There are dozens of ways to fold dumplings. We have very dedicated dumplings in China. The wrapper can be colorful and the shapes can be amazing. For example, the popular cabbage like dumplings. I introduce some simple and easy way for homemade versions with common techniques with detailed shown in video. Hope you make your dumpling party more enjoyable in the coming holiday season.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

Tips for folding beautiful Chinese dumplings

  1. Start with less filling and easy ways. For beginners, you can start with less filling and easy ways. Too much filling may cause leaking and a twisted dumpling shape. No worries, along with the improvement of the skill, you can wrap more dumpling fillings.
  2. Think about your cooking method in advance. Different shape has their own advantages on a specific cooking method. For example, the pinched edge dumplings (usually we call it cabbage dumpling in China) work the best with boiled dumplings. With this method, you can wrap more filling and pinch the wrappers more tightly because of the action of pinching together. They are more stable than other forms when facing the boiling movement of water.
  3. Take care of the shape of your filling. Sometimes, a round ball (or flat ball )can make the dumpling plump and much easier to wrap. But in other cases, like moon shape dumplings, rectangle shape is much better.
  4. Homemade wrappers, in most cases, work better then store-bought wrappers. However, do not over flour your homemade dumpling wrapper. Most made wrapper need dusting flour to avoid sticky together. But too much flour also prevent the wrapper pinching together when folding.  If you use store-bought wrappers, wet the toughing part at the beginning can make the wrapper process easier.
  5. Wet the joining part if you are using store bought dumpling wrappers.

I use homemade dumpling wrapper for demonstration, so there is no wetting process. For store-bought wrappers, check whether they can seal good directly or you may apply water as a glue. And I still keep this post as an opening post as I will continue adding other methods and ways in the further.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

Easy versions

1.Rose bud or shoe-shaped gold ingot (元宝饺子): place 1 tablespoon of filling in center (round), fold the wrapper in half and seal completely. Then press the two endings together.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

2.Triangle dumplings (三角饺): place the filling in center as a round ball. Fold 1/3 portion of the wrapper and press to seal and then fold the remaining at center to make the other two corners. This way is easy too but the folded dumplings occupy larger places. You can also make some waves on the three edges to make the triangle dumplings looks even more dedicated. Usually triangle dumplings are for pan-frying and steaming.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

3.Quadrangle dumpling with openings (开口锅贴):Place the filling in center as rectangle, seal the center part together. this is the easiest way to fold potstickers. Or you can seal the two ends and make a quadrangle dumpling. Opened quadrangle dumpling is only sued for pan-fried potstickers.
Quadrangle dumplings(四角蒸饺):Filling in center as rectangle, press the two side at the center, pinch the other two sides at center too to create 4 corners. If you make a quadrangle dumpling, slightly squeeze the filling can improve the appearance.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

Middle Level

4. Pinched-edge dumpling (大肚水饺 ):this method is the most popular folding way for boiled dumplings in China. It is better to use handmade wrappers as they stick better than store-bought wrappers . Place filling in center as a round ball, fold the wrapper in half at center firstly. Use your left thumb and index finger to hold the left half and use your right thumb and index finger to hold the right half. Simultaneously, slightly squeeze the two side toward the center part while pressing the two edges together. This is the fastest way of fold dumplings, so most of the boiled dumplings in restaurants are wrapped via this way.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

5.One Line dumpling (一字水饺): this is a simper shape based on pinched edge dumplings. The only difference is not to squeeze the two side together.

6.Two-direction crescent moon dumplings (两个方向的月牙饺子): place 1 tablespoon of filling in center, fold the wrapper in half at center firstly. Make 2-4 pleats from center to the left edges and then repeat and make 2-4 pleats from center to the right edges.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

7.Twisty Rope (蛤蜊饺): place 1 tablespoon of filling in center, fold the wrapper in half at center firstly and move sideway while pressing. Then twist the edges. You can form a sun shape twisty rope using two wrappers overlaid.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

8. Waved dumplings (波波饺子): place 1 tablespoon of filling in center, fold the wrapper in half at center firstly and move sideway while pressing.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

Advanced

9.Pinch braid(柳叶饺): place the filling in center as a column, make a horizontal pleats and then start with one front pleat and one back pleat. Then take the pinched part one step further to the left center. Then repeat the process of making front pleat and back pleat alternately. Press the two ends together to finish and form a lovely tail.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

10.One direction crescent moon dumplings (月牙饺子):place the filling in the center as a column, take the wrapper in left hand. make pleats with the right hands all the way from the right corner to left corner.

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

11.Baozi like folding: make pleats with the right hand and rotate the wrapper meanwhile and finally seal the ends to make a round dumpling like Baozi. This method is mainly for shanghai style soup dumplings (灌汤包).

how to fold dumplings|chinasichuanfood.com

Enjoy! If you have other ideas, welcome share your thought with Elaine. Have fun with your dumpling party.

How to fold dumplings |chinasichuanfood.com
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5 from 2 votes

How to Fold Dumplings

Detailed guide of how to fold dumplings, popular types all covered.

Instructions

Easy Level

  • Rose bud or shoe-shaped gold ingot (元宝饺子): place 1 tablespoon of filling in center (round), fold the wrapper in half and seal completely. Then press the two endings together.
  • Triangle dumplings (三角饺): place the filling in center as a round ball. Fold 1/3 portion of the wrapper and press to seal and then fold the remaining at center to make the other two corners. This way is easy too but the folded dumplings occupy larger places. You can also make some waves on the three edges to make the triangle dumplings looks even more dedicated. Usually triangle dumplings are for pan-frying and steaming.
  • Quadrangle dumpling with openings (开口锅贴):Place the filling in center as rectangle, seal the center part together. this is the easiest way to fold potstickers. Or you can seal the two ends and make a quadrangle dumpling. Opened quadrangle dumpling is only sued for pan-fried potstickers.Quadrangle dumplings(四角蒸饺):Filling in center as rectangle, press the two side at the center, pinch the other two sides at center too to create 4 corners. If you make a quadrangle dumpling, slightly squeeze the filling can improve the appearance.

Middle Level

  • Pinched-edge dumpling (大肚水饺 ):this method is the most popular folding way for boiled dumplings in China. It is better to use handmade wrappers as they stick better than store-bought wrappers . Place filling in center as a round ball, fold the wrapper in half at center firstly. Use your left thumb and index finger to hold the left half and use your right thumb and index finger to hold the right half. Simultaneously, slightly squeeze the two side toward the center part while pressing the two edges together. This is the fastest way of fold dumplings, so most of the boiled dumplings in restaurants are wrapped via this way.
  • One Line dumpling (一字水饺): this is a simper shape based on pinched edge dumplings. The only difference is not to squeeze the two side together.
  • Two-direction crescent moon dumplings (两个方向的月牙饺子): place 1 tablespoon of filling in center, fold the wrapper in half at center firstly. Make 2-4 pleats from center to the left edges and then repeat and make 2-4 pleats from center to the right edges.
  • Twisty Rope (蛤蜊饺): place 1 tablespoon of filling in center, fold the wrapper in half at center firstly and move sideway while pressing. Then twist the edges. You can form a sun shape twisty rope using two wrappers overlaid.
  • Waved dumplings (波波饺子): place 1 tablespoon of filling in center, fold the wrapper in half at center firstly and move sideway while pressing.

Advanced Level

  • Pinch braid(柳叶饺): place the filling in center as a column, make a horizontal pleats and then start with one front pleat and one back pleat. Then take the pinched part one step further to the left center. Then repeat the process of making front pleat and back pleat alternately. Press the two ends together to finish and form a lovely tail.
  • One direction crescent moon dumplings (月牙饺子):place the filling in the center as a column, take the wrapper in left hand. make pleats with the right hands all the way from the right corner to left corner.
  • Baozi like folding: make pleats with the right hand and rotate the wrapper meanwhile and finally seal the ends to make a round dumpling like Baozi. This method is mainly for shanghai style soup dumplings (灌汤包).

Video

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14 Comments

  1. I really admire your skills Elaine!

    It probably takes a lot of practice and patience to do the more advanced dumpling shapes. I was very surprised to learn that they even have proper names.

    Maybe you want to link the great video you made about this here. In my opinion it’s even more impressive.

      1. I’m sorry Elaine,

        it was entirely my fault that I didn’t see the video. An adblock plugin from my browser filtered it out. I still wonder why it did that. This didn’t use to be a problem in the past.

        1. I changed my hosting platform from Youtube to my ads provider. Thanks for the feedback. I will consider switching back.

  2. There is no recipe for the wrapper ?? Could you please print it thank you it looks like fun to do all those fancy ways thank you ,I enjoy many of your recipes
    Eileen

  3. Hi Elaine,

    You have done an amazing job with this blog! And I am not the one sharing her compliments lightly.
    It is done almost on a professional level.

    Question about the shape of the dumplings: which one is the best for frying?

    Kind regards
    Adelya

    1. Adelya,
      Thank you so much for your encouragement!!I love to shape my dumplings as Twisty Rope for pan-frying and deep-frying the most because it get the largest surface and a well fixed filling.

  4. hi,
    I would like to make chinese deep fried meat dumplings made with glutinous rice flour ( called gai loong in cantonese) for a family gathering. what is the best way to make ahead and fry at the gathering. should i freeze and thaw, then fry? Thank you for your help

      1. Hi there wanna ask if first time making folding is it really difficult? Because it seems so easy but when I tried it it’s so difficult hahaha how much practice do I have. Thanks

        1. Yes, it should be quite hard for the first trying because this really need cooperation of two hands. But don’t worry, you can find the feeling after 10 times practice.

  5. I need a solution. What changes should i make if the filling falls off from the wrapper biting into it? Thank you. I just use a half moon fold.

    1. Haha you need to wet the edges of the wrappers if using store bouquet wrappers. They are dusted with flour and thus cannot pinch together easily.