Steamed Chinese Dumplings

Steamed Chinese Dumplings just like you get at a restaurant, but better. They are so easy you will wonder why you haven’t made them long before now. Served with a soy Sriracha based dipping sauce and you have a delicious appetizer.

Like the restaurant-quality steamed dumplings you get when dining out? These Steamed Sew Mai dumplings are a great copycat version of what you find in restaurants, only healthier and better tasting. Using all fresh ingredients, they are just the answer to have as an appetizer for when you have a few people over.

What are Chinese dumplings?

Chinese dumplings are a bite-sized pocket filled with either vegetables, pork, shrimp usually.

Every culture has its version of dumplings.  gyoza (Japanese) Ravioli (Italian) Potstickers (Chinese) Shumai or Sui Mai (Chinese) Perogi (Polish/Ukrainian).

They can be made with wonton wrappers or rice paper.  (I suggest you use wonton wrappers for ease in prep, but homemade ones work well too.

They can be either steamed, fried or in some cases boiled.

The beauty of this recipe is you can assemble them ahead of time and then steam them when your guests are arriving so they are fresh and hot. I’ve actually even steamed them completely then did a quick re-steam to warm them up and they are beautiful too!

This is another recipe I learned from Jet Tila.  I took several cooking classes with him before he became the go-to judge on Cut Throat Kitchen and I must say, every single one of them is a winner. I have used so many of them over and over because they taste authentic and they are pretty easy to do!

Pin this to your bite sized appetizer board so you have it when you are looking for more fun appetizers!  

The trick to these is getting them into the right shape. I’ve taken some pictures here to give you the general idea.

How to make a Chinese Dumpling (Sui Mai or Shumai)

1. Set up a station of your packaged won ton wrappers, a bowl of egg wash with a brush in it ready to use, the marinated pork/shrimp/mushroom filling with a teaspoon in it and finally a cookie sheet dusted with flour.
2. Place one wrapper in your hand then brush the area on the outer edge with the egg wash, place a teaspoon dollop of the filling in the center then cup your hand and gradually squish it so it has the edges all wrapped around the filling.
3. When you have the wrapper up tight to the filling,  place it on your flour lined/parchment-lined baking sheet. Then you take your hand and smush the tops down.

I’ve paired these Steamed Chinese Dumplings with a sweet soy-based dipping sauce. The sauce has a little bit of heat with the Sriracha sauce, and mmmm they really hit the spot.

And bonus? They pair well with an original Mai Tai or even Sapporo beer.

If you are always on the lookout for fun appetizers to make or entertaining tips be sure to sign up for my mailing list thru the link on this page where it says “join the west via midwest community”. 

In the meantime, be sure and check out these fun appetizers to make for your next Friday Night Get together!

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