Air Fryer Potstickers

Wok and roll! Potstickers mean party time!

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If you ever find yourself in San Francisco, make sure you climb the steep hills in Chinatown to the corner of Sacramento Street and Pagoda Place, because right across from the Willy “Woo Woo” Wong playground is Hang Ah Tea Room, the oldest dim sum restaurant in the United States. The garlic bok choy is to die for, the tableside chili sauce is the best I’ve ever eaten and the potstickers are melt-in-your-mouth pockets of joy!

Potstickers are a northern Chinese delicacy, and they are a pan-fried variation of dumplings, which are a staple in Northern Chinese cuisine. There is a culinary myth that a chef was boiling regular dumplings in a wok, but forgot about them. When he returned, all the water had evaporated, leaving the dumplings stuck to the bottom of the wok. He served them anyway, and his guests loved the soft, tender skin on one side, and the crispy crust on the other side.

Fittingly, the Chinese name for them is guō tiē, which translates to “wok stick.” With a juicy filling covered in a crispy wrapper, these potstickers make the perfect side dish or quick and tasty snack for your guests to enjoy.

Are Air Fryer Potstickers Healthy?

Typically, store-bought potstickers are filled with a mix of meat and vegetables. Choose leaner meats like chicken and shrimp instead of beef and pork if you want a more nutritious option. Traditionally, deep or shallow frying adds quite a lot of extra calories and fat to the dish, but cooking them in the air fryer requires much less oil for the same crispy result.

However, packaged food tends to be high in sodium, so keep an eye on the nutrition details. When choosing the oil for greasing up the potstickers, I recommend olive oil, because of the healthy fats.

Potsticker vs Gyoza vs Momo

Potstickers are elongated in shape, and traditional potstickers usually have sealed edges, although some regional variations might leave small gaps in the wrapper.

Meanwhile, gyoza are the Japanese adaptation of Chinese dumplings, introduced to Japan in the early 20th century. Gyoza tend to be smaller, have thinner wrappers, and include more garlic in their filling compared to traditional Chinese dumplings.

Momo are Nepalese (though they are also common in Tibet and parts of India), and are distinguished by a thicker skin. Momo are often served with a tomato-based dipping sauce, known as achar or chatni, which can be spicy, or a clear broth.

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store

Leftover air-fried potstickers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. To reheat, air fry them at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they are heated through. I don’t recommend freezing leftovers, because they were already frozen at the start.

Homemade vs. Frozen

While the frozen versions are great, nothing beats making them homemade! Make the potsticker dough by hand, sauté the filling, and fold each individual potsticker closed. It can be a meditative practice. If you’re in a rush to get to that bowl of potstickers on your lap while you watch Love Island, there’s no shame in using the frozen stuff! Annie Chun’s Organic Pork and Vegetable Potstickers and O’Tasty Vegetable and Pork Potstickers are my recommendations.

Take a Dip

Dip away! Soy sauce is my go-to sauce to soak potstickers in, but I like to jazz it up with some sesame seeds and freshly diced scallions when I have the time. Rice vinegar, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, sweet chili sauce, spicy mayo, sriracha, chili garlic oil, spicy mustard or Thai chili sauce will also work wonderfully.

Serving Suggestions

I’m not known as the Salsa Baby for nothing! Try any (or all, as I would do) of these delicious dipping sauces with your potstickers: Stir-Fry Sauce, Miso Dressing, Peanut Sauce, Bulgogi Sauce, Gyoza Sauce, Szechuan Sauce, Yuzu Sauce, and Bibimbap Sauce. Serve a side of Steamed Rice with potstickers, and it’s truly a one-of-a-kind meal.

To counteract the air-fried goodness, pair your potstickers with a delicious salad. I recommend this Asian Cabbage or this Asian Noodle Salad. And DON’T put the air-fryer away just yet; air-fry the whole damn meal with some Roasted Broccoli and Air Fryer Wontons!