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 their version of dumplings. gyoza (Japanese) Ravioli (Italian) Potstickers (Chinese) Shumai or Sui Mai (Chinese) Perogi (Polish/Ukranian).
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!
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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 a the 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 mean time, be sure and check out these fun appetizers to make for your next Friday Night Get together!
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- Crunchy Onion Rings
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- Avocado Tuna Poke
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- Coconut Shrimp w Apricot Sauce
- 8 oz. Fresh Mushrooms diced (any kind you like!)
- 3/4 lb Ground Pork
- 1/2 lb Fresh Shrimp raw, cleaned, deveined and diced into small bits
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbs sesame oil
- 1 tbs peanut oil
- 1 tbs soy sauce
- 1 tbs oyster sauce
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 package won ton wrappers or sew mai dumpling wrappers
- 1-2 eggs for egg wash
- flour for dusting or parchment paper
- In a small bowl mix all ingredients except the dumpling skins and let rest for 4 hours up to overnight.
- To make dumplings, set up a station in this order: dumpling wrappers, egg wash with brush, pork filling with teaspoon, baking sheet dusted with flour or lined with parchment paper.
- Place wrapper in palm of your hand, brush edges with egg wash, then place one teaspoon of filling in the center.
- Cup your hand gradually wrapping wrapper along all sides of filling.
- Place dumpling on baking sheet, with your hand smush the top down.
- Repeat until completed. (see picture below)
- You should get 40-50 dumplings with this recipe.
- Using a steamer place the dumplings with some 1/2" in between.
- Steam for 6-8 minutes until cooked through.
- Repeat process until all steamed.
- Best served hot with Soy Sriracha dipping sauce
- **** Step by Step picture of dumpling assembly****
These dumplings may be made early in the day then cooked when you're ready. Or you can steam them right away and then just warm them up either in a steamer or the microwave.
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Can be frozen after cooking in an airtight container. Allow to thaw then rewarm in a steamer or microwave.
*** Dumpling recipe adapted from Jet Tila recipe. Dipping sauce is my creation 😉
- 3 Tbs Sugar
- 3 Tbs Fish Sauce
- 1 tsp Rice Vinegar
- 2-3 Tbs Sriracha Sauce
- 3 Tbs Soy Sauce
- Green onions or chives for garnish
- In a small bowl combine all ingredients except garnish.
- Cut green onions or chives into small pieces.
- Add garnish right before serving.
Can be stored in fridge for 7 days.
Can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
IGOR @ COOKING THE GLOBE says
These look so good! Especially with this sauce!
Michele says
The sauce also works as a great dressing for a salad! Thanks for stopping by!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
I love these dumplings!!
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
Thanks Alice! ~m
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
These look awesome!
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
😉 Thanks Jocelyn! ~m
Ashley - Baker by Nature says
Putting these on my “must make” list right now!
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
Let me know what you thing? ~m
Liz says
The filling sounds amazing! I’d love to make these beauties!
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
😉 ~m
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee says
love the instructional photos. Really helpful in sealing these dumplings! Great!
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
Thanks Nicole! I always do better with step by step pics when Im trying something new…. it makes things so much easier! ~m
Tina Jui | The Worktop says
Great pictures on how to wrap these! looks delicious!
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
I’m glad you liked them… they are so easy to do and I hoped that would help for anyone making this! ~m
Amanda@ChewTown says
I have a total weakness for steamed dumplings! Your little dumpling beauties look wonderful!
Abigail Raines says
I love sio-mai (how we say it in Manila – isn’t it amazing how there are many variations to its name?) and your version looks and sounds absolutely yummy! Pinning to try later!
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
It is crazy how the spellings are different. For years I thought it was SEW MAI? Are the ones in manilla with the same flavors? ~m
Jessica {Swanky Recipes} says
Sounds incredibly savory and easy enough to do on a weeknight! I’ll have to make it this week!
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
Let me know what you think! ~m
Germaine says
Oh “mai”!!! What gorgeous little dumplings. I am thrilled to have the step by step instructions for these. Thanks so much
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
I always love recipes with pictures showing me how to do them too! ~m
khadija says
I am currently taking lessons in learning how to make dumplings and baozi (steamed buns), as soon as i feel ready to do it by myself i will attempt these. I love your folding technique they end up looking pretty
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
You will be amazed at how easy they are to make…. I have a steamed bun recipe that Ive been working on too, look for it in the new year! (omg, this year is almost over??) ~m
Cristie | Little Big H says
Delicious… I love dumplings so much and these look wonderful.
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
Thanks! ~m
AiPing | Curious Nut says
I love siu mai so so much. I can eat all 40-50 of em. :p
Laura Blanot says
yum yum!!
40 to 50 pieces is a lot! Can I freeze them?
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
Absolutely! Just let them thaw before rewarming them. I usually keep them in a zip lock bag and can pull them out easily. But honestly, you’ll be surprised how quickly they disappear! ~m
Sandhya says
The dumplings look so tempting! I am pinning this recipe! Love the dipping sauce too.
WESTVIAMIDWEST.COM says
Let me know what you think! ~m