Six tasty “izakaya style” tapas you can make with gyoza dumpling skins

When you're in the mood for a drink, what kind of side dishes do you like to have with it?

Of course, you can buy all manner of snacks and prepared foods to accompany that glass of wine, beer, whisky, that cocktail, or whatever libation you're having. On the other hand, if you don't want to leave the house, you can also make your own.

If you've ever been to an izakaya gastropub, you probably know how great gyoza dumplings are when paired with a tall mug of draft beer, lemon sour or a highball. You can make them at home if you buy the skins and the ingredients for the fillings, but that's not all those skins are good for!

The YouTube channel あっきの家 (akki no ie | "Akki's house") introduces six tasty "izakaya style" tapas that you can make with gyoza dumpling skins.

Here are the ingredients you'll need for each simple recipe:

Unwrapped deep-fried gyoza dumplings with pork belly, shiso leaves, and pickled plum paste

10 gyoza dumpling skins
150 g pork belly strips
2 umeboshi pickled plums (can be replaced with umeboshi paste in a tube)
10 shiso leaves
Sesame oil to taste
1 egg yolk

Fried shrimp dumplings

Shrimp: As many as you want to eat, shelled
Gyoza skins for the number of shrimp
Grated cheese, as needed
Magic Salt or other salt seasoning, as needed

Mini Japanese-style pizzas (makes 6 pizzas)

12 gyoza skins
Nori seaweed tsukudani paste
1 sausage
Grated mozzarella or other "pizza cheese," to taste
Chopped welsh onions, to taste

Nametake mushroom pizza

Gyoza skins, as needed
Nametake seasoned enoki mushrooms
Grated mozzarella or other "pizza cheese," to taste
Chopped welsh onions, to taste

Fried gyoza dumplings with natto and kimchi

6 to 7 gyoza dumpling skins
1 pack of natto
Tare sauce that comes with natto pack
Kimchi, same amount as natto

"Taco pizza"

About 13 gyoza dumpling skins
100 g ground beef
1/4 onion, chopped
Salt and pepper
A pinch of nutmeg
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon consommé powder
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 teaspoon sugar
Toppings; cherry tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup, as desired

You can use the leftover skins from making gyoza, or you can buy them for the purpose of making these dishes!

You may be surprised at the ideas, such as using gyoza skins to make shrimp fritters.

The video received comments such as, "I want to try this as camp food!" and "I'm going to buy some gyoza skins!"

If you don't live in Japan, you may need to buy a few extra things (such as umeboshi pickled plums, natto, nori tsukudani, nametake, shiso leaves and kimchi) from an Asian supermarket or online retailer to make some of these, but almost all of them make great toppings for rice and can be easily used in other recipes, so you'll be able to use them beyond the recipes above.

If you're looking for something new to try with gyoza dumpling skins, why not give it a shot?

By - grape Japan editorial staff.