Food

Wagamama style gyoza recipe

Gyoza cooked

Gyoza
I’ve never been the best cook in the house, and if dinner is left to me I usually go for something healthy, quick to make and crowd-pleasing. So many times I’ve tried out a new recipe hoping the kids will give it a go and it’s been rejected, quite often now I’m pressed for time and just make what I know everyone likes to eat.
My husband is a brilliant cook and always used to be trying out new recipes and ingredients at home. A vegetarian since he was 16, he used to make us a lot of meals from his original Cranks cook book and look for new ones in the paper or on cookery programmes. I always used to tease him when he asked me on a Monday, what do you fancy for dinner on Thursday? I mean when I lived alone, I never used to plan ahead and usually ate the first thing I saw when I got in.

Now Rog isn’t really well enough to cook and his appetite comes and goes, but quite often when he’s spending time at home he’s spied a recipe he fancies and asks if I can give it a go. Who am I to argue?! I mean I have objected to buying star anise and liquorice root in Asda when I really just want to buy a pizza, but always agree in the end. This week the whim was to try making vegetable gyoza, a kind of Japanese dumpling that we always used to have as a starter in Wagamama.

Armed with the actual restaurant recipe which we found online and a packet of gyoza wrappers (thin pastry circles really) from the freezer, we were ready to go. We even got the kids involved with the veg chopping in the hope it would make them want to eat them. And it did, kind of! Anyway, it turned out not to be too much effort and the end result was well worth it. The middle part is basically chopped carrots, onion, water chestnuts and celery mixed with sesame oil, and tastes amazing. We served them with a dip made from peanut butter, soy sauce and a bit of warm water, which was a hit with Sam more than anything else. Sweet chilli sauce worked well too. I wasn’t going to go to all this effort without taking some photos, so here they are in all their glory! A similar recipe for gyoza can be found here.

Enjoy!

x Julia

Gyoza cooked

Gyoza table

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9 Comments

  • Reply
    Mackenzie Glanville
    June 16, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    good on you for trying something new, I am not the cook in our house either so I know how hard it can be, I’m sure Rog is very proud
    Mackenzie Glanville recently posted…Simply beautifulMy Profile

  • Reply
    Amanda
    June 17, 2015 at 8:19 am

    Oh my goodness Julia! I can hardly be bothered to make toast, you totally inspire me! I’m going to cook…one day, may even try these, they look great!

  • Reply
    Hayley (@hayleyfromhome)
    June 17, 2015 at 8:52 am

    Ooh, they sound lovely! It’s great that you could all get involved and make it. I am the cook in our house and I actually like to cook but I get so frustrated when I make something homemade for the kids and they turn their noses up…do they not know I’m trying to make them healthy food?! 🙂 xx
    Hayley (@hayleyfromhome) recently posted…Happy & Healthy – Fitness & YogaMy Profile

  • Reply
    Megan - truly madly kids
    June 17, 2015 at 11:48 am

    I love Wagamamas! We made mini chicken ramen at home – delicious! These look fab! X
    Megan – truly madly kids recently posted…Packing for a festival – what we learnt from Wychwood FestivalMy Profile

  • Reply
    Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)
    June 19, 2015 at 1:27 pm

    Aww I love these! So expensive when you eat out! Its been awhile since I last tried new dish! I will look for the gyoza wrapper in asian store and if I find one I will try this! Bookmarked this page already. #sharewithme
    Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) recently posted…5 YearsMy Profile

  • Reply
    Jenny
    June 21, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    Oh these look and sound absolutely delicious. I will have to try them this summer while I am in america. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
    Jenny recently posted…Nursery goodbyes, my wardrobe, and bloggers inspiring me #littlelovesMy Profile

  • Reply
    sarah christie
    January 28, 2016 at 10:24 am

    Julia these look so tasty, I might have to try this out myself x
    sarah christie recently posted…Quick and Easy, Low Fat Carrot and Coriander SoupMy Profile

  • Reply
    Angela at Daysinbed
    March 3, 2016 at 9:41 am

    This looks tatsty Julia! Yum Yum! angela from Daysinbed

  • Reply
    Samantha Rickelton
    March 3, 2016 at 9:46 am

    I love the idea of a Wagamama style dinner at home and these don’t seem too difficult to make x
    Samantha Rickelton recently posted…A trip to Warkworth Beach with RingtonsMy Profile

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