How to make potstickers. I have an obsession with frugality—saving for my children’s college tuition and for our retirement motivates a lot of my kitchen experiments. Potstickers became one of them because my kids can demolish dozens in one sitting, and buying them premade was getting expensive. Making them at home turned out to be much more economical and surprisingly simple.
I used to buy potstickers from Costco for convenience, but a 13-piece pack cost about $14—barely one meal for four people. When I made my own, I got roughly 36 pieces for around $10.00. That’s a big saving when you feed hungry kids regularly. Beyond the savings, homemade potstickers let you control ingredients and freeze batches for quick future meals.
Why I love these potstickers:
Equipment
Instant pots differ by model and settings. I used an Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer Lid, 8 Quart. Other useful tools include a regular steamer and a small frying pan.
Ingredients
– Ground pork
– Pork fat (ground)
– Shrimp (raw and deveined)
– Dried shiitake mushrooms (rehydrated and chopped)
– Asian chives (washed, cleaned, and chopped)
– Green onion (chopped)
– Sesame oil (toasted/roasted)
– Oyster sauce
– White ground pepper
– 1 large egg
– Siu Aai or similar dumpling wrappers
– Oil for frying (for testing/searing)
Keep a dipping sauce ready—simple soy and sesame oil works, or make a chili oil sauce to serve with the potstickers.
For more Instant Pot Duo Crisp recipes, try other dishes you enjoy at home.
Potstickers — an easy, budget-friendly recipe
Shobee
Equipment
- Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Air Fryer
- Regular steamer
- Small frying pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork
- 0.25 lb ground pork fat
- 0.25 lb ground shrimp (or roughly chopped shrimp)
- 3 stems Asian chives, chopped
- 5 shiitake mushrooms (rehydrated and chopped)
- 2 stems green onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons roasted sesame oil
- 1/4 cup oyster sauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 pack siu aai or dumpling wrappers
- Oil for frying (to test or sear)
Sauce for serving
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil + soy sauce to taste
- 1 tsp soy sauce (adjust to preference)
Chili Oil Sauce
- 1/4 cup chili oil
- 2 tsp ground chili powder (adjust for spice level)
- 1 stem green onion, chopped
- 1/2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
Instructions
- Place pork fat in a food processor and process until finely ground. Set aside.
- Devein and chop the shrimp until finely ground or pulsed. Set aside.
- Soak shiitake mushrooms in cold water until rehydrated, then squeeze out liquid and finely chop.
- Chop green onion and Asian chives into small pieces and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine ground pork, ground shrimp, pork fat, chopped mushrooms, chives, ginger, and green onions. Season with sesame oil, oyster sauce, and white pepper. Add the egg and mix thoroughly by hand. Cover and chill for one hour.
- For a quick taste test, fry a tablespoon of the mixture in a little oil and adjust seasoning as needed.
- To assemble, place a wrapper on a flat surface, add filling along one edge, fold and seal with a damp finger.
Cook by Frying
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small frying pan over low heat. Brown a few potstickers on all sides, then add 1/4 cup water and cover.
- Steam in the pan until the water evaporates and potstickers are cooked through. Cook in batches.
Cook in the Instant Pot by Steaming
- Place the inner pot and add 2 cups of water. Use the air fryer or dehydrating tray, spray with nonstick oil, arrange frozen potstickers, and spray them. Use the pressure cooker lid with the steam function for 5 minutes. Remove and transfer to a plate. Serve with chili oil sauce and sprinkle green onions.
Cook in a Regular Steamer
- Add about 10 cups of water to the pot under your steamer. Spray the tray with oil, arrange potstickers, spray them lightly, cover, and steam on high for about 30 minutes.
Cook by Boiling
- Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot. Add frozen potstickers and simmer 5–10 minutes until cooked through. Drain and serve with sauce.
Chili Oil Sauce
- Combine chili oil, ground chili powder, chopped green onion, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Adjust chili powder to taste.