Alright, so the other day I got this idea in my head to try and make some dim sum at home. I’ve always loved going out for dim sum, but thought it would be cool to try making it myself. First thing I needed was one of those bamboo steamer baskets things, you know, the ones they use to cook the dim sum in. So, I went online to look for one and man, there are so many different kinds! Big ones, small ones, some with multiple levels. It was kind of overwhelming.
I ended up getting a medium-sized one with two layers. I figured that would be enough for me and maybe a friend or two. Once I got it, I realized I had no idea what they were actually called. I mean, I always just called them “dim sum baskets.” But what’s the real name?
The search began
I started Googling around. I typed in “dim sum basket name” and “bamboo steamer name” and stuff like that. Turns out, they’re called “zhēngl�ng” in Chinese. That’s a new one for me! They are usually used to cook food, especially in Chinese restaurants.
I also learned that they are made of bamboo, which makes them eco-friendly. That’s pretty cool, I guess. I read that using these bamboo steamers can make the food taste better, too. Something about the bamboo adding a unique flavor to the food. I was getting more and more excited to try it out!
Put into practice
So, I looked up some dim sum recipes, picked out a few that looked good, and got all the ingredients. Prepping the fillings and making the wrappers was a lot of work, I’m not gonna lie. But it was fun, too. Finally, it was time to steam them.
I carefully placed the dim sum in the steamer, put the lid on, and set it over a pot of boiling water. The anticipation was real! After about 15-20 minutes, I took them out and… they looked amazing! They smelled so good, too. I tried one, and it was actually pretty tasty! Not exactly like the ones at a restaurant, but hey, I made it myself, and that’s something.
- Learned the actual name of those bamboo steamers – zhēngl�ng.
- Got a better understanding of why they’re used for dim sum.
- Actually made some dim sum at home!
It was a fun little experiment. I’m definitely going to try making dim sum again. Maybe I’ll even get a bigger steamer next time and invite some friends over for a dim sum party. Who knows? All I know is that I now know the real name of those bamboo baskets, and that’s a win in my book!