Dim Sum Recipe

Siu Mai

Dim sum · Makes 24 · 50 minutes

Open-topped steamed pork and shrimp dumplings.

Recipe at a glance

Serves / makesMakes 24
Time50 minutes
Cuisine or formatDim Sum
UseHome cooking and menu literacy

Ingredients

  • 8 oz ground pork
  • 4 oz shrimp, chopped
  • 24 thin wonton wrappers
  • 2 shiitake mushrooms, minced
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • White pepper
  • Optional garnish

Method

  1. Mix pork, shrimp, mushrooms, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, sugar, and pepper.
  2. Stir until sticky.
  3. Place filling in wrappers.
  4. Shape into open-topped cylinders.
  5. Flatten bases so they stand.
  6. Steam 7–9 minutes.

Menu-literacy notes

  • Siu mai usually contains pork, shrimp, and wheat.
  • The filling should be springy, not dense.
  • It is a core dim sum standard.

Variations and substitutions

  • Adjust salt, sugar, chile, and vinegar gradually rather than changing all seasonings at once.
  • For allergies or religious dietary needs, check sauces, wrappers, broth, cooking wine, and shared equipment.
  • When adapting the dish, preserve the core technique and flavor structure that make it recognizable on a menu.

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