So, I’ve been wanting to try making dim sum at home for a while now. I mean, who doesn’t love those little bite-sized wonders? I finally decided to take the plunge yesterday, and let me tell you, it was quite the adventure.
First, I spent a good chunk of the morning just looking at recipes online. There are so many different types of dim sum, it’s kind of overwhelming! I decided to start simple and make some classic shumai. You know, those open-topped dumplings filled with pork and shrimp.
After finding a recipe that looked manageable, I gathered all the ingredients. This involved a trip to the local Asian grocery store, which is always fun. I picked up some ground pork, shrimp, and all those little things like soy sauce, sesame oil, and dumpling wrappers.
Mixing Time
Back home, I started by mixing together the filling. The recipe I found called for chopping the shrimp into small pieces and mixing it with the ground pork, along with some seasonings. It felt good, getting my hands dirty and all.
Wrapping Fun
Next came the fun part – wrapping the dumplings. It took me a few tries to get the hang of it, but I eventually figured out how to make them look decent. The first few were kind of wonky, but hey, practice makes perfect, right?
- Place a wrapper on my hand.
- Spoon a dollop of filling in the center.
- Gather the edges and pleat them, leaving the top open.
Steaming
Once I had a good batch of dumplings, I set up my steamer. I don’t have one of those fancy bamboo steamers, so I just used a regular metal one. I lined it with some parchment paper to prevent sticking, then arranged the dumplings inside. Then I placed the steamer over a pot of boiling water. The dumplings take about 12-15 minutes to cook, so I set the timer and waited.
Taste Test
Finally, the moment of truth! I took the dumplings out of the steamer, let them cool for a bit, and then tried one. Not going to lie, they were pretty tasty! Not exactly restaurant quality, but definitely good enough for a first try. I ended up eating way too many of them, but it was totally worth it.
Making dim sum is definitely a bit of work, but it’s also a lot of fun. I’m already planning my next dim sum adventure. Maybe next time I’ll try some bao, or maybe even some har gow. The possibilities are endless!