I like these kind of food very much.And it’s really a traditional food of China.We Chinese called it Jiaozi in Pinyin.And it’s a kind of Chinese dumpling.
As we know ,it is quite popular in the north part of China.And most northern families in the mainland China can make them at home while the southern Chinese usual buy them in the supermarket.
Long time ago, Jiaozi were only eat during the Chinese New Year.At that time of the year family members would get together to make dumplings. Since my grandparents are both from North China ,we keep this custom -that is really a wonderful memory .And even my father -a typical southerner are enjoyed making with us .What’s more,he’s work is pretty good=)
The shape of a dumpling resembles a Chinese golden tael , therefore they symbolize good fortune in the coming year. In rural areas, the choicest livestock is slaughtered, the meat ground and wrapped into dumplings, and frozen outside with the help of the freezing weather. Then they are boiled and served for the Chinese New Year feast. Dumplings with sweet, rather than savoury fillings are also popular as a Chinese New Year treat.
Mainly ,we have steamed Jiaozi and we also fried them .
By the way you maybe confused with the wonton: the jiaozi dumpling has a thicker skin and is a flatter, more oblate, double-saucer like shape (similar in shape to ravioli), and is usually eaten with a soy-vinegardipping sauce (and/or hot chili sauce); while a wonton has a thinner skin, is sphere-shaped, and is usually served in broth.
This is a Cantonese style shrimp wonton.
by the way an interesting variation on Chinese dumplings, known as dim sims can be found in Australia.


I reallly liked your post. It was rich with cultural insight that you really don’t get with most blogs/websites. The dumplings look like what the Japanese know to be “gyoza” – perhaps a corruption of jiaozi?
Phil @ http://moveablefeast.wordpress.com
Comment by moveablefeast — March 26, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
The Japanese word gyōza (ギョーザ, ギョウザ) was derived from the reading of 餃子 (Jiǎozi in Mandarin Chinese) in the Shandong Chinese dialect (giaozi) and is written using the same Chinese characters.
So you are right!
Comment by passionstay — March 27, 2007 @ 12:35 am