The best thing about dining at Bibigo, is that they don’t have a menu.
You order your food through their app or website, but you still get exactly what you want.
What Is Bibigo Mandu?
Mandu are Japanese steamed dumplings that originated from the city of Kyoto in Japan.
They are made by wrapping dough around a filling before cooking them.
The ingredients used to create mandu include vegetables and meat which are often seasoned, wrapped into a ball shape and boiled until tender.
Mandu are usually eaten as part of a traditional Japanese banquet where guests bring their own unique dishes.
There are many different types of mandu found throughout Asia including Korean mandu (which are stuffed with beef), Chinese mandu (filled with seafood) and Thai mandu (made with chicken).
In 2016, Bibigo opened its first restaurant in Tokyo called Bibigo Ramen Bar.
It was followed up by three additional locations across Japan within two years.
In 2018, Bibigo expanded further with restaurants opening in Singapore and Malaysia.
Now, there are six Bibigo eateries in total and all serve Bibigo’s signature dish – Bibigo Mandu.
These soft, fluffy dumplings are perfect for lunch on-the-go.
They come in four flavours – Sweet Potato & Pork, Chicken Wings, Shrimp & Chive, and Vegetable & Beef.
Each flavour comes in either single portion sizes or multiples depending on how hungry you are! If you’re looking for something fast and easy to eat, then these will fit the bill perfectly.
But if you want more variety, check out our guide to Bibigo Dumpling King below.
What Is An Air Fryer?
An air fryer is basically like the oven of your childhood.
It cooks foods by circulating hot air around them, which quickly heats up the entire pan.
This method of cooking results in meat being done to perfection while keeping vegetables crisp and crispy.
Air fryers come in all shapes and sizes, and can even cook multiple items simultaneously (depending on how big it is).
They also vary in price depending on brand and features.
Some models include temperature controls, timers, and more, so check out our list of top rated air fryers before making your purchase!
How Do You Make Bibigo Mandu In An Air Fryer?
I love Bibigo because I can cook my own meals without having to spend a ton of money on takeout.
The only downside is that it takes some time for them to arrive! That’s why I decided to try making Bibigo Mandu in an air fryer.
It was surprisingly simple to make Bibigo Mandu in an air fryer, so I thought I would share how I did it here.
To start off, I followed these instructions from Bibigo.
- Soak rice noodles in cold water for 5 minutes.
- Bring 1 cup of water to a boil (this will help soften the rice noodles). Once boiling, add 2 tablespoons of sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Add 3 cups of water, then cover the pot and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cut up vegetables into small pieces by hand and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine all ingredients except shrimp paste and oil.
- Mix well using clean hands. If mixture seems dry, add more egg white to moisten.
- Heat one tablespoon oil in air fryer basket over medium heat. Using wet hands, scoop out small balls of dough and place in hot oil. Cook for 6-8 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove cooked bibigos from air fryer basket and keep warm while preparing dipping sauce.
- For dipping sauce, mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, fish sauce, and lime juice in a bowl. Serve warm.
What Are The Benefits Of Cooking Bibigo Mandu In An Air Fryer?
Air frying has been around since the 1950s, when it was first used by NASA as a way to cook food on long space missions.
It works because heat rises from below upwards, so using this method cooks food quickly without having to use much energy.
In recent years, air-frying has become more popular than ever before.
It allows people who love fried foods to enjoy them without all the grease.
Some people even prefer to eat fried food after a workout, as it gives them a boost of energy.
If you want to try out some new recipes, then look no further than Bibigo.
They offer many delicious dishes that will surely satisfy everyone’s taste buds.
One of those dishes is Bibigo Mandu, which is a type of Korean dumpling.
The name literally translates to “steamed rice cake,” and these dumplings come from South Korea and China.
But unlike other types of mandu, Bibigo Mandu are made with ground beef instead of vegetables.
They also have a unique flavor thanks to the inclusion of sesame seeds.
Sesame seeds add a subtle nutty flavor to the meat mixture.
This makes Bibigo Mandu a great dish to serve during special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.
While you could always buy Bibigo Mandu premade, here’s how to make them yourself in an air fryer.
Are There Any Disadvantages To Cooking Bibigo Mandu In An Air Fryer?
If you’re looking to make some bibigos, then this recipe might be right up your alley! We love how these dumplings come out crispy on the outside while keeping them nice and soft on the inside.
They also only take 30 minutes to prepare.
However, if you’ve never made mandu before, we suggest starting by making some rice first so you know how much dough to use.
This way, you won’t end up wasting too many ingredients, which would be unfortunate.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Bibigo Mandu In An Air Fryer?
These frozen dumpling-like snacks are made of wheat flour and fried in oil, so if you plan on making them in an air fryer, the cooking time will depend entirely on how hot your air fryer gets.
If you use an air fryer that doesn’t heat up as much, then your dough might not puff out fully when frying, which could result in a smaller final product than you expected.
If you choose to make Bibigo mandu in an air fryer, keep in mind that these dumplings are very delicate and should only be handled by skilled chefs who know what they are doing.
The dough needs to remain soft throughout the entire process, otherwise the dumpling won’t hold its shape properly after being deep-fried.
For this reason, we recommend using an air fryer with a temperature setting between 350°F – 400°F (177°C – 204° C).
This way, the dough will always maintain a soft texture while being cooked, regardless of whether it’s inside an air fryer or not.
As with all air fryers, you also need to follow the instructions carefully when prepping your ingredients. In case you do forget something important, here are some tips to help guide you along the way:
- Don’t add too many spices into your bibigo mandu mixture because the spice flavor will overpower the other flavors in the dish.
- Use enough water to cover your vegetables, meat, and rice.
- Make sure your vegetables are cut into small pieces before adding them into your mix.
- Cut your meat and rice into bite-sized pieces.
- Do not overmix your dough. It’s okay to fold your mixture back onto itself several times, but try to avoid kneading the dough until it becomes smooth.
- Let your dumplings rest and cool down completely before storing them in the freezer.
- When ready to eat, reheat your bibigo mandu in the microwave or place them directly in the oven at 375° F (191 ° C) for 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can put them right in the fridge to serve chilled.
What Are Some Tips For Cooking Bibigo Mandu In An Air Fryer?
If you’re looking to try Bibigo Mandu in an air fryer, then we recommend starting off by following the recipe below.
It will give you an idea of how much time each step should take, so you know how many minutes left until your dinner is ready.
- Step 1 – Chop up all ingredients into small pieces.
- Step 2 – Add water to a large pot, add salt and bring to boil.
- Step 3 – Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 4 – In another bowl, combine flour, cornstarch and rice flour together.
- Step 5 – Combine eggs, soy sauce, ketchup and sesame oil in separate bowls.
- Step 6 – When water has simmered for ten minutes, pour mixture from Step 3 (the one with noodles) into a strainer placed over the largest pan on top of your stove.
- Step 7 – Take a spoonful of egg mixture, dip it into the flour mixture and place onto a clean surface.
- Step 8 – Using your hands, roll dough into balls and set aside.
- Step 9 – Repeat steps 6 through 8 until all egg mixture has been used.
- Step 10 – Heat an air fryer basket on high temperature setting for 20 seconds.
- Step 11 – Remove air fryer basket and fill half of the basket with Bibigo Mandu dough.
- Step 12 – Add desired amount of stuffing to buns.
- Step 13 – Close lid and cook for 15 minutes.
- Step 14 – After 15 minutes, remove lid and flip bun to check if done, continue cooking until done.
- Step 15 – Let cool before serving.
Can you freeze Bibigo Mandu?
Yes, you can freeze Bibigo Mandu.
The first thing you need to do is defrost them thoroughly before using them in an air fryer
How Can I Make Sure My Bibigo Mandu Turns Out Well When Cooked In An Air Fryer?
To start off, you should know that the Bibigo Mandu will not turn out as crispy as if it were fried on the stove top.
However, this does mean that there isn’t much of a risk involved here.
The dish itself is quite tasty though, so you won’t miss out too badly.
You may also find the texture to be slightly different than normal.
This is because the buns themselves are made from rice flour which gives them a very soft consistency.
If you prefer something crunchier, you could always try making Bibigo’s other dishes like Bibigo Bao (which uses wheat dough) instead! If you really want to take care of those delicate little buns, you can pop them into the freezer before freezing them completely – this will help keep the moisture inside the bun intact.
It’s also important to ensure that your mandu has been fully thawed before baking them in the oven.
Otherwise, they might burst open once baked.
It’s best to use fresh ingredients whenever possible, especially since these dishes tend to contain meat.
For example, Bibigo recommends using only organic soy sauce for the dipping sauce, as otherwise the salt content would become overwhelming after eating multiple servings.
Using non-organic soy sauce would result in your stomach being overwhelmed by the amount of salt within the sauce.
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 12 dumplings frozen
- dipping sauce packets
- olive oil
Instructions
- Take the frozen dumplings out of the bag. They do not need to be thawed.
- To keep the frozen dumplings from sticking together, spray them with oil.
- Place them in the air fryer basket. Place the dumplings in a single layer, leaving space between them.
- Cook for 8 minutes at 360oF (182oC). Take out the basket and flip them halfway through cooking. This ensures that the dumplings cook evenly. If you want them crisper, air fried them for 2-4 minutes till golden brown.
- With small air fryers, cook in batches.
- Meanwhile, reheat the sauce packets in a water bath.
- Enjoy your air fryer frozen dumplings with the dipping sauce!
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.