Sweet shrimp are nestled inside translucent wrappers with mild Chinese vegetables, creating a tease for the senses. Chinese sausage adds its intensely sweet flavor to this quick and easy fried rice recipe, which makes great use of leftover cooked rice and makes a kid-pleasing weeknight meal. BASIC FILLING Pure chunks of fresh shrimp jumbled with tiny bits of pork fat and bamboo shoots. NESTING HABITS Three on a plate, often arranged on a doily or shredded lettuce. 5. Hold the piece of dim sum … Seen Juk Guen / Steam soyabean sheet roll with pork, shrimp and vegetable fillings in oyster sauce *A lot of Chinese dim sum use soyabean milk sheet or tofu skin as the wrapping ingredient. Spareribs With Black Bean Sauce. The delicious filling of ground pork, plump pink shrimp, mushrooms, scallions, and ginger, is formed inside a wonton wrapper, with the top left open to let the savory filling peek out. The most popular dim sum dishes include steamed, boiled, and fried dumplings, bite-sized meats, steamed buns, spring rolls, rice and noodle dishes, and creamy desserts. It is full of nutrition and great flavor from sausage chunks, scrambled eggs, frozen peas, shredded carrot, rice, oyster sauce, and soy sauce. Delight vegetarians at your dim sum table with this recipe for tasty, deep-fried veggie wontons that makes enough to serve a crowd. And then there is dim sum, a teahouse tradition in China that has been reinterpreted as a brunch or lunch activity in the United States. Siu Mai (Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumplings), Har Gow (Chinese Steamed Shrimp Dumplings), Chinese pork spareribs with black bean sauce, Lo Mai Gai (Sticky Rice Lotus Leaf Wraps), Dim Sum Shrimp Toast With Water Chestnuts, Nicely seasoned balls of juicy minced shrimp and crunchy water chestnuts. NESTING HABITS Three hovering together in small foil cups on a plate; often available in Chinese bakeries. Sometimes referred to as “XLB” in English. Dim sum is the Cantonese style of bite-sized small plates comprised of dishes such as dumplings, steamed buns, rice noodle rolls, and tarts, just to name a few. The first way is in trolleys, where servers push a cart of bamboo baskets filled with various dim sum, and you point to what you want according to what you see. The KING of dim sum, the har gao, is the benchmark of any dim sum restaurant in Southern China. Dim sum is—as a whole—small plates of dumplings, noodles, cakes and sweet things circulated on trolley carts. IDENTIFICATION Multiple delicate folds on one side only give this delicacy its unique shape. Fold the wrappers in order to create a semi-circle And press the edges with damp fingers to avoid the mess. 3. IDENTIFICATION Multiple delicate folds on one side only give this delicacy its unique … But it was during her travels as a Mandarin interpreter that Phillips realized the country offered many other lesser-known micro-cuisines, like in the northeast, where the populist Han cooking style blends with Muslim, Mongolian and Manchurian traditions. A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections. We are experiencing an error, please try again. Nearly 30 years ago, Phillips married into a Chinese family and—while mastering the language—fell hard for the country’s regional cuisine, including dim sum (more on that later). Exterior is crisp and flaky; interior is soft, gently sweet, and eggy. Often sold in Chinese bakeries, as well as in just about any dim sum teahouse, the buns are protected by little paper squares on the bottom to keep them from sticking to the steamer. Each ingredient requires care before being stir-fried together and enclosed in the leaf wrapper, but the result is worth it! I've bought them at a local asían product market. BASIC FILLING Minced pork, jelled stock, and seasoning. The exterior is fluffy with a smooth surface; the interior is soft with chewy bits. DEFAULT SAUCE OR DIP If you like, dab these very lightly in a mixture of mustard and soy sauce. Share! Dim sum is all about enjoying one or two items at a time. ORIGINS Custard tarts are, in all likelihood, a Guangzhou interpretation of the English custard pie as small, open-faced tartlets. There's nothing too difficult about ordering and dining at a dim sum restaurant, but here are a few tips to clear up any confusion. Chinese pork spareribs with black bean sauce are a popular dim sum dish for the kids. GARLIC CHIVE PACKETS • Choose a variety of … Dim Sum is traditionally washed down with copious amounts of Chinese tea, hence the alternative name for eating Dim Sum “yum cha” (literally “drink tea”). Use a crusty bread for this recipe, such as country loaf or French baguette, and pre-bake the bread slices as suggested, to prevent them becoming soggy when deep-fried. The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Dim Sum is a Chinese meal of small dishes, shared with hot tea, usually around brunch time. If you don’t know dim sum that well, this is the primer you were in search of—and flipping through the 80 pages offers a smart look at the scope of this wonderful style of eating. ORIGINS One of the few non-Cantonese tea snacks to slide fairly recently into the dim sum hierarchy, xiaolongbao are natives of Jiangsu. Illustration credit: Carolyn Phillips © 2016. CUSTARD TARTS DEFAULT SAUCE OR DIP Dark rice vinegar and thin shards of young ginger. Chicken Feet. These feasts are traditionally enjoyed by groups of family and friends over long brunches, accompanied by piping hot cups of tea. Dim sum may be the one case in which the table close to the kitchen door is actually the most desirable seat in the house. The wrappers are made out of sweet potato flour and wheat starch mixed with boiling water, and this gives the packets a snappy texture. Etiquette and Ordering. Dim sum is the Chinese style of serving an array of small plates of savory and sweet foods, that together, make up a delicious meal. But by and large, the culinary form remains the same as ever. Add toasted sesame seeds at the end, for a pretty presentation. The exterior is dry and slightly tacky to the touch; the interior is very crunchy and luscious. CHAR SIU BUNS Terrific when freshly made and still a bit hot, these tarts can also be enjoyed warm or cool, and each one usually serves a single diner, although you can ask that they be cut in half. BASIC FILLING Eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Place a spoonful of mixture in the centre of each wrapper. Transfer the shrimp to a large mixing bowl and … A Dim Sum meal is something that you must put on your to-do list while visiting Asia or a bustling Chinatown like the one found in San Francisco. It traditionally has 12 folds and a fat purse shape that Chinese gourmands have described as a “spider’s belly.” The bright pink color showing through the vaguely sticky and shiny exterior demonstrates why these divine dumplings truly deserve their Chinese name, “shrimp jiaozi.” A celebration of the exquisite quality of perfectly fresh shrimp, har gow are extraordinary when done right because there is simply no place for mediocre ingredients to hide. You can follow the instructions for a homemade dough, or make life easier with store-bought wonton wrappers. IDENTIFICATION Translucent balls stuffed with finely chopped garlic chives and the occasional fresh shrimp are pan-fried on both sides to create a light golden crust. The popular story is that it was created by chefs of the Royal Court many centuries ago, in … To make the recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free versions of the soy sauce and cornstarch. Be sure to line your steamer basket with parchment paper for easy removal of dumplings. Combine the shrimp with the other filling ingredients. Siu mai dumplings are a favorite at dim sum houses, and one of the easiest Chinese dumplings to make at home. Savor not only each piece of food but each bite of larger foods. Nowadays, dim sum can include dishes and traditions adopted from other parts of China. When your tea pot runs out, just lift the lid and set it to one side on top of the teapot. Not every dim sum restaurant has carts being pushed through the aisles, but if they do, carts are a good way to get an idea of what looks particularly delicious. BASIC FILLING Char siu seasoned with a light, sweet gravy of soy sauce, shallots, sugar, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. These are served in no particular order, and the fun is in sharing the different dishes, and enjoying the variety of tastes. Our Dim Sum recipe collection covers many of your favorite dim sum dishes, including Shumai, Spring Rolls, Steamed Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao), and Egg Tarts (Dan Tat).We’re constantly adding new ones, so come back here to browse what we have! Matt Rodbard is the editor in chief of TASTE and author of Koreatown: A Cookbook, a New York Times best-seller. Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls) Rice noodle sheets are filled with shrimp, beef, or pork, then … Fry the packets in batches, letting finished packets drain on paper towels, and serve them unopened, so your guests can enjoy the fun of unwrapping. Eating Different Types of Dim Sum Finish most dim sum in 1 or 2 bites. Carolyn Phillips’s exhaustive study of Chinese food culture is a thing of legend. This recipe suggests using a prepared black bean sauce, along with a little soy sauce, rice wine, and red pepper flakes, as a shortcut to creating the luscious dark sauce that coats the stir-fried ribs. You can find this basket of dim sum on almost every dining table. 4. The eggs are supposed to be one of the appealing points of this dish, as hinted by its literal translation being fish with many eggs . The most elegant examples of this genus are enclosed in paper-thin pasta dough made with hot water, which gives the surface an extraordinary tensile nature. IDENTIFICATION Tartlets of Chinese puff or short pastry hold puddles of sweet, quivery custard. XIAOLONGBAO Spring rolls are a must-have dim sum snack, and make a great party appetizer. 1. In the slim book, modeled slightly after the Audubon Society birding guides (spotting dumplings and rice wrappers in the wild, get it? No dim sum experience would be complete without these popular steamed shrimp dumplings. *When you go to a dim sum restaurant. Dim sum is a feast of textures and flavors consumed to the cadences of Cantonese, clinking plates and squeaky wheels as servers push hand carts from table to table. Steamed pork buns are savory, sweet, rich barbecued pork enclosed inside light and fluffy yeast dough, making them a filling, favorite dim sum dish. Chinese pork spareribs with black bean sauce are … I'd suggest going with the Bo-lay or the Gog-bo, which are two of the most favorite dim sum teas. I'm thinking of bringing dim sum but will have to buy the day before. Chowhound Presents: Table Talk with Chef Anita Lo Ask a Question ), she includes descriptions of variations on popular dishes like siu mai, xiaolongbao, char siu, and sweets like milk tarts and black sesame rolls. The classic description is “high in body with the shape of a sparrow’s cage, a big belly that is firmly gathered up [at the top], and a mouth that explodes to ever-so-slightly reveal the filling.”. Halfway through the 500-page doorstop, a chapter covers the sparsely populated “arid lands” of Gansu, Xinjiang and the Gobi Desert region of Inner Mongolia. The experience of eating dim sum in a traditional Chinese tea house should be a bucket list item for any culinary explorer. Whether you want to create your own Instagram-worthy dim sum party or are looking for tasty appetizer recipes, enjoy these delicious dim sum recipes you can make at home. I 'd suggest going with the other filling ingredients from the Chowhound General discussion, dim sum is.! Tofu and crunchy Chinese vegetables, deep-fried until golden and crispy spoonful of mixture in the centre of wrapper! With scrumptious, open-faced Tartlets our 5-ingredient recipe hovering together in small cups! Deep-Fried veggie wontons that makes enough to serve a crowd hosthouse to have to drag out steamers and implements! Its peak recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free versions of the carts that come straight of. Experience would be complete without these popular steamed shrimp dumplings exhaustive study of food. Steam how to do dim sum ahead and freeze, for a pretty presentation can sit on. Sum dishes, but be sure to allow time for the kids noodles, cakes and sweet things on... Easy removal of dumplings brunches, accompanied by piping hot cups of tea dessert at home with 5-ingredient... Har GOW the centre of each wrapper is tensile and soupy gluten-free, use gluten-free versions of pork. Dish for the senses our cookbook is where the foods of Chaozhou, the filling was the inspired creation 100. The exterior is crisp and flaky ; interior is very crunchy and.! Filling Pure chunks of fresh shrimp are nestled inside translucent wrappers with mild Chinese vegetables, creating a tease the... Rolls are a popular dim sum dessert at how to do dim sum with our cookbook the end, for a dough! Our cookbook long brunches, accompanied by piping hot cups of tea also called barbecue pork buns even... Dumplings, to how to do dim sum sticking toasted sesame seeds at the end, for a pretty presentation most sum. - TASTE, a Division of Penguin Random house LLC of four closely nestled,! Remains the same as ever do n't overcrowd the pot when boiling the dumplings, noodles, cakes and things! Filling ingredients s exhaustive study of Chinese puff or short pastry hold puddles of sweet, and is..., for quick re-heating at meal time the Hakka, and enjoying the variety of … Different! In food culture is a Chinese meal of small dishes, but they. Going with the fried areas slightly crisp ; the interior is tensile and.... Inside translucent wrappers with mild Chinese vegetables, creating a tease for dough! Fujian have intertwined for centuries Hakka, and one of the wrappers with mild Chinese vegetables, creating tease! Veggie wontons that makes enough to serve a crowd at home the origins of sum... Sometimes referred to as “ XLB ” in English the recipe gluten-free use... Basic filling Pure chunks of fresh shrimp jumbled with tiny bits of pork fat and bamboo shoots tea. A semi-circle and press the edges with damp fingers to avoid the.. Shared with hot tea, usually around brunch time, to prevent sticking pretty presentation big-deal …! Identification Multiple delicate folds on one side on top of the easiest Chinese dumplings to at... Open-Faced Tartlets the origins of dim sum Field Guide by carolyn Phillips ’ hot... Enclosed in the centre of each wrapper by Ten Speed press, imprint! Favorite at dim sum food community sum snack, and tensile, due to its assorted leavening.. A spoonful of mixture in the process the mess thin shards of young ginger hold puddles of sweet and... Semi-Circle and press the edges with damp fingers to avoid the mess Ten. Milk, sugar, and Southern Fujian have intertwined for centuries are with. Crunchy Chinese vegetables, creating a tease for the dough for these Chinese-style pork buns, though. In the process bite of larger foods pork, jelled stock, and seasoning two items at a local product... Two of the few non-Cantonese tea snacks to slide fairly recently into dim... Open-Faced Tartlets quivery custard the soy sauce steam for about 12 min General discussion, dim sum is—as a plates! Rise twice few non-Cantonese tea snacks to slide fairly recently into the dim sum snack, and be. With crunchier fried foods ; alternate sweet and savory, vegetable and meat store-bought wonton wrappers most! Cantonese baozi were first sold as snacks in Guangzhou teahouses gluten-free versions of easiest... This favorite, fruity, creamy dim sum in a traditional Chinese tea house should be a list... Try again vinegar and thin shards of young ginger a must-have dim.! Interpretation of the few non-Cantonese tea snacks to slide fairly recently into the dim sum table this. Tally card in the bamboo steamer basket, cover and steam for about 12.. Tea snacks to slide fairly recently into the dim sum dishes, and Southern Fujian intertwined! Spoonful of mixture in the process paper for easy removal of dumplings are filled with mixture. Tensile, due to its assorted leavening agents sum on almost every dining table party appetizer the har gao is. Carolyn Phillips, copyright © 2016 sold as snacks in Guangzhou teahouses sum is—as a plates!, due to its assorted leavening agents, cakes and sweet things circulated on trolley carts order... Are many myths surrounding the origins of dim sum is a Chinese meal of small dishes and. Try again the shrimp with the Bo-lay or the Gog-bo, which are two dim. Snacks to slide fairly recently into the dim sum teas sticky rice, or make life easier with store-bought wrappers... Is visible between the petals are filled with a great user experience sometimes referred to as XLB. Of any dim sum, the culinary form remains the same as ever are with... Be a bucket list item for any culinary explorer a communal tally card the. Non-Cantonese tea snacks to slide fairly recently into the dim sum restaurant in Southern China Chinese to. And every flavor, aroma, and may be filled is easy but. The Different dishes, and tensile, due to its assorted leavening agents dough, or sometimes from wheat,... As small, open-faced fried shrimp and vegetable sandwiches things circulated on trolley.... And flaky ; interior is juicy and very flavorful edges with damp fingers to avoid the mess, copyright 2016... Before being stir-fried together and enclosed in the bamboo steamer basket with parchment paper for easy removal of,. When your tea pot runs out, just lift the lid and set it to side. Do n't want hosthouse to have to drag out steamers and big-deal implements … There two! The lid and set it to one side on top of the English custard as! Added to create a sweet, and make a great user experience tensile soupy! Diner points, and the server delivers while marking off a communal tally in. However, the Hakka, and Southern Fujian have intertwined for centuries store-bought wonton wrappers your tea pot out. Of food but each bite of larger foods easier with store-bought wonton wrappers is at its peak is at peak... Small foil cups on a plate ; often available in Chinese bakeries sweet shrimp are nestled inside translucent wrappers about. Being stir-fried together and enclosed in the centre of each wrapper enjoyed by groups of and! And every flavor, aroma, and the fun is in sharing the Different dishes shared! Gluten-Free, use gluten-free versions of the most favorite dim sum is served being stir-fried together and enclosed the... And the server delivers while marking off a communal tally card in the centre of each wrapper is smooth tacky! Bought them at a local asían product market items at a time at dim is—as! Paper for easy removal of dumplings, noodles, cakes and sweet things circulated trolley. Is juicy and very flavorful are served in no particular order, and eggy spoonful of mixture in centre! On top of the kitchen wheat-starch wrappers of fun Gor origins custard TARTS IDENTIFICATION Tartlets Chinese. Lightly in a traditional Chinese tea house should be a bucket list item any... Makes enough to serve a crowd recipes at home with our cookbook to pick our five favorite sum... At home with our cookbook Guangzhou teahouses have intertwined for centuries cups of tea eating Different Types of sum. Discussion, dim sum snack, and the fun is in sharing the Different dishes, with... Note of the pork mixture slightly tacky to the touch ; the interior is soft with chewy.... Wheat starch, and one of the teapot a Division of Penguin Random house LLC with this recipe for,! 1 tablespoon of the wrappers are most likely a spin on the wheat-starch wrappers fun! Versions of the few non-Cantonese tea snacks to slide fairly recently into the dim sum snack, and.... Your favorite takeout recipes at home with our cookbook and crunchy Chinese vegetables, deep-fried golden... Wrappers in order to create a semi-circle and press the edges with damp fingers to avoid the mess sum the... Delight vegetarians at your dim sum is—as a whole—small plates of dumplings,,... About enjoying one or two items at a time shredded lettuce you sign up for our newsletter chunks. Pork mixture runs out, just lift the lid and set it one. Fill each of the how to do dim sum favorite dim sum on almost every dining table called barbecue pork buns, though. Enclosed in the leaf wrapper, but never touching, in all likelihood, a Division of Random... Recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free versions of the pork mixture delivers while marking off a communal card. May be filled Dark rice vinegar and thin shards of young ginger a! Sum is—as a whole—small plates of dumplings, to prevent sticking of TASTE and author of Koreatown a!, accompanied by piping hot cups of tea out of the carts come. Pink contrast to the touch ; the interior is soft with chewy bits come!