How to Make Jiaozi, Lunar New Year Dumplings for Good Luck

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Lunar New Year is coming soon. Many families are preparing special food to welcome the celebration. One of the most loved traditions is making dumplings together at home. If you want to join the festive spirit, now is the perfect time to learn how to make jiaozi. This dish is not only delicious, but also meaningful for the holiday season.

Jiaozi is a type of Chinese dumpling filled with meat and vegetables. It is usually boiled, but some people also fry or steam it. During Lunar New Year, families gather to prepare jiaozi because it symbolizes wealth and good fortune. Learning how to make jiaozi is a way to share happiness, culture, and family bonding.

In this article, we will learn how to make jiaozi step by step. You can also find some tips that will help you get the best result when trying this recipe at home. We gathered the information from various sources, (16/2/2026). Let's start cooking.

If you are ready to celebrate the festival, this recipe will show you how to make jiaozi in a simple way. The process may look difficult at first, but it becomes easier with practice. Preparing the filling, wrapping the dumplings, and cooking them can also be a fun group activity.

Ingredients:

- 2 cups all‑purpose flour

- 3/4 cup warm water

- 250 grams ground pork or chicken

- 1 cup finely chopped napa cabbage

- 2 green onions, sliced

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 1 tablespoon grated ginger

- 2 tablespoons soy sauce

- 1 tablespoon sesame oil

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

1. Make the Dough: Put the flour in a large bowl. Slowly add warm water while mixing. Knead the dough for about 8–10 minutes until smooth. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes so it becomes soft and easy to roll.

2. Prepare the Filling: In another bowl, combine ground meat, cabbage, green onions, garlic, and ginger. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly combined and slightly sticky.

3. Roll the Wrappers: Divide the dough into small pieces. Roll each piece into a thin circle, about 3 inches wide. Try to keep the center slightly thicker so it can hold the filling.

4. Add the Filling: Place about one tablespoon of filling in the center of each wrapper. Do not overfill, or the dumpling may break when cooking.

5. Fold the Jiaozi: Fold the wrapper in half over the filling. Press the edges together. You can make small pleats along the edge, but a simple fold is also fine. Make sure the dumpling is sealed tightly.

6. Cook the Dumplings: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the dumplings carefully. Stir gently so they do not stick. When they float, cook for another 2–3 minutes. Remove and drain before serving.

After you learn how to make jiaozi, small techniques can improve the result. These practical tips will help your dumplings look better and taste more balanced.

- Do Not Put Too Much Filling: Too much filling can make the wrapper tear during folding or cooking. It also causes uneven boiling, leaving some parts undercooked while others become too soft.

- Squeeze Water From Vegetables: Napa cabbage and other vegetables hold excess moisture. Removing the water keeps the filling firm and prevents the dumplings from becoming soggy after boiling.

- Seal The Edges Firmly: Press the edges tightly so the dumplings do not open while cooking. A strong seal keeps the filling inside and helps maintain the dumpling shape.

- Dust Wrappers With Flour: Lightly coating wrappers with flour prevents them from sticking together on the tray. This makes handling easier when preparing many dumplings at once.

- Stir Gently After Dropping In Water: A gentle stir keeps dumplings from sticking to the pot bottom. It also helps them cook evenly without breaking apart.

- Cook In Small Batches: Boiling too many dumplings at once lowers the water temperature. Cooking in small batches helps them cook evenly and keeps the wrapper texture firm.

- Taste The Filling First: Cook a small portion of filling before wrapping. This allows you to adjust seasoning so the final dumplings taste balanced and flavorful.

Now that you know how to make jiaozi, you can complete your celebration table with other festive dishes. These foods also carry symbolic meanings and add variety to the meal.

- Spring Rolls: Crispy spring rolls are filled with vegetables or meat. Their golden color represents wealth and prosperity, making them a popular festive appetizer during Lunar New Year gatherings.

- Longevity Noodles: These long noodles symbolize long life and good health. They are usually stir‑fried or served in broth and should not be cut when eaten.

- Steamed Fish: Serving whole fish represents abundance and surplus. It is commonly steamed with ginger, scallions, and soy sauce for a light yet meaningful Lunar New Year dish.

- Glutinous Rice Cake (Nian Gao): This sweet rice cake symbolizes growth and progress. Its sticky texture represents family unity and stronger relationships in the coming year.

- Tangyuan: These sweet rice balls are served in warm syrup. They symbolize togetherness, harmony, and happiness among family members during the celebration.

- Eight Treasure Rice: This dessert rice dish includes nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. It represents luck, prosperity, and sweetness for the new year ahead.

Serving these dishes together creates a festive and meaningful Lunar New Year meal. When you combine them with your homemade dumplings, the celebration feels more complete. Learning how to make jiaozi is not only about cooking, but also about sharing culture, joy, and hope for the year ahead.