Why dumplings
Nearly every culture has its own dumpling
Dough wrapped around something good, folded by many hands, often for a celebration. A dumpling is one of the few foods almost all of us can call our own, which makes it a beautiful place to begin a conversation.
The dumpling family
Which one is yours?
Here are a few of the dumplings our communities bring to the table. We would love to hear about yours.
Momo
Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan
Steamed and served with a spicy tomato achar.
Jiaozi
China
Folded by whole families for Lunar New Year.
Gyoza
Japan
Pan-fried until crisp on the bottom.
Mandu
Korea
Steamed, fried or served in soup.
Bánh bột lọc
Vietnam
Clear tapioca dumplings with prawn and pork.
Samosa
South Asia
A crisp triangle, often filled with spiced potato.
Modak
India
A sweet dumpling made for Ganesh Chaturthi.
Manti
Türkiye, Central Asia
Tiny dumplings with yoghurt and chilli butter.
Khinkali
Georgia
Hold the knot, bite, and sip the soup inside.
Pierogi
Poland, Ukraine
Boiled, then fried with onion.
Pelmeni
Russia
Small, meaty and made in big batches.
Kreplach
Jewish communities
Often served in chicken soup on holy days.
Ravioli
Italy
Pasta parcels, often made by hand with nonna.
Empanada
Latin America, Philippines
Baked or fried, with a braided edge.
Kenkey
Ghana
A fermented corn dumpling wrapped in husks.
Fried dumplings
Jamaica, Caribbean
Golden and fluffy, a breakfast favourite.
The evidence
Why a shared table helps
Dumplings are not a treatment for depression. What they can do is bring people close enough to talk, and talking with people we trust makes a real difference to our wellbeing.
Connection protects
Confiding in others
A large UK Biobank study found that how often people confide in others was one of the strongest protective factors against depression (Choi and colleagues, American Journal of Psychiatry, 2020).
Familiar feels safe
Food we grew up with
Folding and eating together keeps hands busy and eases the pressure of eye contact, so gentle conversation flows more easily.
A path to support
Services at the table
Every gathering connects people with culturally safe services and support lines, so a good conversation can lead to real support.