Jiaozi

Jiǎozi (Chinese饺子/饺子, Pinyin jiǎozi, W.-G. chiao3 - tzu, Cantonese gau35 dzi35 ), popular in Japan as Gyoza is a Chinese strudel, which is somewhat similar to the foot pocket and the Eastern European dumplings.

The filling is usually made of vegetables and meat or shrimp. Chinese restaurants offer but often on a wide variety of fillings. Partial egg is placed in the filling to give this a better cohesion. Can be seasoned the filling with salt and finely chopped ginger.

The cooked before consumption Jiǎozi be dipped in a mixture, which assembles every guest on a small plate or tray itself. The Jiǎozi also whole garlic cloves can be eaten.

Jiǎozi are more than a snack for most southern Chinese, but never a main meal. Jiǎozi are also very popular at dim sum. There are many different ways of preparing Jiao Zi, for example Jiu Cai Jiao ( wild garlic dumplings) or Shui Jing Xia Jiao / Xia Jiao ( shrimp dumplings made ​​of rice flour).

For Jiaozi there next to the cooking and steaming is a third way of preparation, searing in oil and then pouring and vapors with water. In this way, prepared dumplings are Guotie (Chinese锅贴/锅贴, Pinyin Guotie, literally " pot glue" ) called.

Culture

Compare Some Chinese Chinese soul with Jiaozi: outwardly simple, inwardly diverse.

Jiaozi are kneaded together at home by the whole family, rolled and filled. That's why you eat, according to a saying Jiaozi welcome and noodles goodbye, because the long noodles symbolize the solidarity after the separation.

The Jiaozi are originally from China, specifically from North China. There are several legends:

Bian Que

2,600 years ago there lived in northern China, the famous doctor Bian Que. At the time, many poor people had to survive no warm clothing available the cold, northern Chinese winter. Some of the arms frozen to body parts, especially their ears off. After a thorough investigation Bian Que came to the conclusion that people why so many had frostbitten ears because the ears have only thin veins and no thick layer of fat. According to legend, he gave the people some herbs to treat frostbite. The herbs were, however, difficult to cook loose. Bian Que therefore filled the herbs before he gave it to the people in small pasta squares. The small and filled with herbs pasta squares they could then quite easy to prepare at home and eat.

In time, the economic development, so that it only rarely a lack of money for warm clothes nowadays. However, the people fill To commemorate the doctor Bian Que still every winter minced meat or vegetables in half-moon shaped pasta squares in order to prepare and to eat.

Su qiaosheng

Legend has existed in China Emperor of the less sought the affairs of state to pursue as his personal pleasure. One of his mandarin once remarked - not without ulterior motives - to him that he would live forever, if he could only eat 100 different foods a day. The Emperor was pleased with the proposal and issued orders nationwide select the best cook, who should cook 100 different dishes for him. After several tests, a chef was elected with the name Su qiaosheng.

Over the next 33 days Su cooked 99 different dishes for the Emperor, who was very happy with it. On the night of the 33rd day cooking Su wondered now what he should serve as a second breakfast for the Emperor. He pondered all night, but still had no idea for a new trial. The Emperor, however, had threatened him that he would have him killed if it does not work with the courts. While the master chef meditated over his alleged fate, his eyes suddenly fell on the remains of meat and vegetables in the kitchen. He got the idea to chop the meat and vegetables into small pieces and thus to fill small pasta squares, in order then to cook together with their filling. The result was the Emperor for breakfast. The cook was afraid that the emperor could not be more pleased with the breakfast and was startled not a little, when the Emperor himself very rushed after breakfast directly into the kitchen and said, " Today's breakfast was tasty best! What is the name the court? "

The cook replied without hesitation: "The court looks flat and is therefore called Platt - court ". This was the forerunner of today's Jiaozi.

Gyoza (Japan)

Gyoza (Japanese饺子) are mainly with meat or vegetable stuffed dumplings, originally enough, come from China. [ Jiao Zi ] Gyoza are widely used in Japan. Famous for gyoza is the city of Utsunomiya (宇 都 宫), but Gyōzaläden can be found throughout Japan. Gyoza are also sold in ramen restaurants as a side dish. They are also available frozen in supermarkets. The crescent-shaped gyoza are usually fried but can also be fried or steamed. They are usually flavored with a sauce.

Mandu ( Korean )

The Korean version is called Mandu ( 만두 ).