Scallop Siu Mai Spring Moon Recipes

SCALLOP SIU MAI SPRING MOON

Steps:

• 1. 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. Divide the scallops in half, putting the thickest on a plate; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Mince the remaining thinner scallops. In a medium bowl combine the pork, mushrooms, minced scallops, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, sugar, pepper, and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of the reserved mushroom liquid.
• 2. 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. Cut the reserved scallops horizontally into 24 thin rounds. Put a slice of scallop on each dumpling. Put a pinch of carrot in the center.
• 3. Line a 12-inch bamboo steamer with the cabbage leaves, or cheesecloth. Place half the dumplings on the leaves, 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 5 to 7 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.

SHRIMP, SCALLOP AND PORK SHUMAI

Steps:

• To make the filling: Combine the shrimp, scallops, pork, ginger, cilantro, shallots, vinegar, sesame oil and egg whites in a food processor. Season with salt and pepper, add the corn starch and lemon juice and pulse to combine-- I like my fillings to have a little texture. (Alternatively chop the shrimp and scallops finely then add the pork, ginger, cilantro and vinegar and chop together. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and rapidly mix in the vinegar, sesame oil, egg whites, seasoning, corn starch and lemon juice.)
• To make the shumai: Hold a wonton wrapper in your hand. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the filling into the center of the wrapper (rinse the spoon in cold water so the filling doesn't stick). Gather the edges of the wrapper up around the filling and squeeze the sides together with your fingers forming a little pleated cup. (The sides will naturally pleat, leaving the filling slightly exposed.) Tap the dumpling on the table so the bottom is flat and it stands upright then set aside on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling. Top each shumai with a pea. (You can freeze any leftover filling.)
• Lightly oil the bottom of a bamboo steamer then line it with the cabbage leaves. Stand the dumplings in the steamer in a single layer taking care that they don't touch one another. (A 10-inch steamer will accommodate 12 shumai). Bring about 2 inches of water to a boil in a wok. Set the bamboo steamer in the wok, cover it with the bamboo lid and steam until the shumai feel firm, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve the shumai immediately garnished with green onions and accompanied by soy sauce or dipping sauces of your choice.

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.