Okay, so I’ve been meaning to try making dim sum at home for ages. It always seemed so intimidating, but I finally decided to give it a shot. Let me tell you, it was a journey!
Getting Started
First, I spent hours online, just looking at recipes and videos. I mean, there are SO MANY different kinds of dim sum. I finally settled on trying to make a few classics: har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), and maybe some char siu bao (barbecue pork buns).
The Shopping Trip
Next up, the grocery shopping. I headed to the biggest Asian market in town. Honestly, I felt a bit lost at first. So many ingredients I’d never seen before! I managed to find most of what I needed, though. The hardest part was probably finding the right kind of dumpling wrappers. I ended up getting a few different kinds, just in case.
Prep Work
- I chopped up a mountain of shrimp and pork.
- I minced ginger and garlic like there’s no tomorrow.
- I carefully measured out all the sauces and spices.
Making the Dumplings
Actually making the dumplings was the real test. My first few har gow were… well, let’s just say they looked a little sad. The wrappers kept tearing, and the filling was spilling out. But I kept at it, and eventually, I started to get the hang of it. The siu mai were a bit easier, thankfully. The char siu bao dough was another adventure altogether. I followed the recipe exactly, but it still took a few tries to get the right consistency.
Steaming and (Finally!) Eating
Once everything was assembled, it was time to steam. I borrowed a bamboo steamer from a friend. I carefully arranged the dumplings and buns in the steamer baskets. And then, the moment of truth… I lifted the lid after about 15 minutes, and… they looked pretty good! I took a bite, and wow. They weren’t perfect, but they were definitely dim sum. And I made them!
It was a lot of work, no doubt. But it was also a lot of fun. I definitely learned a lot, and I’m already planning my next dim sum adventure. Maybe I’ll try some different fillings next time. Or maybe I’ll just perfect my har gow technique.
