Tekitouna Gyoza (適当なギョーザ ) Recipe

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Ingredients

Ingredient amounts are rough if they exist, and intended only to give you a ballpark idea. You can't go that wrong if you follow your preferences.
Filling:

• 1.5 pounds ground pork
• 1 whole head garlic, diced (I like garlicky gyoza, you may, of course, use less)
• A small or medium knob of ginger, grated
• Cabbage or nappa cabbage, shredded (I use quite  a bit, it gives the filling a lighter texture).
• Nira chives (garlic chives), most of a bunch, finely chopped
  
• ~2/3T Mirin
• ~1 T Soy sauce
• ~1 T Sesame oil
• 1 Egg
• Salt
• Pepper

Gyoza skins (this made about 1.5 packages worth. A good rule of thumb is that 1 pound of meat is about 1 package of gyoza.)

How to make Tekitouna Gyoza (適当なギョーザ )

I was taught to make these by a friend of mine who learned how to cook Japanese food as part of his training to become a kodo drummer in Japan.

Tekitou means makeshift or thrown together. Basically these are gyoza that will turn out well no matter what.

Instructions:
Just mix all the filling ingredients in a large bowl. Most of the work is in the chopping. I like to knead it together with my hands until the texture is smooth.

To form gyoza:
Brush off excess flour from the gyoza skin you're using.
Form a small amount of filling into a ball or (American) football shape in the center of a gyoza skin.
Wet a finger with water and run across half the circumference. Close the gyoza into a half-circle and make 4-5 pleats in the closed wrapper. Put on wax paper and bend so that the bottom looks like a crescent shape.
This is much easier than it sounds.

You can now cook them or freeze for later.

To freeze:
Place gyoza on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet so that they're not touching and freeze. Once frozen, you can put them in ziploc and put into the freezer again for long-term storage. This is so the gyoza don't freeze together.

To cook:
Heat oil in a frying pan. Put gyoza in, making sure to keep the pan moving so they don't stick to the bottom. After they brown, dump in a little bit of water and cover until cooked thoroughly. Serve with a mixture of soy, vinegar, sesame oil and garlic or ginger.
 

• 
  kimdec says

  These look GREAT.

• 
  s00zer says

  how do you get them to NOT stick the bottom of the pan after putting the water in? They brown perfectly, and once I add a little water, they steam and get mushy and getting them out of the pan is a nightmare. What am I doing wrong?

• 
  muttoneer says

  I would guess you're putting too much water in or steaming them for too long. Put in just enough to make sure there's plenty of steam. If that doesn't work, I would try is using very smooth, nonstick pan and making the gyoza keep moving while they steam (move the pan back and forth). Good luck!

• 
  s00zer says

  ok, I think I am putting too much water in. I will try them again. The meat was delicious. thanks for the tip!

• 
  muttoneer says

  Let me know if it turns out. If not, I'm happy to help continue troubleshooting. You could always cook them a few at a time until you master your technique.

• 
  michaelic says

  I tried this last week, and they were reeeeeally tasty. But I had the same problem as s00zer - everything stuck like crazy. Maybe I'll have another go with less water.

• 
  muttoneer says

  I hope it goes well. If you think it's starting to over-steam, you can always take off the lid and let the vapor escape.

• 
  eatfoodrecipe says

  grr!..seems yummy..

• 
  dawdawdo says

  For the sticking problem, I would try using a cast iron skillet, or maybe try baking them on a greased baking stone instead of frying. These look delicious.

• 
  muttoneer says

  I've always used nonstick and it's worked fine. Baking might work, but you wouldn't get the same wonderful texture. A higher temperature might also help, in order to evaporate the water faster once you're done steaming.

• 
  petitmiam says

  I guess you could always steam them and then fry them afterwards. I never heard of steaming them in the frying pan. I thought you either fry them or steam them, not both. I have a gas stove, so everything sticks.

• 
  Jaylene says

  I put oil on the pan, let the bottoms fry, then add water. Let it steam fully and remove the lid of the pan. It'll fry up and water will evaporate.

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