The Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What not to do in dim sum? ›

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.

Common dim sum dishes include a variety of dumplings (steamed, boiled, pan-fried, open-topped shumai, and the coveted xiao long bao), bao buns, char siu (barbecued pork), steamed radish or turnip cakes with pork and dried shrimp, and many items wrapped in rice paper rolls or tofu skins.

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.

Dim sum has a lot of calories

max out at around 300 calories for the sugariest, fattiest ones, but most range between 50 and 100 calories. Taking a ballpark average of 75 calories, it takes 9-12 items to fill out a meal, depending on your calorie needs.

It makes a big difference when you steam dim sum for one minute more or one minute less. You should eat them hot. Their flavors will totally change if you warm them by microwave at home.”

A common beverage to have with dim sum is tea. 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."

Dim sum is not meant to be eaten in one bite; it's not sushi. The flavors are best enjoyed when eaten slowly. More complex dim sum such as Xiao long has to be eaten carefully. Allow the soup to cool down before taking a bite.

A white wine with good acidity and a notable freshness will respect the flavours and textures of the dim sum. A wine with a nice minerality is also to be preferred.

When it comes to similarities, both usually have the same type of filling made from meat or vegetables. Baos and dumplings use chicken, fish, pork, or vegetables. Both dishes are commonly served in dim sum restaurants. As you already know, dim sum is a type of meal where a wide range of small dishes are served.

The reason restaurants don't serve most dim sum dishes in sets of fours is simply to avoid any associations with bad luck. In Chinese culture, the number four is considered unlucky because it is nearly hom*ophonous to the word "death," while the number three is associated with life and new beginnings.

What does "dim sum" mean in English? ›

The word dim sum comes from the Cantonese tim sam, "appetizer," or literally, "touch the heart." Definitions of dim sum. traditional Chinese cuisine; a variety of foods (including several kinds of steamed or fried dumplings) are served successively in small portions. type of: cuisine, culinary art.

Typically, when I eat at dim sum it ranges from about $12-$20 per person depending on where you are eating (restaurant and also region) and how many dishes you order. My group of friends and family get about 2-3 dishes per person.

But beyond its taste, dim sum also offers numerous health benefits that are worth exploring. Dim sum, with its emphasis on small, bite-sized portions, allows for a variety of dishes to be enjoyed in a single meal. Many of these dishes are steamed or boiled, making them a healthier choice.

Dim sum is so unique because there are many varieties of special Chinese dishes, served in small portions for all to share. The best part is that I don't have to order from the menu because carts full of cooked, ready to eat dishes will be pushed right to my table. I can pick whatever I like from the cart.

The reason restaurants don't serve most dim sum dishes in sets of fours is simply to avoid any associations with bad luck. In Chinese culture, the number four is considered unlucky because it is nearly hom*ophonous to the word "death," while the number three is associated with life and new beginnings.

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!

There are so many different dim sum. Some you eat with your hands, some with a spoon or with chopsticks. Some come with a dip, others a sauce. Sometimes there are bones in that you can chew while others must first be unwrapped before you eat them.