25 Delightfully Doughy Dumpling Recipes From Around The World (2024)

25 Delightfully Doughy Dumpling Recipes From Around The World (1)

Venture into most major cuisines of the world, and you'll find a familiar sight: a deliciously diverse spin on a dumpling. And thank goodness for that. Whether your culinary travels find you with Chinese-style butternut squash potstickers, sweet potato gnocchi from Italy, or Southern-style chicken and dumplings, these easy dumpling recipes guarantee you never have to travel too far to get a perfectly doughy dumpling.

What is a dumpling anyway? Well, it's a bit more far-ranging than you'd think. Simply put, dumplings all share a few things in common: They're made from soft doughs, can often be stuffed or rolled into a ball, and are often fried, steamed, or cooked in soup. What that means is, technically, tamales, ravioli, wontons, and even matzo balls all count as dumplings!

That being said, the first dumplings that might come to mind are likely two of our favorite cold-weather winter dinners: brothy soup dumplings and crispy fried pork-ginger potstickers. Along with steamed baozi, these doughy delights are must-trys for when you're in need of comfort food when the weather turns solidly into sweater- and coat-weather.

A few timezones away from Chinese dumplings, you can find Polish , Siberian pelmeni, and Italian favorites like gnocchi and gnudi, as well as German spaetzle. Not sure about you, but we think this basically proves dumplings are the most perfect food of all.

If you're not feeling too keen on making homemade dumplings, don't worry. We have tons of tricks and tips on getting a perfectly doughy weeknight-friendly dinner, including using wonton wrappers for our lobster ravioli, as well as tons of recipes that use pre-made gnocchi!

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1

Pelmeni

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Among the likes of Chinese dumplings and Polish pierogi come these Siberian pelmeni, little pouches of dough that are usually stuffed with ground beef, finely chopped onions, and warm spices like cumin. There are many variations, but ours somewhat resemble tortellini and are served tossed in butter with sour cream and dill.

Get the Pelmeni recipe.

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2

Homemade Dumplings

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Take your time and give this homemade dumpling process lots of love—餃子 (jiao zi) are often made in the company of loved ones around Chinese New Year to celebrate families gathering together. Their shape resembles Chinese gold ingots, a currency that was used during the Ming dynasty, and are meant to represent prosperity, wealth, and health. May each one bring you a bite-sized pocket of blessing!

Get the Homemade Dumplings recipe.

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3

Cacio e Pepe Potato Gnocchi

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Homemade potato gnocchi is surprisingly easy to make, and the dough is a dream to work with. Unlike pasta, there's no resting or labored rolling involved. It's as simple as roasting a few potatoes and mixing everything together.

Get the Cacio e Pepe Potato Gnocchi recipe.

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4

Ginger Pork Potstickers

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Looking for a weekend project? We suggest these super-flavorful (and surprisingly easy) pot stickers! Don't miss the photo guide of our folding technique, though you don't need to fuss too much over them. They'll taste amazing no matter how they look.

Get the Ginger Pork Potstickers recipe.

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5

Soup Dumplings

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We absolutely LOVE dumplings, and xiaolongbao, the Chinese version filled with ground pork and gelatinized pork broth, are some of the best. Though traditionally pork bones are used to make the broth semi-solid, they can be hard to find, so we've subbed in gelatin and whatever broth you like. Trust us, once heated up, these dumplings are still just as heavenly.

Get the Soup Dumplings recipe.

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6

Butternut Squash Potstickers

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These seasonal potstickers are a super-clever and delicious fall appetizer. They're easy to put together, and most of your time is spent roasting your squash until really tender, which can be done ahead of time. Crimping takes a little practice, but the good news is that even if they look a little wonky, they are still going to taste great!

Get the Butternut Squash Potstickers recipe.

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7

Copycat PF Chang's Wonton Soup

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A lot of wonton soups tend to just be wontons and broth. Sometimes there will be noodles or some sliced scallions, but it tends to be a pretty minimalist dish. The PF Chang's version is for those who want more, more, and then some more.

Get the Copycat PF Chang's Wonton Soup recipe.

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8

Chicken Matzo Ball Soup

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True Jewish food-philes know that matzo ball soup isn’t just for your Passover feast. (If you’ve ever been to a Jewish deli or a diner in New York City, you see it on menus all year round.) For many who love it, it’s the taste of warmth and comfort, perfect for the winter holiday.

Get the Chicken Matzo Ball Soup recipe.

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9

Air Fryer Potstickers

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We here at Delish love dumplings of all kinds, but making them completely from scratch can be a lot. If you want something that’s a little less work intensive (and you love using your air fryer), this recipe is all yours.

Get the Air Fryer Potstickers recipe.

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10

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Serve this gnocchi boiled or seared, either in a caramelized sauce of bacon fat, butter, maple syrup, and bourbon (😋), or in a simple cacio e pepe-inspired finish, like in our potato gnocchi recipe.

Get the Sweet Potato Gnocchi recipe.

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11

Slow-Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

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Is there anything more cozy than chicken and dumplings? This recipe makes the classic even easier to whip up, so you're never too far away from this ultimate comfort food.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe.

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12

Ricotta Gnudi

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Making gnudi, or Italian ricotta dumplings, only sounds fancy. They're actually an easy pasta dinner anyone can pull off. If you love gnocchi as much as we do, you'll likely love these too. The only real difference? Gnocchi is made with potato, and gnudi is made with ricotta, which makes them even more tender, light, and plump.

Get the Ricotta Gnudi recipe.

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13

Dill & Cheddar Pierogis

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When you're looking for something warm, comforting, and carb-y, do Polish pierogi come to mind? We think they should, and this cheesy dill version certainly satisfies on all fronts. Loaded with sharp white cheddar, sweet caramelized onions, and creamy mashed potatoes, the only thing more gratifying than making them from scratch is stuffing them in your mouth. 😋

Get the .

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14

Homemade Bacon Spaetzle

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Spaetzle is a traditional German pasta-like dumpling made eggs, and it's great as a side or a full meal. The joy of spaetzle lies in their irregular shapes and sizes, so have fun with it. The one thing that's mandatory: Serve spaetzle with a frosty beer.

Get the Homemade Bacon Spaetzle recipe.

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15

Lobster Ravioli

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For this version of lobster ravioli, wonton wrappers are used instead of pasta dough. We know that it's hardly Italian traditon, but we wanted to make this easy for you. And guess what… they are so darn delicious. The wonton wrappers are so tender and light that you really only taste the decadent lobster filling. If you want actual pasta-encased lobster ravioli, then our pasta dough is great; otherwise, we promise you’re going to make these over and over again.

Get the Lobster Ravioli recipe.

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16

Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup

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Cozy and nourishing, we crave matzo ball soup pretty much year-round. Although schmaltz (AKA chicken fat) and chicken broth are typically included in this classic Ashkenazi Jewish soup, it’s not hard to swap in vegetarian-friendly ingredients.

Get the Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup recipe.

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17

Wonton Soup

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We turn to this quick and easy wonton soup over and over when temperatures start dropping. Not only does it come together in a flash, it's also super-satisfying without weighing you down. If you'd like to add some veggies to this soup, try dropping some quartered bok choy into the boiling broth a couple minutes before serving.

Get the Wonton Soup recipe.

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18

Spinach Tortellini Soup

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A regular rotation of healthy soups makes getting through the week so much easier, and this spinach tortellini version slides easily into the mix. It only takes 25 minutes to make thanks to pantry staples like shallots, Parmesan, canned tomatoes, and tortellini.

Get the Spinach Tortellini Soup recipe.

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19

Butternut Squash Ravioli

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Putting in the elbow grease for these squash ravioli will make you feel like a true chef, and the pasta will taste 10x better just knowing you made it from scratch. A homemade pasta is no easy feat, but trust us, it's 100% worth it.

Get the Butternut Squash Ravioli recipe.

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20

Steamed Buns (Baozi)

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There are endless variations on the steamed bun across different cultures and regions: different dough recipes, different fillings, different cooking methods. The three separate filling options can be made a day in advance: a meaty cabbage-pork combo, a flexible miso-carrot mix that can be vegan or pescatarian, and a sweet red bean paste version that can be served as dessert. Let these be mere suggestions: Once you have the dough made, you can play around with creating your own filling variations.

Get the Steamed Buns (Baozi) recipe.

25 Delightfully Doughy Dumpling Recipes From Around The World (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to perfect dumplings? ›

Overworking the mixture, thus having heavy dumplings is a common mistake people make. Dumplings need very gentle handling, so mix only until the ingredients are just combined, and if your recipe involves rolling them out with extra flour, avoid using too much.

What makes dumplings gummy? ›

If you overcook your dumplings in the steamer or when boiling, the dough of the wrappers will have a gummy texture that isn't very pleasant, and your filling might get dry and tough. If you overcook them in the pan, you risk a similar gummy texture on top and a bitter, burnt crust on the bottom.

What are the fluffy dumplings called? ›

Sheng Jian Bao

It's very similar to xiao long bao. The first thing that sets sheng jian bao apart is the dough. The dough is semi-leavened, so the wrapper ends up being fluffy on the inside, making for an entirely different texture than the dumplings we've talked about already.

What's the best flour to use for dumplings? ›

These dumplings start with all-purpose flour, which creates structure and holds the other ingredients together. Baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it releases gas that makes the dough expand. It's responsible for the dumplings' light and fluffy texture.

Why are my Bisquick dumplings doughy? ›

Do not overmix the dough: Overmixing the dough can result in tough and chewy dumplings. Stir the Bisquick mix and milk just until the ingredients come together and form a soft dough [2].

How do I get my dumplings crispy? ›

If you want to get similar results at home, there are only two tricks you really need. First is to add a bit of extra starch to your dumplings. Dust them with cornstarch, shaking off the excess before the initial fry. Second is to use a non-stick skillet, or an extremely well-seasoned cast iron pan.

Why do my dumplings taste like flour? ›

That means you did not cook it long enough before adding it to or adding the broth. If you don't cook roux long enough (until it changes color) then it will taste like flour.

What is the American version of dumplings? ›

American dumplings may be of the filled pastry type (which are usually baked), or they may be little pieces of dough added to a savoury or sweet dish, in which case they are usually boiled. Baked sweet dumplings are a popular dessert in American cuisine.

What are French dumplings called? ›

Quenelles are delicate, oval-shaped dumplings. The term "quenelle" originally referred to a specific dumpling made with pike and cream. Nowadays, the term is used much more loosely and refers to dumplings made from all ingredients. Quenelles can be served as a side dish, such as potatoes, or as an appetizer.

What are Italian dumplings called? ›

Gnocchi are a type of dumpling-style pasta popular in Italian cuisine.

What are dragon dumplings? ›

The dragon dumpling (Long Chao Shou) is a signature delicacy of Chengdu city. This is the special name for wonton in Sichuan.

What are tulip dumplings? ›

A delicate, savory bite sized dumpling that is filled with pork, shrimp, carrots, mushroom and garlic served with our in house tangy soy!

What are Russian dumplings called? ›

Pelmeni, Vereniki, and Pierogi are all types of dumplings that are found in either Russia (pelmeni and vareniki), or Central and Eastern Europe (pierogi).

Why are my dumplings hard and not fluffy? ›

Don't Overwork the Dumpling Dough

Stir everything together until the wet and dry ingredients are combined and you don't see any more dry flour. The dough might look a little lumpy, but that's okay! Overworking the dough is one of the easiest ways to end up with tough dumplings.

What keeps dumplings from falling apart? ›

The liquid should be at a low/moderate steady boil. If it's boiling too hard, the dumpling dough can fall apart. Simmering broth might not be hot enough to raise the dumpling dough. Remove or tilt the lid after they've cooked so the dumplings don't over-steam and get soggy and dense.

What are the 3 components of dumplings? ›

What are dumplings made of? The dumpling dough is made of three main ingredients: flour, water and salt. But which flour you use depends on which dumpling you want to make.

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