Mandu are delicious Korean dumplings filled with pork, cabbage, chives and Korean glass noodles. This homemade mandu recipe will help you make juicy dumplings from scratch with these step-by-step instructions.

Mandu (Korean dumplings) is a traditional Lunar New Year dish in Korea.

When it comes to Lunar New Year traditions in Korea, you can’t skip homemade Korean dumplings (Mandu, 만두) as a part of a New Year celebration. These dumplings are filled with juicy meats and vegetables. Taking a bite is truly satisfying and enjoyable experience.

What is Mandu?

Mandu (만두) are Korean dumplings filled with a different types of savory filling called “So (소)” and folded in different patterns. The style of mandu vary across regions in Korea. The most typical fillings are consist of meat (usually pork), garlic chives, and vegetables. Steam, deep fry, pan fry, or boil these dumplings and dip them in the mandu sauce to enjoy.

You can also use these mandu dumplings to create Korean mandu soup (mandu-guk, 만두국) for the New Year celebration, or turn them into panfry mandu (gun mandu, 군만두).

A Pleated shaped Korean dumplings are steamed in a bamboo steamer

Although Kimchi Tofu Pork Mandu (김치만두) is one of the most well known mandu dumplings in Korea, people also like to fill their mandu with a variety of fillings. These are made with ground pork, cabbage, chives, leek, and Korean sweet potato noodles (dangmyun, 당면).

Can’t have pork or meat?

For vegetarian mandu recipe, just omit the pork in the filling, which will easily turn into vegetable mandu (yachae mandu, 야채만두)

Steaming Korean dumplings in a bamboo steamer brings the best result

Korean Lunar Year Tradition

My childhood memories of Lunar New Year are filled with helping my mother preparing Rice Cake Soup – the must have Korean New Year dish – and other Korean Lunar New Year foods to celebrate. These Korean pork dumplings are one of them. I recall that she tried a different filling for her mandu every year.

Making homemade mandu is a wonderful family activity that brings joy and happiness during the Lunar New Year. Since my father was the heir in his family lineage, all of his siblings including my uncles, aunts, and cousins, came to our house to celebrate the Lunar New Year together.

Imagine a scene of family members gathered around the table working with their hands to make delicious dumplings together to celebrate the new beginning of a year. After all, these dumplings are believed to bless you and your family.

These dumplings are one of the authentic Korean recipes that you can enjoy every year. If you would like a variety of mandu recipe, my cookbook, Korean Cooking Favorites, shares a recipe for steamed buns. So check it out.

Homemade dumpling wrappers (mandu-pi) are rolled out with a wooden pin

Homemade Korean Dumplings

Making homemade mandu has two components; dumpling wrappers and the filling.

1. Dumpling wrappers (mandu pi, 만두피)

Don’t be afraid to make homemade dumpling wrappers from scratch. If you are looking for a true Korean mandu experience, I recommend my Homemade Korean Dumpling Wrappers (mandu-pi) recipe.

Korean dumpling wrappers are made with flour, sweet rice flour, and a little cornstarch. The tender yet chewy texture of these dumpling wrappers make quite a difference compared to most other Asian dumpling wrappers.

On the other hand, store-bought dumpling wrappers do come in handy, and they make delicious semi-homemade mandu as well. When making Koran style mandu, look for the large size wrappers, about 5 inches in diameter.

2. Dumpling filling (Mandu-sok,만두속)

Traditional Korean dumplings are made with minced pork. Its mild yet juicy flavor and texture mingles well with any vegetables you add. Chopped sour kimchi, mung bean sprouts, and tofu are typical filling ingredients to go with pork.

I recommend using slightly fatty ground pork for the filling, about 80/20 meat to fat ratio. The fat makes the filling juicy and tender. Pork that is too lean yields a dry texture — you don’t want that.

How to make mandu from scratch

Pork, cabbage, chives, Asain leeks, Korean sweet potato noodles make a wonderful filling for mandu

Ingredients for Mandu filling: ground pork, nappa cabbage, Asian chives, Asian leek (or green onion), Korean glass noodles (dangmyun).

Salted cabbage pieces are squeezed out to remove excess water.
Asian leeks are finely chopped on a cutting board.

Step 1. Sprinkle 1 tsp salt on the chopped cabbage and let it soak for 10 minutes. When the cabbage becomes lifeless, squeeze it out to get rid of moisture.

Step 2. Chop chives and leeks finely. If you can’t find Asian chives, increase the amount of green onion.

Korean sweet potato noodles (dangmyun) are rinsed in a colander.
Boiled Korean glass noodles are chopped to small on a cutting board with a knife.

Step 3. Boil Korean glass noodles according to the package directions, about 6-7 minutes. Rinse in cold water and drain well. Chop into small pieces.

Dumpling filling ingredients are combined in a mixing bowl.
Korean dumpling filling is mixed by hand in a mixing bowl.

Step 4. Put pork, cabbage, chives, leek, and noodles in a large mixing bowl. Season with soy sauce, sweet rice wine, ginger, sesame oil, and pepper; mix well with your hand until all the ingredients are well incorporated.

Pleated homemade Korean dumplings are laid on a sheet covered with a towel

How to fold homemade dumplings

My mother used to say if you can fold a pretty mandu, you will have a good looking son. If you can make Korean sweet rice cakes (songpyeon) into a perfect shape, you will have a pretty daughter.

I think she was right! I do have a good looking son and a pretty daughter.

There are so many different shapes and patterns of folding dumplings. Here are the two of the most popular and easy.

1. Half moon shape

Half moon shaped dumplings are the most common in Korean dumplings. This shape is perfect for steaming and making soup. If you are thinking of making Korean dumpling soup, use this shape.

A finger is wetting the edge of filled dumpling wrapper with a little water
Filled dumpling wrapper is folded in half
The both ends of dumpling wrapper are bend down toward the center.
The ends of filled dumpling wrapper are pinched together creating a moon shaple
  1. Put a heaping tablespoon of filling in the middle of wrapper, wet the edges of wrapper with water using your finger.
  2. Fold the wrapper in half and pinch the edges together.
  3. Bring the both ends toward the center.
  4. Pinch the ends together to complete.

2. Pleated shape

Pleated shape is a great option for both steamed and pan fried dumplings. If you have never folded dumplings before, try with a small amount of filling inside first.

A round dumpling wrapper is filled with a mound of filling in the center.
Filled dumpling is folded in half and a pleat is pinched toward the center on top,
More pleats are pinched toward the center of dumpling
Both side of folded dumpling top is pleated and facing toward the center.
  1. Put some filling in the middle of the wrapper and wet the edges with water using your finger.
  2. Bring one edge to the other and pinch in the center first, then make a small pleat on one side facing toward the center .
  3. Continue to make more pleats, usually about 4 pleats.
  4. Create the same number of pleats on the other side, facing the pleats toward the center.
Korean dumplings are steaming in a bamboo basket

How to steam dumplings

  • Bring a small amount of water in a large pot to boil. (Make sure the bottom of your steamer doesn’t touch the water.)
  • Place dumplings without touching each other in a bamboo steamer (or regular steamer), lined with a cheese cloth or a steam liner.
  • When the water boils, place the steamer over or in the pot.
  • Cover and steam for 5 minutes.

How to panfry dumplings

  • Heat a pan on medium-high with a couple tablespoons of oil in it.
  • Working in batches, add dumplings (either fresh or frozen) in a single layer and cook until bottoms begin to brown, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Then add some water, about 3-4 tablespoon to create a steam. Turn the heat down to medium-low, and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Once the water has evaporated, it should take about 3 minutes for the bottoms of your dumplings to become crispy and brown. Remove the dumplings and serve.

To make fried mandu: heat a generous amount of oil in a skillet over medium heat, and fry mandu until all sides are golden brown and crisp. Watch out for any oil splash while frying.

Mandu dipping Sauce

Korean mandu dipping sauce is made with 2 parts soy sauce, 1 part vinegar, and 1-2 teaspoon of Korean chili flakes (gochugaru). Mix all together in a small bowl and serve with hot dumplings.

Korean pork and chive dumplings are dipped in a soy chili sauce

How to freeze dumplings

It is always a good idea to make abundant homemade mandu because they freeze beautifully. Make sure to sprinkle flour on a large tray so that the mandu won’t stick to the tray.

Place mandu pieces on the tray without touching each other. Freeze for an hour or until they are frozen solid. Transfer mandu pieces to a freezer bag. They can last up to 3 months in the freezer.

A half moon shape Korean dumplings are steamed in a bamboo steamer

More Korean New Year Recipes

Here are a few of the Korean New Year recipes that you can use for New Year or Lunar New Year celebration.

Mandu (Korean dumplings) is a traditional Lunar New Year dish in Korea

Homemade Mandu (Korean Dumplings)

Servings: 8 people
Prep Time: 1 hr 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Learn how to make delicious homemade mandu (Korean dumplings) from scratch with these step-by-step instructions. Filled with pork, cabbage, chives, and Korean sweet potato noodles, these mandu couldn't be more delicious. Recipe makes 40 large dumplings.
5 from 10 ratings
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Ingredients

For mandu filling

For dipping sauce

Equipment

Instructions 

To make the mandu filling

  • Chop napa cabbage finely and put it in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle 1 tsp salt and toss together; let it sit for 10 minutes. When the cabbage becomes lifeless, squeeze it out to get rid of moisture.
  • Boil Korean sweet potato noodles according to the package directions, about 6-7 minutes. Rinse in cold water and drain well. Chop into small pieces.
  • Put pork, cabbage, chives, leeks, and noodles in a large mixing bowl. Season with soy sauce, sweet rice wine, ginger, sesame oil, and pepper; mix well with your hand until all the ingredients are well incorporated.

To shape half moon dumplings

  • Put a heaping tablespoon of filling in the middle of wrapper, wet the edges of wrapper with water using your finger. Fold the wrapper in half and pinch the edges together. Bring the both ends toward the center. Pinch the ends together to complete.

To shape pleated dumplings

  • Put some filling in the middle of the wrapper and wet the edges with water using your finger. Bring one edge to the other and pinch in the center first, then make a small pleat on one side facing toward the center. Continue to make more pleats, usually about 4 pleats. Create the same number of pleats on the other side, facing the pleats toward the center.

To steam the mandu (dumplings)

  • Bring a small amount of water in a large pot to boil. Make sure the bottom of your steamer doesn't touch the water. Place mandu without touching each other in a bamboo steamer (or regular steamer), lined with a cheese cloth or a steam liner. When the water boils, place the steamer over or in the pot. Cover and steam for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
  • Meanwhile, make dipping sauce to go with dumplings. Combine all the sauce ingredients and drizzle it over dumplings.

Notes

Freezing Tip:  sprinkle flour on a large tray so that the dumpling won’t stick to the tray. Place dumpling pieces on the tray without touching each other. Freeze for an hour or until they are frozen solid. Transfer dumpling pieces to a freezer bag. They can last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Cuisine: Korean
Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Snack
Author: Holly Ford
Web Story: https://www.beyondkimchee.com/web-stories/mandu-korean-dumplings/
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