Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings)

Name: Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings)
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 8 oz ground pork; 6 oz firm tofu, pressed, crumbled; 1/2 cup kimchi, squeezed, minced; 2 oz glass noodles (dangmyeon), cooked, chopped; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated; 2 tsp sesame oil; 2 tsp soy sauce; 4 scallions, finely sliced; 40 round dumpling wrappers (gyoza wrappers); 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 6 tbsp water; 4 tbsp soy sauce (for dipping sauce); 2 tbsp rice vinegar (for dipping sauce)

Crispy-bottomed Korean pan-fried dumplings filled with a savory mixture of ground pork, tofu, glass noodles, and kimchi, served with a garlicky soy dipping sauce. These golden dumplings are irresistible and impressive for any gathering.

60 minMediumServes 4310 cal/serving

KoreanAppetizerStovetopStandardNightshade-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

8 oz ground pork
6 oz firm tofu, pressed, crumbled
1/2 cup kimchi, squeezed, minced
2 oz glass noodles (dangmyeon), cooked, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp soy sauce
4 scallions, finely sliced
40 round dumpling wrappers (gyoza wrappers)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
6 tbsp water
4 tbsp soy sauce (for dipping sauce)
2 tbsp rice vinegar (for dipping sauce)

Instructions

1

Make the dipping sauce: stir together 4 tbsp soy sauce (for dipping sauce) and 2 tbsp rice vinegar (for dipping sauce) in a small bowl. Set aside.
2

Combine 8 oz ground pork, 6 oz pressed, crumbled firm tofu, 1/2 cup squeezed, minced kimchi, 2 oz cooked, chopped glass noodles (dangmyeon), 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp grated fresh ginger, 2 tsp sesame oil, 2 tsp soy sauce, and 4 finely sliced scallions in a bowl. Mix until filling holds together.
3

Place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center of each round dumpling wrappers (gyoza wrappers). Wet the edges, fold in half, and pleat to seal. Repeat until all filling and wrappers are used.
4

Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange dumplings flat-side down without crowding. Cook until bottoms are deep golden brown, about 3 minutes.
5

Pour 6 tbsp water carefully into the pan. Cover immediately and steam for 4-5 minutes until water evaporates and dumplings are cooked through.
6

Remove lid and cook 1 more minute to re-crisp bottoms. The internal temperature of the filling should reach 160°F (71°C).
7

Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

The Korean Kitchen 30 recipes from this kitchen in one printable PDF. $5, no account.

Questions

How do I know when Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings) is done?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 4: cook until bottoms are deep golden brown. Step 5: cook until water evaporates and dumplings are cooked through. A reading of 160 F on a thermometer settles it.

Do I have to press the tofu for Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings)?

Yes, if you want it to brown. Step 2 squeezes out water that would otherwise steam the surface and dilute the sauce.

Can I use ground chicken or turkey instead of ground pork in Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings)?

Yes. Use dark-meat ground chicken or turkey if you can, and add a teaspoon of oil per half pound, since pork brings fat that poultry does not. As written, the entry for Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings) uses 8 oz ground pork.

Can I make Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings) gluten-free?

Not cleanly. 2 tsp soy sauce, 40 round dumpling wrappers (gyoza wrappers), 4 tbsp soy sauce (for dipping sauce) has no substitute that behaves the same way in this dish. If you need strictly gluten-free, start from the gluten-free appetizer collection instead.

Does Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings) contain sesame?

Yes: 2 tsp sesame oil. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten, soy and sesame. Seeds used as a garnish can simply be left off; the oil has no true substitute. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

How many calories are in Mandu (Pan-Fried Dumplings)?

One serving (the recipe makes 4) is about 310 calories, with 16 g protein, 28 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat, plus 2 g fiber and 720 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,544 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.