Gyoza is the most popular one. The method followed to make this dumpling is quite similar to the making process of Chinese dumplings or potstickers.
When it comes to making Yaki Gyoza, first of all, they are fried in a saucepan. After that, water is added to the pan and covered using a lid. As a result, the mix will boil which will steam the dumplings. Typically these dumplings come with a tender texture and a crunchy finish.
In some Japanese regions, Yaki Gyoza is made in slightly different methods instead of following the traditional one. In that case, a group of bite-sized gyozas is fried together in a skillet. Finally, they become a huge lump of combined dumplings. Many people love to eat dumplings in this way.
Age Gyoza:
The Japanese meaning of “age” is deep-fried. Age gyoza and yaki gyoza are quite similar. The only difference between them is age gyozas are deep-fried and crispier. These deep-fried gyozas are mainly found in Chinese restaurants. They are crispy on the outside, but you will have a juicy feel in every single bite. Typically, age gyoza is served super-hot. So, be careful in your first bite.
Sui Gyoza:
When you talk about the Sui Gyoza, it5 is not fried. Typically, it is made by boiling in water or soup broth. As a result, the dumpling wrapper will become more tender and chewable. Besides, it will taste savory and flavorful due to the soup broth.
Mushi Gyoza:
Mushi gyoza is another similar variant which is also known as the steamed gyoza. Typically, this gyoza is served in a bamboo steamer basket.
Shumai:
One of the interesting gyozas you can talk about is the Shumai. The fun part is here you will get a vertically opening pouch in this gyoza. Typically, orange fish eggs or tobiko and green pea are used to garnish it. This dumpling is usually dipped into garlic chili or soy sauce.
How Do You Eat Gyoza?
If you are a garlic lover, gyoza is a dish delightful dish for you because of the garlicky taste you will get in it. It can be served with ramen. Many people love it. But, the most common way to eat gyoza is taking it with a dipping sauce. You can either buy the dipping sauce or make it at your home. The choice is yours.
This video will tell you how to make the best dipping sauce at home.
You can take gyoza dumplings as a main course, side dish, or even appetizer. Typically, they are sold in ramen shops or Chinese restaurants. But, I always love to make it at home.
What are the Differences between Gyoza and dumplings?
So, in this gyoza vs dumpling discussion what are the main differences between them? Although gyoza is a type of dumpling, they have some dissimilarities which are discussed below.
Filling:
Some common ingredients used as the filling of gyoza are ground meat (especially pork), onion, garlic, cabbage, and ginger. Several soy-based dipping sauces are also used to increase the flavor. On the contrary, a wide variety of ingredients are used as the filling of the dumpling.
Dough/Wrapper:
The dough or wrapper is an important part both of the gyoza and dumpling. Most of the dumpling wrappers are made of wheat flour. But, when it comes to the gyoza wrapper, pre-fabricated thin wrappers are used as the wrapper. As the wrappers are pretty much delicate, you may struggle to fold them into the gyoza shape.
Shape and Cooking Method:
Gyozas are half-moon-shaped with pleated edges. Although they are not so big, still they are quite long. Compared with the average size of Chinese potstickers or other steamed dumplings, gyozas are at least a bite or two bites smaller.
On the other hand, dumplings can be made in any shape. Nonetheless, round and bucket-shaped dumplings are quite popular. Interestingly, gyoza-shaped dumplings are also popular in many regions.
When it comes to the cooking method of the gyoza, they are typically steamed in a bamboo steamer first. Then, they are fried in a pan so that they become crispy on the exterior.
Dumplings can be prepared in many ways by using several kitchen appliances. But, for steaming purposes, bamboo steamers are quite popular. You can even use a slow cooker to make dumplings.
Flavor and Serving Methods:
There is no denying the fact that Japanese gyoza is different from Jiaozi and other Chinese dumplings mainly because of its flavor. It is also true that they come with some strong similarities. When you talk about the flavor, the Chinese usually love to take spicy and strong-flavored dumplings.
On the contrary, Japanese people are not that much spice lovers, they rather prefer mild dishes. That’s why simple soy sauces are used as the dippings for gyoza. However, sometimes they add chili flakes for adding some spice to the gyoza. But, in most cases, in Japan, dipping sauces are made of rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.
Origin:
Gyoza and Chinese dumplings are quite different in their origin. It was the Northern region of China where Chinese dumplings were invented first. When you talk about Jiaozi, they are being served for more than a thousand years ago.
But, gyoza which is the Japanese version of Jiaozi is a recent invention. It was invented during the Second World War. When soldiers were returning from the war, they tried the dumpling recipes in Japan. But they modified the fillings. That’s how gyoza was invented.
| Gyoza Vs Dumpling | Gyoza | Dumpling |
|---|---|---|
| Filling | Usually ground pork, cabbage, spring onion, ginger, and minced garlic | Several sweet or savory items like veggies or meat |
| Wrapper | Pre-fabricated thin wrappers | Made of wheat flour |
| Shape | Half-moon shape | Different types of shapes. Round and bucket-shaped are more popular |
| Cooking Method | Steamed and pan-fried | Baking, boiling, steaming or simmering, pan or deep-frying based on the type of dumpling |
| Flavor | Mild-flavor | Strong-flavor |
| Dipping Sauce | Spicy dipping sauce | Soy sauce based dipping sauce |
| Origin | From Second World War. Inspired by Chinese Jiaozi with modified fillings | Originated in Northern China. Specifically, Jiaozi was invented more than 1000 years ago |
Similarities between Gyoza and Dumplings
Gyoza and Chinese dumplings are similar in many ways. They have more similarities than differences. Many people even think that the difference between them lies only in their name. Below I will try to give you an idea about their similarities.
- In many cases, they have similar folding techniques. However, the shape can differ in many cases.
- Gyoza is similarly cooked to the pan-fried types of dumplings. There are no differences in the cooking method between them.
- Fillings are almost the same in both types of dumplings with little difference.
- Both of the dumplings are taken with dipping sauce. Nonetheless, the ingredients of the sauce are different.
- Both of them can be taken as appetizers, main courses, or side dishes.
Wrapping Up!
If you are a dumpling lover, you will understand that almost all kinds of dumplings will give you a delightful mouthwatering eating experience. They are different based on the regions they are widely consumed. Their fillings and cooking method might differ a bit, but still all of them will give you the best experience.
I hope now you have no confusion about gyoza vs dumpling. Whether you talk about Japanese gyoza and other Chinese variants of dumplings, all of them are yummy. Happy eating!
