Homemade gyoza wrappers are very easy to make and require only 3 ingredients. With this simple gyoza skin recipe you can prepare gyoza dumplings from scratch whenever you feel like it.
This gyoza wrapper recipe can be used for making wonton dumplings as well! This recipe is for those of you, who can’t easily buy dumpling wrappers in your local store or for anyone who would love to make gyoza wrappers from scratch.
This post covers all you need to know about making gyoza wrappers from scratch, including cooking tips, storing and other FAQs you might have about homemade gyoza skins.
What are gyoza wrappers made of?
Water, salt and flour are the 3 simple gyoza wrapper ingredients you will need.
How to make gyoza wrappers from scratch?
The whole process is simpler than you think. I will show you and explain how to make homemade gyoza skins the easy way, how to roll them as well as how to store and cook ready gyoza dumplings.
You will need a bowl and a spatula. In the bowl, combine together flour and salt. Pour in hot water and mix the mixture until all the water is absorbed by flour. Then, mix until the dough comes together.
If you feel the dough is hard, add 1 or 2 more tablespoons of water. Don’t be tempted to add way too much water just because you feel like it is hard to knead. It will come together after kneading.
Homemade gyoza dough is similar to pasta dough. You need to make an effort kneading it, but it will be worth it in the end.
After 5 minutes of kneading, you should end up with a smooth dough. It then rests for 15 minutes or more in a plastic bag. During this time, it will soften slightly more.
Rolling gyoza wrappers
Option 1: The traditional Japanese way of rolling gyoza skins is by rolling the dough into a sausage and cutting it into evenly-looking pieces. Each piece is then flattened with a hand and rolled out thin. For this a smaller – thinner rolling pin is traditionally used.
Option 2: Roll out half of the dough thin and cut out circles using a large cookie cutter. This way all your homemade dumpling wrappers will look the same and so will your gyoza dumplings.
Option 3: A combination of the above – roll out a piece of dough and to achieve the perfect circle shape, simply use a cookie cutter.
Pro tip
If you are using the second option and having hard time rolling the gyoza dumpling dough thin enough in the middle, try my trick: simply cut a few circles out – around the edges. Then roll out the area that has become a new edge. Cut a few more wrappers out. Again, roll and cut and so on.
No matter what option you choose, try to roll these dumpling wrappers as thin as possible. They will thicken once cooked so if you make them thick, they might not cook through around the sealed edges.
Can I make gyoza skins ahead?
Yes, you can. You can freeze them or refrigerate them. But, there are a few things you should know before you start:
Freezing:
- Flash-freeze gyoza skins for 30 minutes by placing them onto a tray lined with baking parchment (make sure they are not touching each other), then store in a ziploc bag – you can stack them on top of each other since they should be hard at this stage. No need to dust them with flour.
- To thaw, simply place them onto a floured worktop. They will need about 10-15 minutes. Please note that I find that some tend to dry out around the edges which makes them harder to fold (they can break too).I am not sure how to eliminate this completely, but covering the gyoza wrappers with a damp kitchen cloth while waiting for them to thaw could help a bit.
- You will also need more effort to seal the edges after you have filled the wrappers with a filling, so pinch them well several times with your fingers.
- Make sure to use water around the edges when sealing them.
Refrigerating:
- Make sure each gyoza wrapper disc is covered in a generous layer of cornstarch/flour (one side is enough), then you can stack them on top of each other. I normally do about 5 per stack. Place the dumpling wrappers into a ziploc bag and store until the next day.
- They should not dry out this way, if airtight.
- When keeping gyoza wrappers in the fridge for a longer period of time, they will turn brown. This might not look pretty, but it’s OK.
My recommendation: I personally prefer making homemade gyoza dumplings right after I prepare the gyoza skins. The reason is simple, I make a large batch and freeze them. Then, I take as many as I like from the freezer. They are great for meal prep!
More useful tips:
- Every flour acts/works differently – some contain more moisture than others. Also, depending on the humidity and the altitude you live in, you might need to add a slightly different amount of water. For best results, always begin with ½ cup of water and add only when it is needed.
- Make sure not to end up with a very soft dough as this will make it hard for you to fold the wrappers – they will be sticking to your fingers a lot.
- A harder gyoza wrapper dough is better than soft.
- Either cornstarch or all-purpose flour can be used to dust them, so they don’t stick to each other.
- Instead of plastic wrap, you can use a Ziploc bag or any plastic bag you have on hand.
- If you don’t have a cookie cutter, try using a mug or glass that is a 4-inch (10-centimeters) wide.
How to cook gyoza dumplings
You can steam them, boil them or pan-fry & steam.
I personally prefer the third option where you place the dumplings in a large skillet/frying pan with sesame oil. Once the bottoms are crispy and brown, pour in ½ cup of water and close with a lid. Cook on medium-low for about 5 minutes or until the water is evaporated and the dumplings are cooked through.
You might need to add more water at a later stage and cook them longer when cooking them from frozen (about 10 minutes).
If you would like to try more Japanese recipes, here are some tasty ideas for you:
All of these are homemade and believe it or not they are very simple.
I tried my best to explain everything in detail so you can have a go at making gyoza skins from scratch successfully. If you do give this recipe a try, please let me know in the comments section.
Happy Cooking!
Homemade Gyoza Wrappers
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (270 grams), see note 1
- ½ teaspoon salt , see note 2
- ½ cup hot water , see note 3
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together flour and salt. Then, add water and mix with a wooden spoon/spatula.
- With your hands, start forming dough. It will be hard at the beginning but keep kneading (you can transfer the mixture onto a worktop if it’s easier for you). It will take about 5-7 minutes to knead into a ball. The dough will be flaky at first, but it just needs more kneading (like you can see on the process photos).
- When ready, place it in a plastic bag or cover in plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes (or longer) on your kitchen counter.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces. Put one piece back in the bag. Roll the other half until thin. You should not need a lot of flour for dusting. (Instructions for authentic way of rolling gyoza dumplings are in the post above this recipe card)
- Fill, fold and cook using your favorite method or freeze for later use!
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure not to overfill your cups when measuring. If you do, your dough will be very hard to put together and you will need to add more water. For best results, use weight measurements, if not sure.
- If you are on a low-sodium diet or prefer having gyoza skins rather plain, use ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- You might need to add slightly different water quantity. This will vary due to different flour brands, altitude levels as well as humidity levels in your home. However, I suggest adding no more than 3 tablespoons extra, if needed. Always add little by little to avoid ending up with a dough that is very soft. It should be harder rather than soft. It’s similar to making pasta dough. Also, bear in mind gyoza dough will soften more during resting time.
- One batch will yield 24-30 gyoza wrappers. The quantity will depend on how thick/thin you will roll them.
- For more tips and answers to FAQ’s please read the detailed post above this recipe card.
Jen says
I thought it would be much harder to make these! Thank you so much for breaking down the whole process to easily follow.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome!
Mahy says
I dont’ remember if I’ve ever tried gyoza wrappers at home, but I can now see that I HAVE TO. Yours look absolutely amazing and just the way I would want mine to be.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks, Mahy! :)
Beth Sachs says
I’ve never tried making gyoza wrappers before, but you’ve made it look so simple I’m going to have to give it a go!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Please let me know how you liked them if you do!
Kathryn Donangelo says
I’ve always wanted to make gyoza from scratch and these were delicious!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Glad you liked them :)
Sue says
This is great – I love dumplings but it is sometimes hard to find the wrappers. Will use this recipe from now on!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That’s great to hear, Sue :)
Jane H. says
I have made numerous batches of pot stickers (time consuming, but worth it) and assume your dough possesses the same consistency as that recipe. I look forward to making your recipe.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
I hope the dough is as good as the recipe you have been using. Please do let me know if you try.
Susan says
I regularly make homemade ravioli, so I thought that making the dough would not be that different from making Italian pasta dough. I was so surprised at how sticky and stretchy the gyoza dough was! It stuck to my fingers, making it nearly impossible to pleat the gyoza. (I floured my fingers, which helped.) The first gyoza was so stretchy that I poked a hole right through it. After that, I sort of got the hang of it, although the gyoza are not uniformly shaped and look like a child made them. I am guessing that I added too much water to the dough, and should have left it a little dry, with a little flour still not hydrated, when I set it out to rest. I’ll definitely try it again, as the flavor was better than the commercial gyoza skins.
I’m giving this recipe five stars because it tasted very good. I don’t think the problem is with the recipe – I think it was me!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Susan. You are right. The dough is very similar to pasta dough. It should not be sticky. In fact, it can be rather hard to come together for its toughness (similar to pasta dough). Stretchy is good, when it is kneaded well, the gluten develops and this prevents any tears also. I have mentioned in the tips section that the moisture that each flour contains can vary. I would recommend just start with less water next time. Hope this helps!
Susan says
Thank you kindly for the support! I will certainly try this again.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Please do let us know if you get a chance how hour next batch turned out!
Lena says
Hi, Can these be baked in the oven or do i need to make filo pastry? Thanks in advance.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Lena. These wrappers are not made of filo pastry. The dough is similar to pasta dough. As for the baking part – if you are asking about the gyoza dumplings, then I have read that you could bake them in the oven. I have not tried it though so don’t know how they turn out. Hope this helps.
Eva Martykanova says
Hi there! I made it just now! Lovely dough! I have used 1/5 of potato starch to give it that translucent texture when cooked and it was sooo good! With pork filling!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That is so good to hear, Eva! Thanks so much for your feedback!
Ruby says
Normally I buy them but now too expensive so going to make.them myself. I have some good large prawns and will mix with finest cutting cabbage. Thank you.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome! :)
Rachel says
These were way too tough to roll out, I even added a little extra water and still impossible to get thin enough!! :(
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Hi Rachel. Unfortunately each flour contains different amount of moisture and this as well as other factors affect the dough. For that reason it is impossible for a recipe to work for everyone the same. If too hard, you add more water. BUT, they should be a bit hard to roll. If your dough is too soft, you can roll it out easily, but making the dumplings can be trickier. Either way, if it feels way too hard, add some more water.
Jules says
I made this today and yes, it took a long time to make gyoza but god, it was delicious! 😋
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks so much for your feedback, Jules!