How To Make Shumai Recipes

SHUMAI (SHRIMP & PORK DUMPLINGS 燒賣)

Steps:

• Season Shrimps: Pat dry the shrimps with paper towels. Place the chopped shrimps in a medium mixing bowl. Add in 1 tsp cornstarch and ¼ tsp salt.
• Season Ground Pork: Place the ground pork in a large mixing bowl. Pour in 1 tbsp cornstarch, ½ tsp ground white pepper, ½ tsp sugar, 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine, 2 tsp regular soy sauce, 1 tsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, and 2 tbsp unsalted chicken stock.
• Make Pastes: Squeeze and mix the seasoned ground pork with your hands, then throw it against the mixing bowl until it resembles a paste-like consistency. Wash your hands and do the same with the seasoned shrimps. Put the pastes into the fridge and prepare the remaining ingredients.
• Prepare Ingredients: Finely chop ¾ stalk of green onions and 1 - 2 pieces of re-hydrated shiitake mushrooms. Use a microplane grater to grate the 2 ginger slices.
• Mix Ingredients: Remove the pork and shrimp pastes from the fridge. Pour all the ingredients into the ground pork paste mixing bowl. Squeeze and mix the ingredients with your hands until blended. Remember to throw the paste against the mixing bowl!!
• Wrap Shumai: Place a wonton wrapper on one hand. Scoop roughly ¾ - 1 tbsp mixed paste on the wonton wrapper with a butter knife or the dull end of a spoon. Then, wrap it into a cylinder shape with an open top (see video) Place a parchment liner into the bamboo steamer, then place the Shumai on the liner. Close the bamboo steamer lid.
• Pressure Cook Shumai: Place a steamer rack and pour one cup of water into an electric pressure cooker. Place the bamboo steamer filled with Shumai into the pressure cooker. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 3 minutes. Wait for another 5 minutes and do a Quick Release. OR Cook Shumai on Stovetop: Steam the Shumai on high heat for 10 - 12 minutes on the stovetop.
• Serve: Remove the bamboo steamer from the pot and enjoy them immediately.

STEAMED PORK-AND-MUSHROOM SHUMAI

Steps:

• Make the filling: Peel the ginger by scraping it with a spoon, then grate 1 tablespoon. Stem and finely chop the mushrooms. Combine the ginger, mushrooms, scallion, pork, soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil and cornstarch in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands until all of the ingredients are incorporated.
• Form the dumplings: Place a damp paper towel over the wonton wrappers to keep them from drying out. Remove 1 wrapper and brush with some of the beaten egg.
• Make a circle with your thumb and index finger; lay the wrapper on top, nudging it down to create a cup. Add 2 teaspoons filling, then pat the filling down with the back of a spoon.
• Fold the overhanging wrapper edges down, leaving the filling exposed. Press the wrapper firmly around the filling. Pat the top and bottom of the dumpling to make it flat.
• Top the dumpling with a dried goji berry or 1 each frozen pea and carrot. Repeat to form the remaining dumplings.
• Steam the dumplings: Cut out a round of parchment paper to fit in a bamboo steamer and punch holes in the paper to let steam through. Line the steamer with the parchment and brush with vegetable oil; arrange the dumplings in the steamer and cover. Put the steamer in a wok or skillet with a few inches of boiling water, making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the steamer. Steam the dumplings 8 to 10 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through.
• Make the sauce: Combine the chile paste and soy sauce in a small shallow bowl. Serve with the dumplings for dipping.

SHRIMP SHUMAI

Steps:

• To make the soy-mustard sauce, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside.
• To make the filling, cut the shrimp into bite-size pieces, then roughly chop until the shrimp become almost paste-like but with some small pieces visible. You can also use a food processor, which will give it a smooth texture, but I prefer the more coarse texture you get from chopping by hand. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl and mix with a spatula until the shrimp become very sticky.
• Add the scallions, water chestnuts, and mushrooms to the shrimp and mix well. Then add the following ingredients, mixing well between each addition: lard, sake, ginger juice, sesame oil, and egg white. Finally, mix in the salt, pepper, and potato starch.
• Meanwhile, place the baby bok choy in a bowl and cover with cold water; let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• To assemble the shumai, lay a wonton skin on the counter (cover the remaining skins with a damp towel to keep them from drying out). Place 1 tablespoon of the filling in the center of the wonton skin. (Soak the spoon in water while you're assembling a shumai. This will make it easier to transfer the filling to the wonton.) Hold the wonton skin with the filling with your fingers and gently press the skin to form a small cup. Set the shumai on a cutting board and turn it clockwise while carefully pressing the sides together, creating a tighter cup. Wet a finger with water and use it to gently smooth the top of the shumai. Repeat with the remaining wonton skins and filling.
• To cook the shumai, heat a stove-top steamer over high heat, bringing the water to a boil. Brush the bottom of the steamer basket with a small layer of the vegetable oil and add the shumai, leaving 1 inch of space between each. Cover and cook for 3 minutes, then drain the bok choy and add to the steamer. Cover and cook for 3 minutes longer, or until the shumai are cooked through.
• Remove the bok choy from the steamer and gently squeeze inside a towel to remove excess moisture. Top with a pinch of salt. Place each bok choy in the center of 4 small plates and arrange 6 shumai around it. Garnish the plates with a pinch of black sesame seeds and serve with the soy-mustard sauce on the side.