Steamed Seafood Buns With Soy Dipping Sauce

STEAMED PORK BUNS WITH HOISIN DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Special equipment: 1 (2 1/2 or 2 3/4-inch) biscuit cutter; steamer, steamer basket or bamboo steamer
• For the pork buns: Bring 2 cups water to a simmer in a pot that will fit a steamer basket or a bamboo steamer.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the pork, ginger and scallions. Set aside
• Working with 1 dough canister (10 biscuits) at a time, roll out the biscuits with a rolling pin until they are about 3 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Place 1 heaping tablespoon pork mixture in the center of 5 of the biscuits. Cover each with a remaining rolled-out biscuits. Gently press the biscuits together all the way around the filling and to the edges. Place a (2 1/2 or 2 3/4-inch) biscuit cutter on top so that it is centered on the bun. Press down on the cutter to form a clean, sealed edge and remove the excess dough from around the outside of the biscuit cutter. (If you do not have a biscuit cutter then just pinch together the edges of the buns with your fingers.) Place the sealed buns onto a sheet tray and cover with plastic wrap. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Place the buns into the steamer basket. Depending on the size of your steamer, you may have to cook the buns in batches of 5. Place the steamer basket over the pot of simmering water, cover and steam, about 10 minutes. The buns will be puffed and the tops will look somewhat dry and shiny. Let cool 1 to 2 minutes.
• While the buns are steaming, make the hoisin dipping sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin, soy sauce, 2 tablespoons water and the vinegar. Serve with the buns.

SHRIMP CHEUNG FUN (RICE ROLLS)

Steps:

• Rice rolls:
• Sift the rice flour, tapioca starch, wheat starch, potato starch, and salt into a large bowl. Mix in the lukewarm water, stirring until a consistency of very thin glue is reached.
• When ready to cook, mix again until there are no clumps. Using a brush, generously oil a rimmed eighth sheet pan. Using a ladle, pour just as much batter in the pan as needed to form a thin, even layer. (The thinner you can keep your roll, the better.) Put 3 medium to large or 6 small shrimp onto each roll, placing them 1 inch from one narrow edge.
• Set up a 12-inch steamer: Fill a wok with enough water to come up to the lower rim of a steamer but not so much the waterline is above the food bed. (If you do want to DIY it, just use a plate in a pot. Fill a pot with ½ an inch of water. Then make a sort of tripod out of tinfoil by forming three golf ball- sized balls and placing them in the bottom of the pot, making sure their tops rest above the water- line. Rest the plate on the tinfoil, cover, and steam.) Bring water to a boil.
• Place the sheet pan in the steamer, cover, and steam for 6 minutes, or until you see bubbles on top of the mixture. If you need more water- water tends to evaporate-add boiling, not cold, water so as not to stop the steaming.
• Carefully remove the sheet pan from the steamer and set on a work surface (it will be hot, so be prudent). Let cool for a minute or so. Then, using a bench scraper, start rolling the rice roll from the top of the pan away from you until folded into a loose roll. Cut in half widthwise.
• Brush the pan with oil again and repeat until you've used up all the batter.
• When ready to serve, briefly re-steam the rolls for 1 to 2 minutes until hot.
• Sweet dipping sauce:
• Heat a small saucepan to medium-low heat and add all ingredients. Stir until sugar and chicken powder are dissolved. Spoon atop rice rolls.

EASY ASIAN DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, sesame seeds, sesame oil in a bowl.

HONEY SOY DIPPING SAUCE (FOR DUMPLINGS OR POTSTICKERS)

Steps:

• Whisk together soy sauce, honey, ginger, sesame oil and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Just before serving stir in sesame seeds.

SIMPLE SOY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Add a pinch of hot red pepper flakes if you like heat.

STEAMED CRABS WITH SOY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Boil the crabs for about a minute (you may have to do this in batches), then rinse them in cold water. Combine the wine, scallions, and ginger slices in a large bowl and add the crabs. For the dipping sauce, combine the minced ginger with the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar and stir to blend. Let sit for about 30 minutes.
• Put about an inch of water in a steamer, wok, or roasting pan. Place the crabs on a plate and put the plate in the steamer or on a rack in a wok or other pan. Cover and bring to a boil, then steam for 5 to 10 minutes, until hot. Garnish the crabs if you like and serve with the dipping sauce.