15 Authentic Dim Sum Recipes You Can Easily Make at Home

If you love dim sum but think it’s too complicated to make at home, think again! These authentic recipes are simple, delicious, and perfect for a homemade dim sum feast. From savory dumplings to sweet buns, each recipe is designed for home cooks of all levels. With easy-to-follow instructions and basic ingredients, you can bring the dim sum experience to your table without the hassle of going out.

Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow)

To make shrimp dumplings, you’ll need shrimp, tapioca starch, wheat starch, sesame oil, and ginger. First, mix the shrimp, sesame oil, and grated ginger into a smooth paste. In a separate bowl, combine the starches with boiling water to form the dough. Roll the dough into thin circles, place the shrimp filling in the center, and fold the edges to create crescent-shaped dumplings. Steam for about 8 minutes until the dumplings turn translucent. Serve these delicious Har Gow with soy sauce or chili oil for an authentic touch.

Pork Siu Mai

For pork siu mai, combine ground pork, shrimp, soy sauce, sesame oil, and water chestnuts in a bowl. Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well incorporated. Use wonton wrappers to hold the filling, shaping them into open-faced dumplings by pinching the sides. Steam the siu mai for about 10-12 minutes, until the pork is cooked through. Garnish with a bit of roe or peas on top for a classic look, and serve with soy sauce or vinegar dipping sauce.

BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao)

To make these buns, you’ll need flour, yeast, sugar, baking powder, pork, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and honey. First, marinate the pork in a mix of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and honey, then roast until tender. Shred the pork and let it cool. Meanwhile, prepare the dough by mixing flour, yeast, and baking powder with warm water. Once the dough rises, roll it out, fill it with the pork mixture, and pinch the edges to seal the buns. Steam for 10-12 minutes, and enjoy these fluffy, savory treats.

Egg Custard Tarts (Dan Tat)

To make egg custard tarts, you’ll need butter, flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract. Start by making the pastry crust by mixing flour, butter, and sugar into a dough, then press it into tart molds. For the custard filling, whisk together eggs, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Pour the mixture into the pastry shells and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until the custard is set and slightly golden. These sweet, creamy tarts are a perfect dim sum dessert.

Turnip Cake (Lo Bak Go)

You’ll need rice flour, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, turnip, and shallots to make turnip cake. Grate the turnip and stir-fry with the sausage, shrimp, and shallots. In a separate bowl, mix the rice flour with water to form a batter, then combine with the turnip mixture. Steam the mixture in a pan for about 45 minutes, then let it cool. Once set, slice the cake and pan-fry until crispy on both sides. This savory dish pairs well with soy sauce or chili paste.

Chicken Feet (Fung Zao)

For this recipe, gather chicken feet, soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and star anise. Start by cleaning and trimming the chicken feet, then deep-fry them until crispy. Afterward, braise the feet in a mix of soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and star anise for about an hour. The result is tender, flavorful chicken feet that are sticky and rich, a traditional dim sum dish that’s surprisingly easy to make at home.

Rice Noodle Rolls (Cheung Fun)

To make rice noodle rolls, you’ll need rice flour, water, soy sauce, and filling options like shrimp or pork. Combine the rice flour with water to make a thin batter. Steam the batter in a flat pan until it forms a noodle sheet. Place your filling on top, then roll the noodle sheet around the filling. Steam for a few more minutes, and serve with soy sauce or sweet hoisin sauce drizzled on top for a classic dim sum taste.

Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf (Lo Mai Gai)

For this recipe, gather glutinous rice, chicken, Chinese sausage, mushrooms, and lotus leaves. First, soak the lotus leaves and glutinous rice for several hours. Stir-fry the chicken, sausage, and mushrooms with soy sauce and oyster sauce, then mix with the soaked rice. Spoon the mixture into lotus leaves, wrap them up, and steam for about an hour. These savory rice parcels are a satisfying and flavorful dim sum dish.

Taro Dumplings (Wu Gok)

To make taro dumplings, you’ll need taro root, ground pork, shrimp, and wheat flour. Start by boiling the taro until soft, then mash it into a paste. In a pan, stir-fry the pork and shrimp with seasonings like soy sauce and garlic. Wrap the filling with the taro paste, and coat the dumplings in a wheat flour batter. Deep-fry until golden and crispy. These crunchy, savory dumplings are a must-try for dim sum lovers.

Spring Rolls

For spring rolls, gather cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, soy sauce, and spring roll wrappers. Stir-fry the vegetables with soy sauce until tender, then let them cool. Spoon the filling into spring roll wrappers, folding the edges and rolling them tightly. Deep-fry the rolls until golden brown and crispy. Serve with sweet and sour sauce or soy sauce for dipping, and enjoy this crunchy dim sum favorite at home.

Pan-Fried Dumplings (Potstickers)

To make potstickers, you’ll need ground pork, cabbage, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and dumpling wrappers. Start by mixing the pork with finely chopped cabbage, garlic, and ginger. Spoon the mixture into the dumpling wrappers and fold the edges tightly. Heat oil in a pan, place the dumplings in, and fry until the bottoms are golden. Add water to the pan and cover it to steam the dumplings for about 5 minutes. Serve these crispy, juicy dumplings with a soy-based dipping sauce.

Sesame Balls (Jian Dui)

For sesame balls, you’ll need glutinous rice flour, sugar, red bean paste, and sesame seeds. Make a dough by mixing the rice flour with water and sugar. Divide the dough into small balls and fill each with red bean paste. Roll the filled dough balls in sesame seeds, then deep-fry until golden brown. These crispy, chewy treats are sweet with a nutty flavor from the sesame and are perfect for dessert or snack time.

Salted Egg Yolk Buns (Liu Sha Bao)

To make these rich buns, gather flour, salted egg yolks, custard powder, sugar, and butter. Start by mixing the salted egg yolks with custard powder, sugar, and butter to create a creamy filling. Make the dough by mixing flour with yeast and sugar, and let it rise. Roll out the dough, spoon the salted egg yolk mixture into the center, and seal the buns. Steam for about 8 minutes, and enjoy the molten, salty-sweet filling inside fluffy buns.

Beef Rice Rolls (Ngau Cheung Fun)

For beef rice rolls, you’ll need rice flour, water, soy sauce, and minced beef. First, make a rice batter by mixing the flour with water. Steam the batter in a flat pan to form a noodle sheet, then add a layer of minced beef mixed with soy sauce. Roll the noodle sheet around the beef filling and steam for an additional 5 minutes. Serve these tender rolls with a soy-based dipping sauce for a savory and satisfying dim sum dish.

Chinese Donuts (Youtiao)

To make Chinese donuts, you’ll need flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Mix the ingredients into a dough, let it rise, and then roll it out into long strips. Fry the strips in hot oil until they puff up and turn golden brown. These light and crispy donuts are typically eaten with congee or soy milk for breakfast, but they also make a great dim sum side dish. Serve them warm for the best taste and texture.

This article originally appeared on RetailShout.

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