The Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular on dimsum? ›

The most popular dim sum menu items include Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns), Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls), Lo Bak Go (turnip cake), Fung Zao (chicken feet), and Dan Tat (egg tart).

Start with tea.

You should be given a pot of tea as soon as you first sit down. Most dim sum restaurants will have a few varieties of tea on hand and will probably get you a different type if you prefer it over their house tea. Check the tea before you pour to make sure it's steeped enough.

Generally, in Dim Sum dishes, the healthiest are the dumpling dishes or (gao zi) as they have skins of dough, filled with meat and are steamed (though some are fried as well) The suimai, xiaolongbao and har gow are my favorites and seem to be the healthiest.

Fat, salt and carbs

They're also usually loaded with salt. Nutritionally speaking, these are basically tiny hotdogs in buns (sometimes literally). Even whole meat dim sum items, like pork ribs and chicken feet, tend to be rather fatty and glazed with salty, sugary sauces.

Traditionally, Chinese tea is served with dim sum dishes. Popular choices include jasmine tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea. Drinking tea with dim sum is a cultural tradition and is often referred to as "yum cha" in Cantonese, which means "drinking tea."

As a sign of respect, always pour tea for your companions first. Always move an item from the communal dish to your own before eating using a serving utensil or the top ends of your chopsticks. Do not eat directly from the steamer basket or shared plate. Dim sum is for sharing! Never lay claim to any one dish.

Dim sum is a traditional Chinese meal made up of small plates of dumplings and other snack dishes and is usually accompanied by tea. Similar to the way that the Spanish eat tapas, the dishes are shared among family and friends. Typically dim sum is consumed during brunch hours — late morning to lunchtime.

Dumplings are balls of flour filled with a stuffing. Momos are also dumplings that contain some form of filling, be it vegetarian or meat. Dim sums are small snacks in Chinese cuisine that are eaten for lunch. They too have fillings covered with dough, but the dough is semi- or completely transparent.

As the tea freshens your palate diners can mix sweet and savoury dishes. Don't eat dim sum cold, it needs to be eaten hot. It should not be left to cool and it should be eaten within 15 minutes of being served. Start with fried dim sum then steamed as the fried dim sum cools quicker.

There's debate about the "best" time of day for dim sum: In China, dim sum is served as early as 5 a.m., whereas here in the States, it tends to be more of a brunch-type affair, although some restaurants offer dim sum through the dinner hours.

What can a diabetic eat at dim sum? ›

Chicken and Coriander dim-sum

These gorgeous steamed buns are delicious and stuffed with boiled chicken. The chicken filling has fresh chopped coriander and salt. Finely greased these dim-sums are very light on the stomach and highly recommended for sugar patients.

Yes, there can be health risks associated with eating the same food every day. It's important to have a balanced diet to ensure you get all the necessary nutrients your body needs. It's recommended to have a variety of foods in your diet to minimize the chance of health risks.

Healthy tip: Although this dish is a good source of fibre and protein, it is very high in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Eating this dish exceeds the daily saturated fat allowance, and provides 70% or more of the daily cholesterol and sodium allowance for an adult!

Dim sum is a traditional Chinese meal made up of small plates of dumplings and other snack dishes and is usually accompanied by tea.

For generations, it's been a tradition for families to go to yum cha on holidays. There's a sense of sharing and camaraderie that comes with the food,” adds Mak. In Chinese, “dim sum” literally means “a light touch on the heart”, which is an ideal way to describe the small, delicious sweet or savoury dishes.

The essence of dim sum is the hand craftsmanship. It's not a dish where you can find a recipe and imitate it easily at home. It requires skill and years of training,” says Saito Chau, a chef with vast experience in contemporary Cantonese cuisine. “It's the attention to detail, precision and the human touch.

Dim sum means 'touch the heart' in Chinese. The small portions were designed to merely touch the heart not sate the appetite, and as such were first enjoyed as snacks. Over time, however, yum cha has evolved, and the cuisine is now a vital part of Chinese culture.