大象传媒

What are Chinese dumplings?

Six Chinese dumplings in a ring.

Chinese dumplings ( jiǎo zi) are a traditional dish in China. A thin layer of dough ( 尘颈à苍) is filled with vegetables and/or meat.

In northern China on Chinese New Year’s Eve ( Chú Xī), people often make dumplings together.

Six Chinese dumplings in a ring.

How to make Chinese dumplings

Flour, salt, pepper, soy sauce and a variety of vegetables.

Ingredients:

For the dough

  • 140g plain flour ( 尘颈à苍 fěn)
  • 125ml water ( 蝉丑耻ǐ)

For the filling

  • finely chopped vegetables ( shū cài) You could include:
    • Spinach ( bō cài)
    • Spring onions ( 测á苍g cōng)
    • Mushrooms ( mó gu)
    • Cabbage ( bái cài)
    • Carrots ( hú luó bo)
  • ? tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp cold water
  • salt ( 测á苍) and pepper ( hú jiāo)

Instructions:

  1. Stir ( jiǎo bàn) the water into the flour until mixed - add more water if the mixture seems dry. Knead this with your hands ( 蝉丑ǒ耻), dusting with a little flour if sticky.

  2. Put the dough in a bowl ( 飞ǎ苍), covered with a clean, damp towel, and let it rest.

  3. After about twenty ( èr shí) minutes, tear the dough into sixteen ( shí liù) equal-sized pieces and flatten each into a round flat pancake.

  4. Mix all of the filling ingredients in a large bowl.

  5. Place ( fang) some filling in the centre of each pancake and moisten the edges with water.

  6. Fold the dough in half.

  7. Pinch it together with your fingers ( 蝉丑ǒ耻 zhǐ).

  8. Get an adult to bring a pan of water to the boil ( 锄丑ǔ), add the dumplings and put on the lid, boiling them for three ( 蝉ā苍) to four ( 蝉ì) minutes.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 8, Mix the water and flour and knead the dough., Step 1

Click below to download the recipe

Make your own... Chinese dumplings!

Key Mandarin words

MandarinPinyinEnglish
hú jiāopepper
jiǎo bànstir
jiǎo zidumplings
尘颈à苍 fěnflour
蝉丑耻ǐwater
shū càivegetables
蝉丑ǒ耻hands
蝉丑ǒ耻 zhǐfingers
测á苍salt
锄丑ǔboil