Steaming Dim Sum Pork Rice: A Beginner's Guide

Dim sum is a popular Chinese dish that can be made at home and is often served as a banquet or large meal with many different dishes. One of the most famous dim sum dishes is pork steamed rice, also known as Siu Mai or Shumai. This dish is typically made with ground pork, fatty pork mince, or pork belly, and is enclosed in wonton wrappers or egg pastry. The filling can also include prawns/shrimps, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and various spices such as ginger, chilli, and coriander. The dumplings are then steamed in a bamboo steamer or metal steamer for around 10 minutes until cooked through. They can be served as a starter, main course, or as part of a larger banquet and are often accompanied by a spicy dipping sauce.

How to fold and wrap dim sum

Preparing the Filling

First, mix all the filling ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until well combined. You can use a spoon or your hands to do this. If you are making pork dim sum, the filling ingredients will include ground pork, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and green onions. You may also add chilli, ginger, coriander, and other spices to taste.

Filling the Dim Sum Wrappers

Take one dumpling wrapper and place it in the palm of your hand. Put a heaped teaspoon of the meat filling in the middle. Now, the fun part: folding!

Folding and Shaping

Gather the edges of the wrapper around the meat, forming a pouch with an open top. Use your forefinger and thumb to form an "O" and push the filling into the hole. Then, use a butter knife to smear more filling into the wrapper until it is level with the edge. Place the dumpling on a dusted baking sheet or plate and repeat with the remaining filling.

Preparing to Steam

Cover the dim sum with a damp tea towel and chill until you are ready to steam. You can also freeze them at this stage if you want to save them for later.

Steaming

Line a bamboo steamer or metal steamer insert with perforated paper to prevent sticking. Place the dim sum inside, leaving some space between each one. Bring some water to a boil in a wok or large frying pan, and place the closed steaming basket on top. Steam the dumplings for around 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 75°C/165°F.

And there you have it! Your very own homemade dim sum. Enjoy!

How to steam dim sum

Prepare the Filling

Start by preparing your filling. For pork dim sum, this will typically include ground pork, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and various spices and flavourings. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and use your hands to knead until smooth.

Fill the Dim Sum Wrappers

Now it's time to fill your dim sum wrappers. Take a wrapper in the palm of your hand and place a heaped teaspoon of the meat mixture in the middle. Gather the edges to form a pouch with an open top, pressing the wrapper into the filling so that it sticks. Repeat this process until all your filling is used up.

Prepare the Steamer

You can use a traditional bamboo steamer, a metal steamer insert, or even a microwave steamer. Cut a disk of baking parchment paper to fit the bottom of your steamer and poke holes in it with a sharp knife. This will prevent your dim sum from sticking to the steamer.

Steam the Dim Sum

Fill the bottom of a wok or large frying pan with a couple of cups of water. Bring the water to a boil, then place the closed steaming basket on top. Place the dim sum into the basket, leaving some space between each one. You may need to steam them in batches. Steam for around 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the dumplings reaches 75°C/165°F.

Serve

Dim sum is typically served as part of a larger banquet, along with other dishes such as steamed buns, dumplings, and fried rice. Provide a selection of dipping sauces, such as soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, or chilli paste, for your guests to mix their own.

How to make a spicy dipping sauce

To make a spicy dipping sauce to accompany your dim sum pork steamed rice, you can try the following recipe. This sauce is designed to be paired with dumplings, but it will also work well with your dish.

For a spicy dumpling sauce, you will need:

• 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon of chilli oil (or sesame-based chilli oil)
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of hot water

Start by dissolving the sugar into the hot water. Then, add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, chilli oil, minced garlic, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Stir everything together, and serve with your dim sum pork steamed rice.

If you want to experiment with different spicy sauces, you can try adding ingredients such as fresh chilli, coriander, green onions, ginger, or Chinese black rice vinegar.

How to prepare and marinate the pork

Preparing and marinating the pork is a crucial step in making delicious and flavourful Dim Sum Pork Steamed Rice. Here is a detailed guide on how to do it:

Choosing the Right Cut of Pork:

Start by selecting the right type of pork for your dish. You can use pork belly, collar butt, or any cut that has a good mix of lean meat and fat. This combination ensures that your dish is juicy and flavourful, as fat adds flavour and moisture to the meat.

Marinade Ingredients:

For the marinade, you will need a combination of ingredients that will enhance the flavour of the pork. Here is a list of ingredients you can use:

• Chinese cooking wine or Shaoxing wine: This adds a depth of flavour and complexity to the dish. You can also use dry sherry or chicken stock/broth as a substitute.
• Soy sauce: Light soy sauce is preferred over dark soy sauce as it has a milder flavour and won't stain the meat.
• Oyster sauce: This adds a savoury, umami flavour to the dish.
• Sesame oil: Gives the dish a nutty, aromatic flavour.
• Cornstarch: Acts as a binding agent and helps to thicken the marinade.
• Sugar: A small amount of sugar can be added to balance the savoury flavours and add a touch of sweetness.
• Spices: You can include spices such as ground black or white pepper to add a subtle kick to the dish.
• Vegetables: Finely chopped scallions, spring onions, or green onions can be added for a mild onion flavour. You can also include bamboo shoots for a crunchy texture.

Preparing the Pork:

Once you have gathered your ingredients, it's time to prepare the pork:

• Cut the pork into small, evenly sized cubes or mince it. If you are using pork belly, cut it into 3/4-inch cubes. For other cuts, you can ask your butcher to ground the meat for you or do it yourself at home.
• Place the pork in a large mixing bowl. If you are using ground pork, use your hands to mix and knead the meat until it becomes pasty.
• Add the marinade ingredients: Combine the Chinese cooking wine or Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, sugar, and spices (black/white pepper) to the bowl. You can also add vegetables like scallions or bamboo shoots at this stage.
• Mix thoroughly: Use a spoon or your hands to mix all the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined and the meat is well-coated with the marinade.
• Marinate: Cover the bowl and let the pork marinate in the refrigerator. For the best results, marinate the pork overnight. However, if you are short on time, 20 minutes to 30 minutes of marination will also work.

By following these steps, you will have perfectly prepared and marinated pork that is ready to be cooked and added to your Dim Sum Steamed Rice dish!

How to serve dim sum

To serve dim sum, it is customary to provide tea to your guests first. Tea is an integral part of the dim sum experience, and it is considered polite to pour tea for others before serving yourself.

When serving the dim sum dishes, it is common to place them in the centre of the table for everyone to share. There is no particular sequence to eating dim sum, and it is meant to be a social, sharing experience. It is also acceptable to eat with your hands, particularly for dishes like char siu bao (pork buns) and egg rolls.

If you are using chopsticks, it is important to have a separate pair of "public chopsticks" for serving. These are used to take food from a communal dish and place it on an individual's plate. It is considered rude to use your personal chopsticks to serve others.

When serving yourself from a communal dish, take the food closest to you to avoid reaching across the table. It is also customary to offer food to others before serving yourself, as a sign of respect.

Finally, remember that dim sum is meant to be enjoyed fresh, so it is best not to reheat any leftovers.

Frequently asked questions