Asian Dumplings

Andrea Nguyen’s IACP Award-finalist cookbook is the most thorough and clearly written guide to making dumplings at home in English. With more than 75 recipes spanning China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, India, and the Philippines, it teaches fundamental techniques that apply across every dumpling tradition.

Why Start Here

Most dumpling cookbooks focus on a single tradition or assume you already know the basics. Nguyen starts from scratch. The opening chapters on ingredients, equipment, and fundamental dough methods are a masterclass in dumpling science. She explains how different flours behave, why water temperature matters for dough texture, and how to develop the feel for when a wrapper is ready. Her visual guide to six master shapes gives you a foundation that works whether you are folding jiaozi, pleating siu mai, or wrapping spring rolls.

The book covers Chinese dim sum classics like har gow, siu mai, and soup dumplings alongside Japanese gyoza, Vietnamese spring rolls, Indian samosas, Nepalese momo, and more. This range is a genuine strength because it reveals the underlying principles connecting all dumpling traditions. Once you understand how a basic hot water dough works, moving between cuisines becomes intuitive rather than intimidating.

Nguyen’s recipes are thoroughly tested and written with the kind of precision that comes from years of teaching. The photography by Penny De Los Santos provides practical guidance at every step. This is not a collection of shortcuts. It is a proper education in the craft of dumplings.

What to Expect

A 240-page hardcover organized by dumpling type: crescents, sticks and balls, sheets and rounds, and filled pastas. The technique chapters at the front are essential reading before you start cooking. You will need to source some specialty ingredients like dumpling flour and wrappers, but Nguyen gives clear guidance on substitutes and where to shop. The difficulty ranges from simple pot stickers to intricate soup dumplings, so you can start easy and build your skills over time.