Looking for an easy, flavorful vegetarian dumpling recipe? These Napa Cabbage & Tofu Dumplings are packed with savory umami thanks to vegetarian oyster sauce, and you don’t even have to pre-cook the filling!

They’re perfect for steaming, pan-frying, or boiling—and they freeze beautifully, so you can make a big batch and enjoy them later too.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love These Dumplings
• About the Ingredients
• How to make Napa Cabbage & Tofu Dumplings
• How to Freeze Dumplings
• Dipping Sauce
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Notes
• Recommended Products
• Did you like this recipe?
• More Delicious Dumplings Recipes
• Pin for later!

Why You’ll Love These Dumplings

• ✅ No pre-cooking required – Just mix, wrap, and cook
• 🌱 Totally vegetarian – But full of flavor and satisfying texture
• 🥢 Versatile cooking options – Pan-fry, steam, or boil
• 🧊 Freezer-friendly – Great for meal prep

About the Ingredients

Here’s what goes into the filling:

• Napa cabbage – Mild and slightly sweet, perfect for dumplings
• Firm tofu – Adds protein and texture
• Vegetarian oyster sauce – Brings the umami (you can usually find this at Asian grocery stores or online)
• Aromatics – Garlic and green onions for flavor
• Soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper – Classic seasonings
• Cornstarch – Helps bind the filling so it holds together nicely

As for the wrappers, you can purchase dumpling wrappers in your local Asian supermarket or online, but if you're feeling ambitious, you can totally make your own! Here’s my recipe for homemade dumpling wrappers!

How to make Napa Cabbage & Tofu Dumplings

First, gather your ingredients:

• 2 cups napa cabbage, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt (for wilting cabbage)
• 1 block (14 oz) firm tofu, pressed and crumbled
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoon vegetarian oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon white pepper (optional)
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Salt and squeeze the cabbage:
Toss cabbage with salt and let sit 15 minutes. Then squeeze out all excess water.

Mix the filling:
In a large bowl, combine drained cabbage, crumbled tofu, green onions, garlic, ginger, vegetarian oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and cornstarch. Mix until cohesive.

Prepare dumpling wrapping station: Set out wrappers, a small bowl of water, a spoon, and a floured tray or plate for finished dumplings.

Assemble dumplings:
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of filling per wrapper. Seal with water and pleat or fold as desired. Watch this video on how we like to do it:

@ohsnapletseat

How to wrap dumplings! I’m still trying to master this! I’m a lot better now but still not to this level 😆 by the way you don’t NEED to make those pleats but I think they look so pretty! Anyway recipe link in bio!! #asianfood #dumplings #chinesedumplings #cooking #cookingathometiktoktv #cookingtiktok #wrappingdumplings #dumplingwrapper #chinesefood #chineserecipes

♬ 人生のメリーゴーランド（ハウルの動く城） - Kazumi Tateishi Trio

Cook as preferred:

• Boil: Add to boiling water. When they float, add ½ cup cold water. Repeat once. When floating again, they’re done (~7–10 min, shorter for fresh dumplings, longer for frozen).
• Steam: Place in lined steamer over simmering water. Steam ~7–9 minutes until translucent and cooked through.
• Pan-Fry (Potstickers): Sear in oil until bottoms are golden. Add ¼–½ cup water, cover and steam ~5–7 min. Uncover and crisp bottoms again if desired. Here's a video of how to do it below!

@ohsnapletseat

There was a request for some potstickers for christmas so i pan fried some homemade dumplings! Full recipe including how to make the dumplings, pan fry potstickers, and dipping sauce is all on the blog ohsnapletseat.com #potstickers #dumplings #panfrieddumplings #chinesefood #cooking

♬ Sunshine - Tundra Beats

I pan fried it this time!

So tasty!

How to Freeze Dumplings

Arrange uncooked dumplings in a single layer on a tray (not touching), freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Cook directly from frozen—just add a couple extra minutes to the cooking time.

Dipping Sauce

This easy dipping sauce is savory, tangy, and a little garlicky—perfect for these dumplings!

Ingredients:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Chopped green onions (optional)
• Hot chili oil (optional, for a spicy kick)

Instructions:

Stir everything together in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust to your liking—add more vinegar for tang or chili oil for heat. Serve alongside hot dumplings!

Or you can serve these with:

• Soy sauce + vinegar + chili oil
• A simple garlic soy dipping sauce
• Or even just plain soy sauce if you’re short on time!

These Dumplings in Action: Community Dumpling Workshop!

In June 2025, I shared this exact vegetarian dumpling recipe at the Emory APIDA 2nd Annual Buford Highway Eats: Dumpling Edition, where I led a dumpling-making workshop for 70+ attendees! We wrapped (and ate!) hundreds of dumplings together to celebrate Asian culture and community through food. It was such a fun and fulfilling experience!

If you found me through that event—welcome! And if you're interested in hosting a dumpling demo or learning more about Asian recipes, check out my cooking eBooks or reach out anytime.

More Delicious Dumplings Recipes

If you liked these vegetarian dumplings, you’ll definitely want to try these other favorites too:

• If you liked this recipe, you will also love my Pork and Napa Cabbage Dumplings! This is the classic dumpling with juicy pork and napa cabbage filling.
• My other most common dumpling I love to make is the Pork and Chives dumplings! Simple, delicious, and packed with umami!
• Another HIT is Pork and Shiitake Mushrooms dumplings - I love the flavor that the shiitake mushrooms add to the dumplings!
• Also, try making your own dumpling wrapper! My dumplings wrapper recipe has a step-by-step guide on how to make fresh dumpling wrappers from scratch—perfect for elevating your homemade dumpling game.
• Or if you're craving Wontons... check out my Chinese wontons recipe! These tasty wontons are easy to make and cook quickly—great for soup or boiled with your favorite sauce!

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