Steamed Vegetable Sui Mai Dumplings With Chili Sesame Oil Food

STEAMED VEGETABLES WITH SESAME-CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Special equipment: a metal steamer basket
• Fill a large pot with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Arrange the carrots, asparagus, cauliflower and broccoli in a metal steamer basket; place in the pot and cover. Steam the vegetables until slightly tender but still with a little crunch, 5 to 6 minutes.
• While the veggies are steaming, heat a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the sesame-chile oil, olive oil, garlic and pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute.
• Transfer the steamed vegetables to a bowl. Add the sesame-chili oil mixture and the lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss to coat the vegetables evenly. Serve immediately.

SHRIMP SIU MAI (DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg white, sesame oil and arrowroot until frothy. Stir in the bell pepper, carrot, peas, chives, ginger, salt, and shrimp. Put 1/2 of the mixture in a food processor. Blend until the mixture forms a chunky paste. Return the paste to the bowl and combine it with the remaining vegetable mixture. Cut each egg roll wrapper into 4 equal-sized squares. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the center of each piece of dough. Gather the sides of the egg roll wrapper around the filling leaving the top of the filling uncovered. If necessary, use a little water to help secure the wrapper in place. Spray the bottom of a bamboo or stainless steel steamer with vegetable oil cooking spray. Working in batches, stand the dumplings, uncovered filling side up, in the steamer and cover. Steam until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Dipping sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, hot sauce and garlic.
• Arrange the dumplings on a platter and serve the dipping sauce alongside.

STEAMED PORK AND MUSHROOM "SIU MAI" DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the filling: In a large bowl, combine the pork, ginger, rice wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, mushrooms and scallions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix well.
• For the dumplings: Take 1 wonton wrapper and place 1 heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center. Then gather up the sides of the wonton wrapper and mold around the filling into a ball shape, leaving the center exposed. Dip your finger in some water and run it around the top of the wonton wrapper. Fold the excess wrapper down and pinch the wonton wrapper around the filling firmly to prevent it from opening up and separating from the filling when cooked. Top each dumpling with a goji berry.
• Oil the bottom of a bamboo steamer and/or line it with a piece of perforated parchment paper. Place the dumplings in the steamer, cover with a lid and place over a pan or wok of boiling water (making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the steamer). Steam the dumplings until cooked, 7 to 8 minutes.
• For the dipping sauce: Meanwhile, combine the chili and soy sauces in a bowl. Serve with the dumplings.

SEW MAI DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the filling: Reconstitute the mushrooms in hot water for 30 minutes. Rinse them, remove the stems and chop them into small dice.
• In a large bowl, combine the mushrooms with the pork, shrimp, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, cornstarch, salt and pepper and mix until well combined. (You may also use a mixer with a paddle attachment.) Cover the mixture and let it rest for at least 1 hour and up to overnight in the refrigerator.
• To assemble the dumplings: Lay a dumpling skin on your work surface. Place about 2 tablespoons filling in the center. Hold the filling in place with your fingers and use the other hand to twist the skin around the filling. While twisting, make sure to flatten the top of the filling into the skin. Place the bottom of the dumpling on the work surface and flatten it out. Repeat this process until all the filling is gone.
• Steam the dumplings in a steamer basket on high heat until cooked through, about 7 minutes.
• I love eating these with soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, and hot mustard.

SUI MAI (STEAMED DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Chop the shrimp very fine using a knife or the food processor. Just be careful not to grind too too fine.
• Mix together the pork, shrimp, scallions, cilantro, fish sauce, salt, cornstarch, egg,sesame oil, water chestnuts. and ginger (I use my hands).
• Form the mixture into 1-2 inch balls and place on wax papper, parchment or a platter.
• Put one ball in the middle of a wonton wrapper and gather the wrapper around the ball leaving the top open.
• Kind of give it a "waist".
• Steam in a bamboo steamer for about 5 to 6 minutes.
• May be frozen after steamed and cooled.
• To reheat I put them in a large skillet with some water or resteam.
• Some people boil these but I have never had much luck with that.
• I serve with several dipping sauces of varying heat.