Aldi Australia shoppers have shown overwhelming appreciation for a humble dumpling found in the budget supermarket's freezer aisle. An Australian man recently posted to an online discussion forum to declare his fondness for Urban Eats Prawn Gyoza, which come in a 29-piece pack for $10.99.
'These are absolutely outstanding,' the Queenslander claimed. 'Will get them again and again! So damn good. I reckon I could very easily eat the whole packet.'
The praise for the popular Japanese dumplings was quickly echoed among the replies, with several other Aldi shoppers rating them as elite. 'It's my absolute fave!' read one reply, while another added, 'They're my favourites.' Another response agreed: 'Yes, these are top tier!'
'My favourite frozen dumplings in Australia,' one person went so far as to declare. There were even several humorous responses referencing just how popular these are. 'Warning: very addictive HAHA,' read one joking caution. 'I eat these so often my husband told me I eat like a toddler. I have no regrets,' another said. 'Even my picky 5 and 7 year old devour these,' a mother chimed in.
Aldi Australia confirmed to Daily Mail that the Asian snack is a popular buy with their shoppers. One reply to the recent online discussion not only highlighted how convenient these dumplings are to have in the freezer for a quick meal, but also mentioned their macros. 'I always keep the pork dumplings in my freezer if I don't have anything for lunch. Surprisingly, they're pretty low calorie.'
According to the nutritional information, a serving of two gyozas equates to 96 calories. This serving size also has 3.3g protein, 11.2g carbohydrates, 156mg sodium and 3.6g total fat. Urban Eats Prawn Gyoza are one of a number of dumpling varieties sold in the freezer aisle at Aldi Australia stores.
However, Aussie shoppers did differ in opinion regarding the best preparation method for these dumplings. The back of pack cooking instructions explain that they're best cooked 'from frozen' and can be prepared by either pan frying, steaming or using the microwave. The majority of fans of the prawn gyozas agreed that the pan fry method was the best.
One person who followed the pack instructions virtually to the letter explained that they 'get a pan, put some olive oil in so the bottom gets a little crispy, then add in about 5 tablespoons of water, then add a lid and let it do its thing for the recommended 5 minutes.' Several others offered slight variations on this method. 'This is the correct way to cook gyoza,' one person agreed. 'Use a plain oil and some chicken stock instead of water for a better result.' Another person, who liked a little spicy kick, recommended adding 'a spoon of crispy chilli oil at the same time as the water. Chilli sauce dumplings!'
Several shoppers were also advocates of the steaming approach, particularly if you prefer to enjoy these dumplings in a soup. 'Steamed is best with a nice soy sauce for dipping,' one dumpling fan stated. 'Step it up by turning it into soup,' another suggested. 'Add more water and some of your favourite stocks.'
However, one unexpected reply claimed they even cooked up nicely in the modern appliance of an air fryer. 'I put it in for 13 minutes at 180 Celsius (longer if more than 10 pieces). It turns out crispy enough on the outside but still soft in the middle like it's been steamed. Just perfect,' one person claimed, although not everyone agreed. 'Air fryer is wild,' one person replied, before explaining they planned to stick to the traditional pan fry method.
The Reddit discussion also prompted questions about some of the other dumpling options in the current Aldi Urban Eats range. 'Can anyone vouch for the vegetarian gyoza? I have a pack sitting in my freezer but haven't tried them yet,' one person questioned. 'Yep, they're awesome too!' another helpfully replied about the Urban Eats Vegetable Gyoza $8.99 packs. 'Sometimes weirdly airy, as in they're not chockers with filling, but still delicious.'
There were also several fans of the Urban Eats Pork Dumplings $8.99, with one person saying they were 'excellent' and another claiming they even 'prefer' them to the prawn gyozas. One shopper also advised keeping an eye out for limited edition releases, like the currently available 'amazing' Urban Eats Chicken Dumplings $8.99. 'I do like the prawn one but I still think about the chicken,' one Aldi shopper confirmed.
