This Dim Sum Dish is More Than Steamed Dumplings, Unlock the Secret!

Popular dim sum dish, including its ingredients and a recipe

Dim sum, a beloved tradition of enjoying bite-sized portions of Chinese cuisine, offers a delightful and diverse culinary experience.

Har Gow (Steamed Shrimp Dumplings)

Har Gow, meaning "crystal shrimp dumpling" in Cantonese, is a classic dim sum dish renowned for its translucent wrapper and succulent shrimp filling.

Dim Sum Recipe - Best Chinese

Ingredients

Wrapper:

* 200 grams wheat starch

* 100 grams rice flour

* 1 cup boiling water

* Vegetable oil (for brushing)

Filling:

* 250 grams fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

* 1 tablespoon bamboo shoots, finely chopped

* 1 tablespoon water chestnuts, finely chopped

* 1 tablespoon spring onions, finely chopped

* 1/2 teaspoon ginger, grated

* 1 teaspoon soy sauce

* 1/2 teaspoon oyster sauce

* 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

* Pinch of white pepper

Recipe:

1. Prepare the Wrapper:

* In a large bowl, combine the wheat starch and rice flour. Slowly add the boiling water, stirring continuously until a dough forms.

* Knead the dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes.

* Divide the dough into small balls, about 1 tablespoon each. Brush a rolling pin with oil and roll each ball into a thin, translucent wrapper.

2. Make the Filling:

* In a bowl, combine the shrimp, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, spring onions, ginger, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper. Mix well.

3. Assemble the Dumplings:

* Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each wrapper.

* Pinch the edges of the wrapper together to form a crescent shape, leaving some space at the top for the shrimp to show through.

* Make small pleats along the open edge to secure the filling.

4. Steaming:

* Line a steamer basket with parchment paper. Brush the paper with oil to prevent sticking.

* Arrange the dumplings in the steamer basket, leaving space between them.

* Bring a pot of water to a boil. Place the steamer basket over the boiling water and steam for 8-10 minutes, or until the dumplings are translucent and cooked through.

5. Serve:

* Arrange the steamed Har Gow on a plate and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce, such as chili sauce, soy sauce with vinegar, or ginger-scallion sauce.

Tips:

* If the wrappers become too dry or difficult to work with, cover them with a damp cloth while assembling the dumplings.

* To test if the dumplings are cooked through, gently press one with your finger. The dough should feel springy and not sticky.

Enjoy your delicious homemade Har Gow!

Dim sum offers a wonderful selection of vegetarian and seafood-based options in hong kong, perfect for those who don't eat pork. Here are a few delicious dim sum varieties that are pork-free:

Steamed Dumplings:

Har Gow (虾饺): This classic dumpling features succulent shrimp encased in a translucent wrapper, as mentioned earlier.

Ha Kau (虾饺): Similar to Har Gow, Ha Kau uses shrimp as the primary filling, but the wrapper might be slightly thicker and have a slight yellow hue due to the addition of egg yolk.

Vegetable Dumplings (素饺): These versatile dumplings come filled with a variety of chopped vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and bean sprouts.

Crystal Shrimp Dumplings with Spinach (水晶虾仁菠菜饺): A visually stunning option, these dumplings feature a translucent wrapper revealing a colorful filling of shrimp and chopped spinach.

Rice Noodle Rolls:

Shrimp Rice Noodle Rolls (虾肠粉): As discussed before, Ha Cheong Fan features a translucent rice noodle sheet rolled around plump shrimp.

Vegetarian Rice Noodle Rolls (素肠粉): These rolls offer a variety of savory fillings, like stir-fried vegetables or tofu.

Buns and Baked Goods:

Bao (包): These fluffy steamed buns can be filled with a variety of vegetarian options like shredded vegetables, black bean paste, or even sweet fillings like red bean paste or custard.

Vegetarian Fun Guo (素粉果): Similar to Shumai Fun Guo, this dish features a steamed rice noodle cup filled with savory vegetables and mushrooms.

Jiu Cai Guo (韭菜粿): These savory rice cakes are pan-fried until crispy on the outside and filled with chives (jiu cai) for a delightful burst of flavor.

Other Savory Delights:

Spring Rolls (春卷): These deep-fried rolls come in vegetarian and seafood options, with fillings like vegetables, tofu, or shrimp.

Pan-Fried Taro Cake (煎芋头糕): Grated taro root is combined with rice flour and other ingredients, then pan-fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. A delicious vegetarian alternative to radish cake.

Sweet Treats:

Mango Sticky Rice (芒果糯米糍): Sweet sticky rice with a center of diced mango is a refreshing and flavorful end to any dim sum feast.

Sesame Seed Balls (芝麻球): These deep-fried balls are filled with a sweet red bean paste and coated in sesame seeds for a delightful textural contrast.

Lai Mai Fan (λαι米粉): Steamed rice flour rolls with a sweet filling like red bean paste or peanut butter.

This selection highlights just a few of the many vegetarian and seafood dim sum options available. With a little exploration, you can discover a world of delicious dim sum flavors that cater to various dietary preferences.