Chinese Dumplings Recipe (Potstickers)

Chinese Dumplings Recipe (Potstickers) – Steaming hot potstickers are soft yet crispy, and perfectly irresistible. You’ll love this easy Chinese dumplings recipe with homemade dipping sauce!

Easy Potstickers Recipe

Believe it or not, I learned to make Chinese dumplings on a coffee table in China over 25 years ago.

25 years?! Geeze!!

When I was 17 years old, and fresh out of high school, I had the opportunity to go overseas on a mission/study trip to the north western province of Xinjiang, China. We spent our days studying Chinese history and language, exploring markets and monuments, and making friends.

We spent the summer getting to know our new friends… Their thoughts on life and social issues, family history, and Chinese customs.

And of course, that eventually led us to food.

They were interested in traditional American cuisine, having heard of strange dishes like grits and stuffed turkey. And we were equally enamored by their day to day dishes, like traditional Chinese Dumplings a.k.a. Potstickers.

Authentic Potstickers (Chinese Dumplings Recipe)

We decided we would prepare a half-American half-Chinese feast together. So we went to the market in search of ingredients we could turn into something very American, which was quite a challenge in the remote town where we were staying.

We settled on fried chicken and home fries as the American portion, bringing back a whole chicken with its head still attached. I ended up with the task of beheading and cleaning the bird… My first experience with boning a chicken. Yet even with our limited ingredient options and lack of experience, our dishes turned out fairly well.

Our Chinese friends taught us how to make an authentic Chinese potstickers recipe, a dish they told us they always made at family gatherings.

We sat on the floor around a coffee table in a small apartment rolling out circles of dough and learning to properly crimp the Chinese dumplings… Laughing through our language barrier, smiling, and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Today’s potstickers are the Chinese dumplings I was taught to make so many years ago, with soft pork and vegetable filling and a homemade 2-ingredient dough that blows wonton wrappers out of the water. And let’s not forget the spicy soy dipping sauce!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the dough required in our Chinese dumplings recipe, you only need 2 ingredients: all-purpose flour and VERY hot water. Seriously, that’s it!

Of course, you could substitute the dough for store-bought wonton wrappers as so many do, but you really do lose something in taste and texture. Real Chinese potstickers are doughy, not like the thin wonton sheets.

Here’s what you need to make the classic pork filling:

• Ground Pork – or ground turkey
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Fresh Ginger – grated
• Garlic – minced
• Bok Choy – finely chopped
• Water Chestnuts – finely chopped
• Scallions – finely chopped
• Soy Sauce – I recommend low sodium
• Sesame Oil
• Dijon Mustard
• Salt and Pepper

Ingredients for the Dipping Sauce:

• Soy Sauce
• Rice Vinegar
• Sesame Oil
• Sugar
• Garlic – minced
• Chile Garlic Sauce
• Scallions – chopped
• Oil and Water – for cooking

This sauce has exactly the right balance of salty, sweet, and spicy, and pairs perfectly with the fresh and savory flavors of the dumplings. I swear you’ll find yourself wanting to make this delicious potstickers recipe just as an excuse to have the dipping sauce.

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How to Make Chinese Dumplings

While making a batch of potstickers can be a time-intensive task, the actual process is surprisingly easy.

In fact, if you make rolling and stuffing your dumplings a two-person job (or fun family affair as the Chinese do) it’s a pretty quick process.

First, here’s how you make the dough:

• Place the flour in the food processor with scalding hot water. (Water can be from the tap if your water runs really hot.) Turn on the food processor and “knead” until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides.
• Then “knead” in the food processor another 1-2 more minutes. Cover with a damp cloth and allow the dough to rest while you prepare the other components.

Next, make the filling and dipping sauce:

• Place all of the pork filling ingredients in a bowl. Mix by hand until smooth, adding 1 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper towards the end.
• Mix the dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Warm the dipping sauce (in the microwave) to dissolve the sugar, whisking in between short bursts of heat. Then allow it to cool completely, and set aside until ready to serve.
• After making the dough and filling, cut the dough into 50-60 equal little pieces. One by one, roll each piece of dough into a ball and then roll out flat on a well floured surface.
• Then, place a teaspoon of pork and veggie filling in the center of the wrapper and fold up like a taco. Pleat and crimp the edges together to seal.

To cook the dumplings: 

• Heat a large skillet with oil and pan fry the dumplings to create a crispy crust, and then steam them with a bit of water in the same skillet. Be prepared, the aroma that will waft out of the pan is utterly intoxicating.
• Dip the warm potstickers in the homemade spicy soy sauce and swoon over your made-from-scratch Chinese dumpling masterpieces.

Get the Complete Printable Chinese Dumplings Recipe (Potstickers) + VIDEO Below. Enjoy!

Here are some handy photos of the dumpling making process:

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Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I Make This Gluten Free?

For those of you who are interested in a gluten-free potstickers recipe, check out our Paleo Chinese Dumplings!

Also try this Kung Pao Chicken Recipe from Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts!

How Long Do These Leftovers Last?

Potstickers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can you make the dough without a food processor?

It’s easiest in a food processor. However, you can make the dough with a good electric mixer as well. Hope this helps!

How To Fix My Crumbling or Too Stiff Dough?

Try adding just a little more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it is pliable, but still firm.

Can you boil these and if so would you cook the meat first?

I would not recommend boiling them. However, you can steam them in a traditional bamboo steam basket, or in a skillet with a shallow bit of water and a tight lid. Either way, cook for 5-6 minutes. There’s no need to cook the filling ahead of time.

Am I Able To Assemble The Dumplings Ahead Of Time and Freeze Them At All Before Cooking Them? 

We have frozen them a few times, uncooked, then sauteed a little longer than listed. The key is to freeze flat on a wax paper-lined baking sheet so they don’t stick together. Happy Cooking!

Looking for more Asian-inspired recipes?

• Korean Bibimbap Recipe
• Pork Sukiyaki Recipe
• Easy Chicken Pad Thai Recipe
• Chinese Hot Pot Recipe
• Crunchy Asian Slaw Recipe with Peanut Dressing
• Skinny Chinese Orange Chicken Recipe 
• Instant Pot Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe 
• Chinese Five Spice Shrimp with Coconut Rice Recipe
• Zesty Wor Wonton Soup Recipe 
• Easy Low Carb Szechuan Beef Recipe 
• Okonomiyaki Recipe (Japanese Pancakes)

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