Sui Mai Steamed Dumplings Recipes

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).

SUI MAI (STEAMED DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Chop the shrimp very fine using a knife or the food processor. Just be careful not to grind too too fine.
• Mix together the pork, shrimp, scallions, cilantro, fish sauce, salt, cornstarch, egg,sesame oil, water chestnuts. and ginger (I use my hands).
• Form the mixture into 1-2 inch balls and place on wax papper, parchment or a platter.
• Put one ball in the middle of a wonton wrapper and gather the wrapper around the ball leaving the top open.
• Kind of give it a "waist".
• Steam in a bamboo steamer for about 5 to 6 minutes.
• May be frozen after steamed and cooled.
• To reheat I put them in a large skillet with some water or resteam.
• Some people boil these but I have never had much luck with that.
• I serve with several dipping sauces of varying heat.

STEAMED PORK AND MUSHROOM "SIU MAI" DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the filling: In a large bowl, combine the pork, ginger, rice wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, mushrooms and scallions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix well.
• For the dumplings: Take 1 wonton wrapper and place 1 heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center. Then gather up the sides of the wonton wrapper and mold around the filling into a ball shape, leaving the center exposed. Dip your finger in some water and run it around the top of the wonton wrapper. Fold the excess wrapper down and pinch the wonton wrapper around the filling firmly to prevent it from opening up and separating from the filling when cooked. Top each dumpling with a goji berry.
• Oil the bottom of a bamboo steamer and/or line it with a piece of perforated parchment paper. Place the dumplings in the steamer, cover with a lid and place over a pan or wok of boiling water (making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the steamer). Steam the dumplings until cooked, 7 to 8 minutes.
• For the dipping sauce: Meanwhile, combine the chili and soy sauces in a bowl. Serve with the dumplings.

SHRIMP AND PORK SHU MAI DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the filling: In the bowl of a food processor, add the shrimp, ground pork, sesame oil, soy sauce, cornstarch, ginger, garlic, green onions, egg whites, lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pulse the ingredients until smooth, 3 to 5 times. It should be somewhat chunky, not totally pureed. Put the filling into a bowl and fold in the water chestnuts.
• To determine if the filling is seasoned well, make a small patty, about 2 tablespoons. Place a small saute pan over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon canola oil. Once heated, add the tester patty and cook on both sides until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and place onto a paper-towel-lined plate and taste. Adjust seasoning to the remaining filling if needed.
• Prepare the dumplings according to desired assembly. Serve with Sesame-Soy Dipping Sauce.
• Line each tray of your bamboo steamer with cabbage leaves and cover with the lid. Bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil in a large, wide pan. Set the bamboo steamer over the pot. Continue to add water as needed.
• Place a wonton wrapper on a clean surface and add about 2 teaspoons of the filling in the center of the wrapper. Brush the edges of the wrapper with water. Fold and pleat as you gather the wrapping around the filling, leaving the top of the filling uncovered. Gently tap the shu mai on your work surface, flattening the bottom and allowing it to stand upright and make a basket shape.
• Put the shu mai in the cabbage-lined steamers and cover with the lid. Steam the dumplings until cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Place a wonton wrapper on a clean surface and add about 2 teaspoons of the filling in the center of the wrapper. Brush the edges of the wrapper with water. Take one edge of the wonton wrapper and fold it to the other side, creating a half moon shape. Then starting at one end of your half moon, make gentle folds, pleating and pressing the top side of the wrapper onto the bottom side as you work around the half moon.
• Have about 1/2 cup water, a large skillet and a lid for the skillet handy. Heat the skillet with 1 to 2 tablespoons of canola oil over high heat. Once the skillet is hot, place the number of dumplings you want to cook smooth-side down in the skillet. Allow them to sear until the bottoms turn golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the water, immediately cover with the lid and let the dumplings steam for another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Line each tray of your bamboo steamer with cabbage leaves and cover with the lid. Bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil in a large, wide pan. Set the bamboo steamer over the pot. Continue to add water as needed.
• Place a wonton wrapper on a clean surface and add about 2 teaspoons of the filling in the center of the wrapper. Brush the edges of the wrapper with water. Take one edge of the wonton wrapper and fold it to the other side, creating a half moon shape. Then take the 2 ends of the half moon and fold them into each other, pressing the ends together to secure the shape, creating the wonton.
• Put the wontons in the cabbage-lined steamers and cover with the lid. Steam the dumplings until cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, oil, honey and green onions, and set aside until ready to serve.

SIU MAI OPEN-FACED DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• To make the filling, in a bowl, combine the pork, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and scallions. Use a fork or spatula to stir and lightly mash the ingredients together so they begin to blend.
• Put the salt, sugar, white pepper, cornstarch, soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, and egg white into a small bowl and stir to combine well. Pour over the meat mixture, and stir, fold, and mash everything together until they cohere into a compact mass. Cover the filling with plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes, or refrigerate overnight, returning it to room temperature before assembling the dumplings. You should have a generous 2 cups of filling.
• Before assembling the dumplings, line steamer trays and/or a baking sheet with parchment paper. For the baking sheet, lightly dust the paper with cornstarch to prevent sticking. Set aside. Hold a skin in one hand. Scoop up about 1 tablespoon of filling with a bamboo dumpling spatula, dinner knife, or fork and position it in the center of the skin, pressing down gently. Pick up the skin and gather and pinch it together to form an open bag (see page 74). Crown the dumpling with some finely diced carrot or a pea. If steaming right away, place each finished dumpling in a steamer tray open side up, spacing them 1/2 inch apart, and 1 inch away from the edge if you are using a metal steamer. Otherwise, place the waiting dumplings on the baking sheet a good 1/2 inch apart. Keeping the finished dumplings covered with a dry kitchen towel to prevent drying, form and fill wrappers from the remaining dough. Dumplings made several hours in advance of cooking should be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated. For longer storage, freeze them on their baking sheet until hard (about 1 hour), transfer them to a plastic container, and keep them frozen for up to 1 month; partially thaw them before steaming.
• To cook, steam the dumplings over boiling water (steaming guidelines are on page 17) for 6 to 8 minutes, until the dumplings have puffed slightly and their skins have become translucent. Remove each tray and place it a top a serving plate.
• Serve immediately with the soy sauce and hot mustard. Invite guests to mix up their own dipping sauce.