All you need to make a pizza are frozen dumplings, cheese, and ketchup. The YouTube channel 'Lee Yeon-bok's Lucky Pouch' recently shared a “dumpling pizza” recipe invented by a protégé who trained in Chef Lee Yeon-bok’s kitchen.
The recipe comes from a protégé who’s been working in Chef Lee’s kitchen for a year. He learned to cook while living abroad on his own, so he naturally focused on quick, simple methods. While practicing timed, 15-minute challenges using only what was in the fridge—think the TV show 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator'—he landed on the idea of dumpling pizza.
The dumpling pizza uses just three core ingredients: frozen dumplings, 70g (about 2.5 oz) of mozzarella, and ketchup. Start by boiling the frozen dumplings for about 4 minutes, or microwave them with enough water to half-cover the dumplings for 4 minutes. Drain the cooked dumplings, place them in a pan, and press them flat with a spoon.
As you press, the dumpling wrappers spread out and form a crust. Sprinkle the cheese on top, cover with parchment paper, and heat over medium until the cheese melts. If you’re cooking on a gas stove, use aluminum foil instead of parchment to avoid burning. For more flavor, mix in some cheddar, or top with leftovers like bacon, bell pepper, or onion to make it more interesting.
The finished dumpling pizza is crispy on the outside and soft and moist inside. Leaving it uncovered while cooking lets steam escape, which keeps the crust crisp. The taste is similar to a Korean-style combination pizza. With virtually no cleanup and a short cook time, this is a perfect quick meal for people living alone or anyone after an easy dinner.
'Lee Yeon-bok's Lucky Pouch' is the chef’s YouTube channel, where he regularly posts simple recipes using store-bought items or whatever’s in your fridge. Videos like egg fried rice and stir-fried shishito peppers with eggs have racked up views and made the channel popular with beginner cooks.
Lee Yeon-bok is a leading figure in Korea’s Chinese-cuisine scene and a well-known celebrity chef. He started delivering food at 13, became the youngest head chef at the Taiwanese embassy, and earned recognition for his skills.
He’s not about flashy techniques alone—he emphasizes the natural flavors of ingredients and has a knack for pleasing everyday tastes. His humility and deep expertise on the show 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' won him national affection. Today he runs the restaurant Mokran and is credited with raising the standard of Korean Chinese cuisine.
≪Ingredients≫
Frozen dumplings, mozzarella cheese, tomato ketchup, cooking oil
≪Recipe≫
1. Put 7 frozen dumplings in boiling water and cook for about 4 minutes. If using a microwave, add enough water to half-cover the dumplings and microwave for 4 minutes.
2. When the dumplings are cooked, drain them in a colander.
3. Add cooking oil to a pan, place the cooked dumplings in the pan, then use a wooden spatula to roughly chop and press them flat.
4. Drizzle tomato ketchup evenly over the flattened dumplings, then sprinkle 70g (about 2.5 oz) of mozzarella cheese. If you like, mix in cheddar or add bacon, onion, or bell pepper.
5. Cover with parchment paper and heat over medium until the cheese melts. If you use a gas stove, the paper can burn—use aluminum foil instead.
6. When the cheese melts and the bottom of the dumpling pizza turns golden, your frozen dumpling pizza is ready!
