These Vegetable Gyoza are stuffed with a delicious mix of tofu, cabbage, carrots, and shiitake mushrooms. With golden crisp bottoms, fresh juicy filling, and homemade dipping sauce, it’s love at first bite! You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to enjoy these Japanese pan-fried dumplings. I’ve gotten many requests for a vegetarian gyoza recipe. After a series of testing and refining, I’m proud to share this truly amazing Vegetable Gyoza (野菜の餃子) with you today. They are packed with fresh, earthy, and savory vegetables that my family devours with excitement each and every time. It will make a great addition to your dumpling party! Why You’ll Love This Vegetable Gyoza Here’s the reason why this Vegetable Gyoza is for EVERYONE, not just vegetarians and vegans. SO delicious – I just have to include this, because it’s true! A lighter filling – The delightful mix of tofu, vegetables, and mushrooms creates a light and healthy filling. Pack with umami – With the right combination of ingredients and seasonings, the dumplings are bursting with textures and flavors. A great dish for EVERYONE – Guarantee this will be popular for both vegans/vegetarians and meat-eaters! You can easily add a platter of easy chicken wings or teriyaki chicken meatballs to accompany this dish. Gyoza for Beginners Gyoza (餃子) is the name for Japanese pan-fried dumplings. They are originally from China but evolved to suit Japanese taste. The classic Gyoza is typically made with pork and cabbage filling. Compared to Chinese dumplings, gyoza usually contains a higher ratio of vegetables than meat. You’d also notice that the dumpling skin is much thinner, making the crisp texture a big feature of gyoza. If you’re interested in making traditional Japanese pan-fried dumplings, Gyoza, click here. There are many paths to creating vegetarian or vegan dumplings. The general rule is to use ingredients with different textures. Also, ingredients such as mushrooms can make a big difference in adding umami, so you can create a satisfying flavor, even without meat. The Main Ingredients You’ll Need: The filling I generally recommend using dense ingredients which has less moisture but feel free to experiment with other ingredients. Firm tofu – If your tofu is not firm, you just have to press it for a longer time to release the moisture. Cabbage – I use two types; green one for taste and a purple one for color. Mushrooms – I use two types; shiitake mushrooms for its deep earthy flavor and king oyster mushrooms for “meaty” texture. Carrots – The sweet fresh taste and bright color of carrots contrast beautifully with the rest of the mixture. Onion – Once cooked, it brings sweet flavor. Seasonings These umami-packed seasonings are all important! Soy sauce – The Japanese soy sauce brings out the familiar Japanese flavors to the dish. Miso – Don’t underestimate the flavor boost from miso. Use saltier (darker) miso for a more robust flavor. Sesame oil – A touch of sesame oil adds an irreplaceable aromatic flavor. Ginger – The slightly spicy zing from the ginger gives a bright note. Garlic – It adds pungency and aroma and of course everything tastes better with it! and salt and pepper. The Right Gyoza Wrappers To make Japanese-style pan-fried dumplings, it would be ideal to use Japanese brand gyoza wrappers as they are thinner and sometimes smaller. Where to Buy: I use this Myojo brand Gyoza wrappers that I get from the refrigerator or freezer section of the Japanese grocery store. Unfortunately, they are perishable and not available online. Frozen Gyoza Wrappers: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter for 60 minutes (depending on the amount and room temperature). Do not defrost in the microwave. Keep Gyoza Wrappers Moist: Once the package is opened, make sure to keep them covered under a damp paper towel or plastic wrap; otherwise, the edges will start to dry out and can’t be used. How to Make Gyoza Wrappers at Home If you can’t get gyoza wrappers in Japanese or Asian grocery stores, the last option is to make your gyoza wrappers at home. How to Make Gyoza Wrappers Making your own wrappers at home can be quite satisfactory. All you need is 3 ingredients – flour, salt, and water! How to Fold Gyoza Wrappers If you had never made dumplings, you probably concern about the folding technique. Honestly, those beautiful pleats on gyoza are not necessary. You can just wet the sk
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