Hosting brunch and want to try something new? Instead of the standard fare, why not give dim sum a try?
These small plates are fresh, versatile, and perfect for sharing with friends.
Prepare to explore a new and exciting cuisine with these 24 incredible recipes!
1. Chinese Mango Pudding
For a sweet and tropical end to your dim sum feast, Chinese mango pudding is perfect.
This dessert incorporates coconut milk in addition to cream and mango for extra flavor. Be sure to try the additional touch of adding a jelly layer of chopped mangoes for a blast of fruity flavor!
2. Chinese Steamed Chicken Buns
Who could resist fluffy, pillowy steamed buns stuffed with delectable chicken and vegetables?
These buns are a scrumptious and healthier alternative to char sui buns. With a mere 179 calories per serving, you can indulge without any guilt.
3. Dim Sum Turnip Cake (Lo Bak Go)
Try lo bak go, or turnip cake, another dim sum staple that packs in the umami.
This savory recipe consists of shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, scallops, and Chinese sausage. This tender, yet bouncy cake has lovely contrasts in textures coming from its various components.
4. Braised Dim Sum Chicken Feet
Chicken feet aren’t common in Western cuisine, but I encourage everyone to give them a try. These are a game changer!
You’ll be rewarded with extraordinarily soft and gelatinous meat glazed with a sticky and sweet coating once you get past the unique appearance.
5. Chinese Crystal Dumpling
Because of their thin, translucent wrappers, crystal dumplings, or shui jing jiaozi, get their name.
The colorful filling of seasoned minced pork, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and wilted spinach give a variety of flavors and textures. They definitely deserve the spotlight, even if they aren’t quite as well-known as har gow!
6. Chinese Steamed Spare Ribs with Black Beans
A visit to Chinatown would not be complete without getting spare ribs. What is better than pork that melts in the mouth and is coated in a delicious black bean sauce?
The flavorful sauce includes soy sauce, sesame oil, red wine, and red pepper flakes. It is kid-friendly as well as robust and well-balanced.
7. Sesame Balls
With a surprise sweet center, sesame balls have a chewy and crunchy outside.
Although there are a number of fillings you can try, I enjoy the classic lotus or red bean paste. These recipes will show you how to make this traditional treat!
8. Crispy Vegetable Tofu Dumplings
These dumplings are vegetarian and have a bright and flavorful filling.
Cabbage, carrots, silky tofu, and green onions are stir-fried with sesame oil and soy sauce. It’s a vegetarian dream when wrapped in wontons and pan-fried until they’re a perfect golden brown!
9. Cantonese Steamed Custard Buns (Nai Wong Bao)
Custard buns are the ultimate comfort food. These fluffy and tender buns are stuffed with a sweet and very rich custard filling.
Is this dim sum recipe a dessert or a breakfast? It doesn’t matter! I love ripping apart the bread to watch that creamy golden custard spill out.
10. Coconut Milk Pudding Dim Sum (椰汁糕)
Dim sum means “to touch the heart,” and this recipe truly lives up to the name. This recipe contains coconut milk, sugar, gelatin, and whole milk.
When set, the blend produces a light, silky-smooth pudding with nutty coconut flavor. Yum!
11. Chinese Paper-Wrapped Chicken
As its name suggests, paper-wrapped chicken consists of tasty chicken wrapped in paper and fried until tender. Be sure to tear the parchment to reveal the treasure inside.
Asian spices give the chicken its fragrant, juicy, and delectable flavor. This method allows the chicken to steam, so it is guaranteed to be insanely juicy.
12. Sichuan Spicy Wonton in Red Oil
Add some heat to the classic wonton with a Sichuan twist! This recipe is a must if you love spicy food.
The sauce is a wonderful medley of flavors, not just heat, thanks to the onions, ginger, vinegar, and chili oil.
13. Chinese Steamed BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao)
A legendary dim sum recipe is char sui bao, also known as steamed pork buns. These buns are well-known not only in China but also around the globe.
It’s difficult to resist this dish with its decadent, melt-in-your-mouth barbecued pork filling and sweet, fluffy yeast bread. Consider it a mini Asian sandwich that will leave you wanting more.
14. Ma Lai Go Chinese Steamed Cake
The Malaysian steamed cake, mai lai go, is extra fluffy, which normally requires making a labor-intensive starter dough.
You’re in luck, though, because I found a simple recipe that uses baking powder and doesn’t require any yeast! You are very welcome!
15. Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausage
I find it difficult to pick what I enjoy more in this recipe: the wonderfully sticky rice or the sweet-savory Chinese sausage. It’s also simple to make despite being packed with unique flavors and textures!
16. Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)
Shrimp-filled, translucent har gow may be as popular as steamed pork buns.
These dumplings are impossible to resist. Trust me, and double the recipe!
17. Chinese Stuffed Peppers
This well-known Chinese street food can be made with both vegetable and meat fillings. It’s a versatile little dish that can be tailored to your dietary needs.
Although basic green bell peppers are an option, you can also use any peppers you like. You’ll adore the shrimp filling, regardless of whether you want to add a bit of heat by using chilies.
18. Chinese Style Braised Pork Feet
This unique dish is certainly worth trying. You’ll enjoy extraordinary meat that melts in your mouth and is braised in a delicious and sweet broth once you forget that you’re eating pig’s feet!
19. Vegetable and Pork Spring Rolls
Chun juan are Chinese spring rolls packed with ground meat and minced vegetables.
They are deep-fried to a golden crisp and are completely addicting. Much like some brands of chips, you won’t be able to stop!
20. Steamed Scallion Buns
While steamed buns typically contain a meat or sweet filling, these buns are simply filled with scallions.
Don’t be deceived by their simplicity, however. These buns are shockingly tasty!
21. Fried Shrimp Balls
In Malaysia and other Asian countries, these fantastic shrimp balls are very well-known. It’s easy to see why since they combine a wonderful crunchy finish with a sweet, plump interior.
The simple and well-seasoned shrimp paste is rolled into balls before being dipped in thinly sliced spring roll wrappers. The ribbons become very crunchy when deep-fried to create a fun coating. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or Thai sweet chili.
22. Shanghai Style Vegetarian Steamed Buns
Craving Chinese buns but happen to be vegetarian? These vegetarian buns are exactly what you require!
The filling contains shiitake mushrooms and bok choy that’s seasoned with sesame oil, sugar, and soy sauce that even meat eaters will enjoy.
23. Homemade Cheung Fun (Steamed Rice Noodle Rolls) – 5 Ways
Cheung fun is just the thing to prepare. It’s a blast to eat these steamed rice noodle rolls.
From shrimp and pork barbecue to crullers, they have a variety of fillings. You’ll learn how to make the ideal rice noodles, which you can fill with your favorite fillings in this recipe.
24. Dim Sum Sticky Rice Lotus Leaf Wraps (Lo Mai Gai)
Glutinous rice, chicken, mushrooms, and vegetables are essential for Lo Mai Gai before wrapping them in fragrant lotus leaves. It’s best to at least triple the batch to make the effort worth it, even if this recipe takes time to prepare because it can be frozen.