Steaming Dim Sum Rice: A Beginner's Guide

Steamed dim sum is a delicious and healthy dish that can be prepared in a variety of ways. One popular variation is the Cebu-style steamed rice, which typically includes pork belly, shrimp, and a blend of sauces and spices. The process involves marinating the pork, stir-frying it with garlic and shallots, and then simmering it with shrimp and a variety of sauces. The garlic fried rice is prepared separately and topped with the pork and shrimp stew. This dish can be steamed to mimic the effect of traditional dim sum. Another option is to create steamed dim sum pouches with a filling of beef, chillies, garlic, and soy sauce, served with a lime soy sauce dip.

Preparing the rice

Once the rice is cooked, it's time to steam it. You can use a bamboo steamer or an electric steamer. If using a bamboo steamer, line the steamer basket with parchment paper or cabbage leaves to prevent the rice from sticking. Place the rice in the steamer basket, leaving some space around the edges for the steam to circulate. Bring water to a boil in a pot or wok, then place the steamer basket on top, making sure it doesn't touch the water. Cover and steam the rice for about 10 -15 minutes.

If using an electric steamer, follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. Place the rice in the steamer basket and steam according to the recommended time and temperature settings.

While the rice is steaming, you can prepare the dim sum fillings and sauces. Dim sum fillings typically include a combination of meat, seafood, and vegetables. Common fillings include pork, shrimp, chicken, and mushrooms. The fillings are usually seasoned with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and garlic.

To assemble the dim sum, you can use store-bought or homemade wrappers. Place a small amount of filling in the centre of each wrapper, then bring the edges together to form a pouch or a desired shape. The dim sum can be steamed, fried, or baked.

For a simple dim sum dipping sauce, you can mix soy sauce, rice vinegar or lime juice, and sesame oil. You can also add other ingredients like garlic, ginger, or chilli flakes to taste.

Making the pork and shrimp stew

Cube the pork belly into 3/4-inch pieces. Mix with Chinese cooking wine, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.

Heat vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and shallots; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the pork pieces; fry until browned, about 6 minutes. Pour in water, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Cover with a lid and bring the stew to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the pork becomes tender and the water is reduced by half, about 30-45 minutes.

Cut the shrimp into 3/4-inch pieces. Mix cornstarch and water together in a bowl.

Bring the stew to a boil. Add the shrimp and peas; cook until the shrimp changes colour, about 2 minutes. Quickly stir in the cornstarch mixture. Cook and stir until the gravy is thickened, 7 to 10 minutes.

Cooking garlic fried rice

Garlic fried rice is a delicious and fragrant dish that is perfect as a side or main course. It is simple to make and can be easily adapted to your taste. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you cook this mouth-watering dish.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cooked jasmine rice (cooled)
• 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 2-3 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon of oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon of light soy sauce
• A few drops of sesame oil
• Optional: scallions, eggs, peas, corn, ham, bacon, chicken, or shrimp

Step 1: Prepare the Rice

Start by preparing your rice. If you are using leftover rice, ensure it is at least a day old to reduce moisture content. Freshly steamed rice can make your fried rice soggy. You can also spread the rice on a baking sheet and place it in the refrigerator to dry it out further.

Step 2: Fry the Garlic

Heat your wok or pan to medium-high heat and add 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, add 2-3 tablespoons of minced garlic and fry for about a minute until the garlic turns golden brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can cook very quickly. Remove the garlic from the pan and set it aside, leaving the garlic-infused oil in the pan.

Step 3: Sauté Scallions (Optional)

If you are using scallions, now is the time to add them to the garlic-infused oil. Sauté the scallions for 15-30 seconds until they become fragrant.

Step 4: Add and Stir-Fry the Rice

Turn the heat up to high and add your cooled jasmine rice to the wok or pan. Break up the rice with a spatula and stir-fry it for 3-5 minutes. Keep stirring and breaking up the rice until it is loose, fluffy, and heated through.

Step 5: Season the Rice

Add your seasonings to the rice and continue stirring until they are well combined. You can use oyster sauce, light soy sauce, sesame oil, kosher salt, white pepper, sugar, and/or MSG, adjusting the quantities to your taste.

Step 6: Add Back the Fried Garlic

Once your rice is seasoned to your liking, add the fried garlic back into the wok or pan and give it a good mix. The garlic aroma should be fragrant throughout the rice, and your dish is now ready to be served!

Optional Add-Ins:

You can also add proteins and vegetables to your garlic fried rice for a heartier dish. Beat two eggs and pour them into the wok or pan after frying the garlic. Scramble the eggs and mix them into the rice. You can also add peas, corn, ham, bacon, chicken, or shrimp, stirring them into the rice until everything is combined and hot.

Enjoy your homemade garlic fried rice!

Assembling the dish

To assemble the dish, start by preparing the ingredients. For the pork and shrimp stew, you will need pork belly, Chinese cooking wine, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, ground black pepper, vegetable oil, minced garlic, fried shallots, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, uncooked medium shrimp, and frozen peas. Cut the pork belly into 3/4-inch cubes and mix it with the Chinese cooking wine, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, and black pepper. Marinate this mixture in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.

Heat some vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat and add the garlic and shallots. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Next, add the pork pieces and fry until browned, which should take around 6 minutes. Pour in water, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the stew to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking until the pork is tender and the water has reduced by half, which should take about 30 minutes.

While the pork is simmering, prepare the shrimp by cutting them into 3/4-inch pieces. Mix cornstarch and water together in a separate bowl; this will be used to thicken the stew later. Once the pork is tender and the water has reduced, bring the stew to a boil again. Add the shrimp and frozen peas, cooking until the shrimp turn opaque, which should take about 2 minutes. Quickly stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook until the gravy thickens, which will take an additional 7 to 10 minutes.

To make the garlic fried rice, heat some vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Increase the heat to high and add the cooled jasmine rice, breaking up any clumps with a spatula. Continue stirring and cooking the rice at high heat until it is loosened and heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add oyster sauce, light soy sauce, and a few drops of sesame oil to taste. Stir until the rice is fluffy and well-seasoned.

To serve, divide the fried rice into 3 or 4 bowls and portion the pork and shrimp stew evenly over the rice. For an extra touch, you can steam the entire dish in a steamer for 10 minutes to mimic the effect of steamed dim sum. Enjoy your homemade dim sum steamed rice!

Serving suggestions

Dim sum is all about tea. It is traditionally served in chalou teahouses, a place to spend time with family and friends, sip tea, and enjoy delicious food.

When serving dim sum, it is customary to first ask your guests what type of tea they would like to drink. Common teas to offer include black tea, Pu'er tea, chrysanthemum, jasmine, and oolong tea.

As for the food, it is recommended to order 1-2 steamers per person, with a minimum of 4 different steamers. For a group of 4 people, ordering 6 different steamers of dim sum should be plenty.

Some popular dim sum dishes to consider serving include:

• Har gao - shrimp dumplings filled with pork fat and bamboo shoots
• Siu mai - pork dumplings filled with bamboo shoots, water chestnut, and garnished with crab roe or caviar
• Fung zao - chicken feet steamed in a savoury, slightly sweet and spicy black bean sauce
• Lo bak go - a radish and rice flour batter dish with the aroma of Chinese ham and a slightly smoky grill flavour
• No mai gai - steamed sticky rice filled with chicken, pork, and mushrooms, wrapped in beautiful lotus leaves
• Cheong fun - rice noodle rolls with your choice of ingredients like shrimp, BBQ pork, bean sprouts, or crunchy bean curd skin, covered in a light soy sauce

Remember, dim sum is about spending time with loved ones, so take your time, sip your tea, and enjoy the food and company!

Frequently asked questions