The Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

The Best Dim Sum Recipes (1)

Treat yourself to dim sum at home any time. My dim sum recipes will have you making your favorites even better than your favorite Chinese restaurant!

I know it’s a difficult time for all of us as the world virtually holds its breath. Making the best of it is all we can do, and while we’re staying home, one of the best ways to pass the time is to learn a new skill.

Dim sum recipes only look complicated. My list of the best dim sum recipes will have you fine-tuning your culinary skills with easy-to-follow steps for authentic flavors. Best of all, you can make most of these in big batches and freeze them to enjoy again later. Once all this passes, you’ll be able to impress friends and family with dim sum that tastes better in your kitchen!

1. Char Siu

Stop dreaming of that juicy, sweet-glazed pork at the local Cantonese place. Make it yourself and you can have it any time you desire!

Get the recipe: Char Siu

2. Steamed Char Siu Bao

Once you make your own Chinese BBQ char siu, you can then master these steamed buns. Soft, fluffy bread stuffed with that glorious sweet-glazed pork filling will have you head over heels!

Get the recipe: Steamed Char Siu Bao

3. Chinese Turnip Cake

Flavorful and fun, this is one of the most classic dim sum recipes. Make it for an appetizer tonight and start perfecting it so you can look forward to serving it at a party in better days ahead.

Get the recipe: Chinese Turnip Cake

4. Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup

The Cantonese version of wonton soup is one you’ve simply got to try. Plus, it’s easier to make than you think!

Get the recipe: Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup

5. Steamed Ribs in Black Bean Sauce

These juicy pork ribs are one of my favorite dim sum recipes! The sauce is so fragrant and savory, you’d better make a bigger batch or you’ll regret not having leftovers.

Get the recipe: Steamed Ribs in Black Bean Sauce

6. Dan Dan Noodles

Surprise your taste buds now, and later on, surprise family in friends by making them this truly authentic and famous Sichuan noodle dish.

Get the recipe: Dan Dan Noodles

7. Pineapple Buns

Just like you find in Asian bakeries, these pineapple buns are a crispy, buttery, fluffy treat that everyone will love. Spoiler alert: they’re not made with pineapples. The name comes from their textured appearance.

Get the recipe: Pineapple Buns

8. Chicken Egg Roll

Why wait for delivery? When you make my chicken egg roll dim sum recipe, you’ll get the real deal in Cantonese cuisine. Colorful veggies, fresh chicken, and savory flavors unite for a dim sum delight!

Get the recipe: Chicken Egg Roll

9. Steamed Custard Buns

This classic dim sum recipe will go fast. Make up a big batch of these soft and spongy buns filled with sweet and creamy custard. They freeze well, perfect for later enjoyment. Serve them warm for a melty mouthfeel!

Get the recipe: Steamed Custard Buns

10. Soy Sauce Chicken

Slice this classic dim sum chicken up and serve it cold. With a silky texture and savory flavor, it’s not dim sum without it!

Get the recipe: Soy Sauce Chicken

11. Instant Pot Chinese Sausage Rice

This mostly hands-off recipe comes together in a flash. Your reward are hunks of sweet Chinese sausage mingling with crunchy water chestnuts for a speedy and tasty meal.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chinese Sausage Rice

12. Shu Mai

Beautiful and delicious steamed dumplings brimming with a juicy filling of pork and shrimp make a stunning presentation. They’re easier than you think! Make a bunch now and freeze later for when you can share them with everyone!

Get the recipe: Shu Mai

13. Salt and Pepper Shrimp

For shrimp lovers, this easy appetizer gives you a crunchy crispy texture with a garlicky salt and pepper taste that is irresistible.

Get the recipe: Salt and Pepper Shrimp

14. Addictive Kimchi Pork Steamed Bun

Fluffy steamed buns are stuffed with juicy pork and spicy kimchi. And with only 4 ingredients needed to fill it up, you’ll be happy to have it fill YOU up!

Get the recipe: Addictive Kimchi Pork Steamed Bun

15. Eight Treasure Rice

My modern take on this traditional recipe makes for a light and healthy dessert topped with fragrant chrysanthemum syrup for a uniquely special taste.

Get the recipe: Eight Treasure Rice

Want to learn more about Chinese Cooking? Sign up my newsletter to receive the 5-Day Chinese Cooking Crushing Course and recipe update!

The Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is dim sum dough made of? ›

For making Chinese dim sum all purpose flour or rice flour or tapioca flour along with potato starch is used.

Can I make dim sum at home? ›

Making dim sum at home can be a real family activity—even if you're not perfect at pleating dumplings. I have a lot of fun folding dumplings with my kids. You don't have to have the “perfect” wok and bamboo steamer setup either; at home I use a steamer basket set on top of a large skillet.

How do you eat dim sum like a pro? ›

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!

How healthy is dim sum? ›

Many dim sum dishes are calorie dense, and high in fat and sodium, which could be contributors to increased risk of heart disease. Eating dim sum is a part of most Hongkongers' lifestyle.

What kind of flour is best for dumplings? ›

These dumplings start with all-purpose flour, which creates structure and holds the other ingredients together. Baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it releases gas that makes the dough expand. It's responsible for the dumplings' light and fluffy texture.

Can I use rice paper instead of wonton wrappers? ›

You can also use rice sheets to wrap gluten-free wontons for wonton soup, slice the soaked rice sheets to make rice paper noodles, or pan grill the rice paper sheets for Vietnamese pizza.

What alcohol to drink with dim sum? ›

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. Indeed, in order not to mask, but to accompany the iodized notes of the seafood, an appellation known for its minerality is appropriate.

Can you eat dim sum everyday? ›

As with all restaurant food it depends on the choices you make. A lot of dim sum offerings are steamed so they aren't bad. If you choose all deep fried stuff you have an unhealthy meal. If you pick vegetables and steamed dumplings you can make a healthy meal.

Why is dim sum served in 3s? ›

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 literally mean? ›

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

Is dim sum bad for your cholesterol? ›

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!

What is the difference between dumplings and dim sum? ›

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.

What is Chinese dumpling dough made of? ›

From-scratch dumpling dough requires only two ingredients — flour and water — and the water temperature yields different types of wrappers. Cold water is best for boiled dumplings because it causes the flour's proteins to form the gluten that makes dough chewy and able to withstand vigorously boiling water.

What is Chinese dough made of? ›

Youtiao Recipe Instructions. Using your electric mixer with the dough hook attachment, first mix the flour, egg, salt, baking powder, milk, and softened butter together on the lowest setting. Keeping the speed at “stir,” slowly add 1/3-1/2 cup water in a few separate batches. Knead the dough for 15 minutes.

What is the outer layer of dimsum made of? ›

These dumplings have a very thin translucent skin which is made from wheat flour and tapioca to make it extra stretchy. They are prettily pleated on one side.

Can a celiac eat dim sum? ›

Are many traditional Dim Sum recipes gluten free? If I had celiac disease, I would probably avoid dim sum altogether, due to risk of cross-contamination. The wrappers of dumplings often have gluten, the steamed buns definitely do, and generic soy sauce is made with wheat.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Madonna Wisozk

Last Updated:

Views: 5986

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Madonna Wisozk

Birthday: 2001-02-23

Address: 656 Gerhold Summit, Sidneyberg, FL 78179-2512

Phone: +6742282696652

Job: Customer Banking Liaison

Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making

Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.