Skip to main content

Jiao zi

Jiao Zi (or Gow Gee, in the Mandarin dialect) is a concoction made of dough stuffed with meat and/or vegetables. It is often served as part of dim sum. Proper preparation takes a bit of time and effort. But the results, when done correctly, are well worth it. Discover how to make jiao zi.

Ingredients

4 cups flour (white or all purpose)
1 cup water (you may need to add up to 1/2 cup more, depending on the flour used)
2 teaspoons salt (1 tsp for the dough, 1 tsp for the filling)
1 pound meat (lean and ground)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon wine (rice wine)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine all the ingredients, then stir. Don't overdo it in order to avoid making the meat mushy.
  2. Bring out the chilled dough and separate a piece into two parts. Flatten each section until they're about 1/8 inch thick. Layer the meat mixture onto one then cover with the other. Crimp the edges until the result looks something like a white fortune cookie crumpled around the rim. Repeat until you've used up all the dough and meat.

The raw dumpling can be boiled or fried, as desired.

  1. To boil, use a pot large enough to cover the dumplings with a couple of inches of water. Bring the water to a boil, then layer the Jiao Zi along the bottom of the pot. Stir gently to prevent them sticking together. Continue heating until the mixture boils again. Add a cup of cold water and allow to come to a boil again, then remove from heat.
  2. To fry, simply line a wok with a layer of sesame oil and bring to a high heat. Then toss in the dumplings. Remember that woks cook very quickly. You'll need to keep the dumplings moving in order to get them evenly cooked on both sides. It's particularly important to ensure that the meat inside is well done.
  3. Serve.
Total time
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cooking time 0 minutes
Preparation time 1 hour, 30 minutes
Yield
12 servings

Notes

The results are often dipped into a sauce of equal amounts of black vinegar and soy.

  • You'll want to acquire the correct type of Chinese flour, whether you use rice flour or wheat flour. Ordinary Western-style wheat flour has a very different consistency when prepared.
  • Chill the water to just above freezing and dissolve the salt into 2 cups of it. Blend thoroughly and add the extra 1/2 cup only if the dough isn't completely wetted. Knead well and ensure that the result is firm. If needed, sprinkle in a bit more flour. Then chill the dough.

If you don't have it, substitute rice wine with dry sherry or brandy.

Source

Chinese cuisine.

Jiao zi are Chinese dumplings. The humble dumpling is a simple staple in Western-style cuisine, a source of carbohydrates and great comfort food. Done Chinese style, it is a work of culinary art.

Jiao zi is a component of a traditional dim sum cart and are often served during the Chinese New Year's celebration. As a symbol of wealth they bring good fortune in the coming year, but these are delicious anytime.

moderate
snack, side dish
Chinese food recipes

Calling all foodies and wine lovers!

Are you ready to spice up your culinary adventures? Subscribe to Fabulous Food and Wine World, the newsletter that brings the delicious delights of the world straight to your inbox.

Subscribe

* indicates required

Please select all the ways you would like to hear from World Food and Wine:

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.

We use a marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to this platform for processing.