Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone!
We’re now ushering in a new year, and it’s only right that we celebrate in the best way we know how – with good food! And when it comes to Chinese cuisine, one of the dishes you should never miss is dim sum.
A Cantonese word which is commonly translated to “touch the heart,” dim sum is a style of Chinese cuisine where bite-sized dishes are served in a bamboo steamer baskets or on small plates. As these dishes are usually in smaller portions, it’s best for a family to order a variety of dishes and share them with each other to be able to taste and enjoy more dishes.
Planning to go on a dim sum feast this Chinese New Year but don’t know where to start? We’re giving you an essential guide on all things dim sum so you already know which to order on the big holiday!
1. Siomai (Pork and Shrimp Dumpling)
Also known as Siu Mai, these are open-topped dumplings filled with ground pork and/or shrimp and topped with crab roe or mushrooms.
2. Hakaw (Shrimp Dumpling)
Hakaw, or Har Gau for some, is dumpling filled with shrimp and wrapped in translucent wrapping paper.
3. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumpling)
These are dumplings which are usually filled with pork and a hot, rich broth. These dumplings are usually served with vinegar and thinly-sliced ginger to further enhance its flavors. lad
4. Pork Buns
Also called Char Siu Bao, this dim sum dish is basically a soft and sweet bun filled with char siu or barbecued pork, and can be either served steamed or baked.
5. Pork Ribs with Black Beans
This dish is a fatty and savory one made with steamed pork ribs cooked in black bean sauce, garlic, and oil.
6. Steamed Chicken Feet
This dish is basically chicken feet that are fried, boiled, and then steamed in black bean sauce for it to be the soft, chewy, and flavorful dish we know it to be.
7. Vegetable Dumpling
This kind of dumpling is usually referred to as Teochew or Chui Chow and is filled with chopped peanuts, garlic chives, dried radish, shiitake mushrooms, and sometimes ground pork and dried shrimp.
8. Barbecued Pork Puffs
This dish has barbecued pork or char siu filling a flaky dough that you could compare to a croissant or a puff pastry.
9. Turnip Cake
Turnip Cake, sometimes called Radish Cake or Carrot Cake, is a pan-fried dish with shredded white radish, dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, and mushroom.
10. Taro Puffs
Also known as Taro Dumplings, this is a dumpling dish is made of mashed taro and stuffed with mushroom, shrimp, or pork, before deep-frying it until its outermost layer is a crispy golden brown.
11. Spring Rolls
These rolls consist of a variety of sliced vegetables and ground meat, wrapped in a sheet made of wheat flour, and deep-fried until perfectly crispy.
12. Rice Noodle Roll
A thin roll made from rice noodles, this dim sum dish is usually filled with shrimp, beef, and vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce upon serving.
13. Potstickers
Potstickers are pan-fried dumplings with pork, cabbage, scallions, and ginger – which are steamed in a wok before it’s fried so the final result is a dumpling that ‘s crispy on one side and perfectly steamed on the other.
14. Buchi
Also known as Fried Sesame Balls, Buchi is a chewy and sticky dessert made of fried dough covered in sesame seeds and filled with a red bean or lotus seed paste filling.
15. Egg Tart
A dessert dish which was developed in Hong Kong, Egg Tarts are baked treats with a pastry crush and filled with egg custard.
—
Did your favorite dim sum dish make it to our list?
