Japanese dumplings (gedze): recipe

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Recently, oriental cuisine has become very popular around the world. In particular, we are talking about Japanese and Chinese dishes. Probably everyone knows and many love sushi, rolls, miso soup. What do you know about Japanese dumplings? Have you seen them on the menu of an oriental restaurant? If you have ever tried Japanese dumplings, then most likely you have thought about how to cook them at home. And for sure, this idea was immediately swept aside, believing that only a professional could do it. In this article, we will reveal the secret of their preparation to you, and you will understand how simple and delicious it is.

Short educational program

So, let's delve into history first. It has always been believed that dumplings are an original Russian dish. With all due respect to Slavic cuisine, it is still worth noting that dumplings came to us from China. In China, this dish is given special attention. First of all, the very name "dumplings" from Chinese is consonant with the wishes of success and prosperity. Most often they are prepared on New Year's Eve. There is a Chinese belief that says: when you eatdumpling, you need to make a wish, and it will definitely come true.

Thanks to the Chinese, dumplings began to be made in Japan. Do you know what Japanese dumplings are called? They are called "gyoze". This name means the same as "jiaozi" in Chinese, that is, dumplings. But the cooking technique and recipe are slightly different. Chinese jiaozi are steamed, boiled with soup, and Japanese gedze dumplings are only fried in oil. In addition, the filling of these products can be varied: meat, fish, vegetables and even fruits. But first things first. First, let's talk about the classic recipe for Japanese "envelopes".

A classic recipe for Japanese dumplings. Preparing the dough

Despite the exotic nature of this dish, it is not difficult to prepare it. Even inexperienced chefs will be able to pamper their loved ones with an unusual oriental dinner.

Before you start cooking, you need to know how to properly prepare the dough for Japanese dumplings. There is nothing complicated about this, but if you still have doubts that you can cook it yourself, we suggest buying it ready-made. Fortunately, today in every supermarket you can find anything.

You only need three ingredients for the test:

• Wheat flour - 500g
• Drinking water - glass (250 ml).
• S alt - a teaspoon.

To prepare the dough, you need to dissolve the s alt in warm water. Then add in flour and knead elastic dough. It shouldn't stick to your hands. After the dough is ready, coverwith cling film and let it brew for about half an hour. Better put it in the fridge.

Classic gyojo filling

While the dough "fits", you can prepare the filling. Classic Japanese dumplings are made from minced pork and Beijing cabbage. So, for the filling we need:

• Pork Mince – 250g
• Beijing cabbage - 3-4 leaves.
• Green onion - bunch.
• Onion - 1 pc.
• Garlic - 2 cloves.
• Crushed ginger - half a teaspoon.
• Sesame oil - art. l.
• Soy sauce - 0.5 tbsp. l.
• Starch (potato or corn) - 1 tbsp. l.
• Drinking water - 1 tbsp. l.
• Spices (s alt, pepper, sugar) - to taste.

Cooking:

1. Chop Chinese cabbage and onion (both types) finely.
2. Mix vegetables with minced meat, add sugar, s alt and starch.
3. Chop the garlic and add to the bulk. Send grated ginger there.
4. To prevent Japanese dumplings from being dry, add water, soy sauce and sesame oil to the filling.
5. The filling should marinate a little, so leave it alone for half an hour.
6. After the required amount of time, you can start the creative process, namely modeling. If you have never made ordinary dumplings, then, of course, you may have some difficulties. Therefore, a little lower in the text you will find information on how to properly sculpt gedze.
7. Japanese dumplings are usually not boiled,as we used to do with any dumplings, but they are fried. Pour sesame oil into a frying pan, put in gedze, add some water and close the lid. The dumplings must first be steamed, and once all the water has boiled away, they need to be fried on one side only.
8. Ready-made gedze are served in a flat plate, laying a crisp on top. They are eaten with chopsticks and dipped in sauce.
9. Bon appetit!

In addition to minced pork, it is permissible to use other fillings. For example, you can cook Japanese shrimp dumplings. This option is considered more festive. Gedze is also prepared with vegetables such as pumpkin, as well as chicken, salmon and beef.

Gedze with shrimps

In order not to bother too much, you can buy shrimp already boiled. They need to be crushed. To do this, you can use a blender or meat grinder. In addition to shrimp, you will need Chinese cabbage, onion, garlic, soy sauce and spices. Mix all the ingredients and marinate in a mixture of sesame oil, spices and vinegar. Shrimp stuffing is ready.

Japanese dumpling technique

It is very easy to sculpt a gedze, the main thing in this matter, as they say, is to fill your hand. First you need to roll out the dough into a thin layer. Using a regular glass, make round cakes. Put some filling in each. Gedze modeling technique resembles dumplings. Pinch the edges of the dough so that one part remains flat, and the second is "accordion". Gedze dumplings are shaped like a crescent moon.

By the waythere is a tradition of sculpting a "happy" dumpling. For those who do not know what we are talking about, we will tell. The essence of the tradition is as follows: among the bulk of all dumplings there is a “happy” one. It can be either an empty gedze, or with a coin inside, or even with pepper. If you come across a whole dumpling - this is fortunately, with pepper - for love and passion, and if with a coin - for money. This Chinese tradition still lives on.

Pro Tips

1. Cabbage and onion for the filling can be chopped in a blender.

2. To keep onions from bitterness, you can pickle them in soy sauce.

3. You don't need to add a lot of toppings. Just a teaspoon is enough for one flatbread.

4. Shredded cabbage needs to be s alted a little so that it gives liquid. This juice needs to be squeezed.

5. Gedze dumplings are usually served with soy sauce, sesame oil and vinegar.

6. The edges of the tortilla should be thinner than the center.

Conclusion

Summing up, I would like to note that any dish prepared by yourself, and even more so dumplings that are molded with your own hands, will always be tastier. In families where this process is given great attention, children who take part in this process, as a rule, learn faster to work in a team, as well as to communicate.

Now you know how to make Japanese dumplings, the recipe of which is identical to that used by chefs in restaurants. As you can see, nothing complicatedno, therefore, even if you are a novice cook, you can easily cope with this task. The main thing is to show perseverance and desire. And do not be afraid to make a mistake - everything is fixable.