Surefire Siu Mai Dim Sum Food

SIU MAI

Steps:

• In a small bowl soak the mushrooms in 1/2 cup cold water 30 minutes or until softened.
• Drain and squeeze dry, reserving the soaking liquid.
• Cut off and discard the stems and mince the caps.
• In a processor, chop shrimp into small pieces.
• Add to pork and remaining ingredients.
• Add 1- 1 1/2 tsp mushroom water.
• Put the won ton wrappers on a work surface and lightly cover with a damp towel.
• Touch the tip of your left index finger to the tip of your thumb to form a small empty circle, or hole.
• Put one wrapper over the hole and put1 tablespoon filling in the center of the wrapper.
• Let the filled wrapper drop halfway through the hole, and gently squeeze it closed with your fingers.
• Put on a work surface and carefully pleat the excess wrapper, pressing down the filling.
• Put the dumpling upright on a plate.
• Continue filling the rest of the wrappers.
• Press 1 caper on top of each dumpling.
• Line a 12-inch bamboo steamer with a cheesecloth, or add oil to a plate.
• Place half the dumplings on the plate, 1/2-inch apart.
• Cover the steamer with its lid.
• Add water to a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok to a depth of 3/4-inch and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Carefully put the steamer in the wok, and steam on high heat 15 minutes or until the pork is no longer pink and just cooked.
• Be sure to check the water level from time to time and replenish, if necessary, with boiling water.
• Carefully remove the steamer from the wok.
• The dumplings should be served immediately.
• Continue steaming the remaining dumplings, replenishing the wok with more boiling water.

SUREFIRE SIU MAI - DIM SUM

Steps:

• Pour enough warm water over the mushrooms ina small bowl to cover them completely. Let soak until softened, about 20 minutes. Drain the mushrooms, discard the stems, and mince the caps.
• Make the filling: Stir the ground chicken or pork/shrimp mixture, bamboo shoots, egg, green onion, soy sauce, salt, ginger, sugar, cornstarch, sesame oil, pepper, and mushrooms together in a bowl until thoroughly combined and spongy.
• Make the dumplings: Place a heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center of a siu mai wrapper. (Keep the remaining wrappers covered with a damp kitchen towel to keep them from drying out.) Bring the sides of the wrapper together, bunching them around the filling and smoothing any pleats. (If you like you can spend a little time making nice, even pleats.) Flatten the bottom of the dumpling by tapping it against a firm surface, and squeeze the sides of the dumpling gently so the filling plumps ou of the top. Place a few shreds of the carrot and a pea, if using, in the filling. Set the dumpling on a baking sheet and repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling. Keep the formed dumplings covered with a damp kitchen towel to prevent them from drying out.
• Pour 3/4 inch water into a wok and bring to a boil (make sure the bottom of the bamboo steamer rests above the boiling water.) Line a steaming basket with the lettuce leaves. Arrange half the dumplings without touching one another, in the prepared basket. Cover and steam over high heat until the filling is cooked through, about 15 minutes. You may need to add additional water to the wok/steamer between batches.
• Transfer the dumplings to a serving platter and cover with foil, shiny side down, to keep them warm while you steam the remaining dumplings. Serve the dumplings warm with the dipping sauce.

SIU MAI OR SIOMAI (DIM SUM DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Mix everything together thoroughly except the wonton wrappers.
• Place a tablespoon of the mixture at the center of each wonton wrapper on top of your palm. Gather the edges around it, pleating it as you go, making an open flat top. Repeat with others.
• Meanwhile, prepare the steamer by boiling water underneath it and oiling the racks.
• Arrange the dumplings on top of the racks 1/2 inch apart and steam for about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Serve with soy sauce or chili paste (if you want it hot).

VEGAN SIU MAI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat margarine. Once it sizzles, add ginger and cook for 1 minute. Add seitan and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tamari and five-spice powder and cook for 3 minutes before adding hoisin sauce. Add cabbage and carrots and cook 5 more minutes.
• Make a circle with your forefinger and thumb. Place dumpling wrapper over your hand and then place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center. Fold up sides of the dumpling, creating a little cup. Dot the middle of each dumpling with a pea for garnish.
• Fill a large saucepan 1/4 of the way with water, place over high heat, and bring to a boil. In a metal colander over the pot steam buns for about 15 minutes.

SIU MAI (DIM SUM)

Steps:

• Put the water chestnuts, ginger, spring onion, light soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, prawns, pork, egg white and potato flour in a bowl and mix throughly with your hands to combine. Leave to marinate for 20-30 mins for the flavours to mingle.
• Stack the wrappers on a work surface covered with a damp cloth and line a baking tray with non-stick baking parchment. Put a wrapper in the palm of your hand and add 1 tbsp of the filling into the centre. Bring up the sides of the wrapper around the filling to make a basket shape, but don't squeeze the top together - you should still be able to see the filling.
• Add more filling if needed until it's reached the top of the gap, pressing down gently with a damp finger until flat. Tap the dumpling on the bench to flatten the base and put on the prepared tray. Add a goji berry, if you like. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling until you have about 20 dumplings.
• Put a disc of non-stick parchment into a steamer and fill with some of the dumplings, leaving a little space between each. Cover and steam over a wok of simmering water for 8-10 mins, or use an electric steamer. Repeat with the remaining dumplings. Serve with the dipping sauce.