The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (2024)

2 May 2020

Last updated by Wes Radez on | 9

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This recipe is part of our collection of Steamed Dim Sum Dishes. Sign up for our newsletter to get recipes, dining tips and restaurant reviews throughout the year!

Traditional siu mai are filled exclusively with chopped pork, though some restaurants will include shrimp in the filling. Siu mai are wrapped in a fresh pasta skin that is left open, so that the filling peeks out of the top of the dumpling when served at the table.

Pork siu mai are one of the “Guangdong Big Three,” along with shrimp dumplings and steamed pork buns, a true staple of the original Cantonese dim sum tradition. The quality of a restaurant’s siu mai says a lot about how seriously it takes its dim sum.

Whether at the restaurant or at home, making great siu mai is all about the filling, which should retain a bright, fresh crunch out of the steamer. Start with the recipe below and then tweak to suit your own taste.

Can you share any expert tips from your experience making pork siu mai? Want to ask a question before you try making it yourself? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!

Pork Siu Mai Recipe

Makes: 30 | Prep Time: 30 Minutes | Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Adapted From: The Food of China: A Journey for Food Lovers

Ingredients

6 ounces shrimp
1/2 cup peeled water chestnuts
1 pound ground pork
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons Shaoxing rice wine
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped ginger
1 green onion, finely chopped
1 egg white, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons cornstarch
30 square or round egg dumpling wrappers

Directions

1. Peel and devein the shrimp, squeeze out as much moisture as possible and then roughly chop.

2. Blanch the water chestnuts for 1 minute, drop into cold water and then roughly chop.

3. Combine the shrimp, water chestnuts and the remaining filling ingredients (everything except the wrappers) in a large bowl and stir until well-combined.

4. Place 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of each wrapper. Form a circle with your thumb and forefinger and shape the dumpling, so that it forms a fat cylinder with an open top. Pat the top and bottom of the dumpling to create flat surfaces on either end.

5. Steam the dumplings standing up in bamboo steamers on top of oiled paper punched with holes for 15 minutes. Serve with soy sauce or chili sauce for dipping.

Learn more about Pork Siu Mai from these Experts

Watch Cooking Tips TV rather adoringly make Pork Siu Mai from their Hong Kong studio (VIDEO)
Thirsty for Tea makes Pork Siu Mai
The Dumpling Sisters make Pork Siu Mai in their home kitchen

HT: Photo by young via Wikimedia Commons.

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About The Author
Hi! I’m Wes, a dim sum lover in Oakland, California. I launched Dim Sum Central as a hobby and I’ve loved watching it grow to become an online home for people around the world who are passionate about eating and making dim sum! Get started »

The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (3)

The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (4)

The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (5)

9 Responses

  1. The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (6)
    • The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (7)
      Dim Sum Central

      |Reply

      Hi Boo, thanks for your note. If you’ll please look in the recipe ingredients, you’ll find the amount noted: 1lb of ground pork! ~Wes

  2. The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (8)
    Kathleen QuongVermeire

    |Reply

    Can i use rice paper as the wrapper.
    I have celic and cannot tolerant wheat

    • The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (9)
      Dim Sum Central

      |Reply

      I’m not sure, Kathleen! Give it a try and let us know! ~Wes

  3. The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (10)
    Inez

    |Reply

    I can’t eat shrimp. Can I replace the shrimp with 6 oz of more pork

    • The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (11)
      Wes Radez

      |Reply

      Hi Inez, yes, you can do that. In fact, all-pork variations of pork sui mai are quite common. The difference you may notice is that the final product is just very…dense and meaty. You may want to break up the consistency of the filling with Chinese mushrooms or water chestnuts. ~Wes

  4. The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (12)
    Rosalina Fletcher

    |Reply

    Hi Wes. I can’t shrimp. Can I replace it with fish instead.

    • The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (13)
      Wes Radez

      |Reply

      That should work, Rosalina. Use a firm fish that will hold together well. ~Wes

  5. The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (14)
    Camilla

    |Reply

    Great recipe. I’ve been using it for almost a year!

Leave a Reply

The Best Pork Siu Mai Recipe | Dim Sum Central (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between dim sum and siu mai? ›

(“Dim sum” refers to the whole collection of dumplings and delicacies served with tea. Among the many dim sum dishes, siu mai – a flowerpot-shaped pork and prawn dumpling – was especially popular.) Dim sims, which come in many shapes and sizes, are usually fried or steamed.

What's the difference between dim sum and dim sum? ›

A 'Dim Sim' is traditionally made with pork and cabbage wrapped in a delicate pastry skin. It is lightly seasoned and delivers a delicious meaty texture with each bite. 'Dim Sum' is an umbrella term and refers to a whole range of small dishes and parcels served at Yum Cha.

What is shumai sauce made of? ›

Siu Mai Dipping Sauce:

Provide soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar or normal white vinegar, Chinese chilli paste (or Sriracha or other chilli). Let people mix their own to their taste (I do: 3 parts soy, 1 part vinegar, as much chilli as I think I can handle).

What is the difference between siomai and shumai? ›

While the “shumai” is commonly filled with a mixture of both meat, mushrooms, and other ingredients, the local siomai is predominantly known to be all meat. Whether it's also got shrimp in the mix, too, or not is a matter of preference but it's commonly flavorful ground pork that's stuffed into the dumpling wrappers.

Why is siu mai so good? ›

Siu mai has a very savoury and umami taste. The lye water dough that wraps the filling makes the siu mai chewy.

What is the English name for siu mai? ›

As prepared in Cantonese cuisine, siumaai is also referred to as "pork and mushroom dumpling".

Is dim sum good or bad for you? ›

She revealed that dim sums are among the healthiest eating-out options. Explaining the reason, the nutritionist mentioned that these are generally bite-sized, high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and steamed. According to Makhija, steamed foods are the healthiest and most versatile.

What do Chinese people call dim sum? ›

Dim sum—whose name derives from the Cantonese word for “appetizer” (in Mandarin Chinese, dianxin)—is thought to have originated in teahouses along the Silk Road as long ago as 2,500 years as a light accompaniment to appetite-stimulating tea as travelers stopped to rest along the way.

Why is dim sum not for dinner? ›

Simply because it is not filling enough. Dim Sum is something like snacks so it is not as filling as rice or noodles. Therefore, dim sum is only eaten at breakfast or lunch, but not dinner.

What is the orange on top of shumai? ›

The better quality shumais will likely use a fish roe as a topper, which steams into tiny orange pearls. You won't taste it; it's purely ornamental. Some dim sum parlors, however, may choose to save money by using minced carrots or dried goji berries. Other times you may see shumai topped with a green pea.

What do you eat with shumai? ›

I would serve Siu Mai (Shu Mai) with perfectly fried Fried Shrimp Balls , Gai Lan with Oyster Sauce (my go-to vegetable dish at Dim Sum) and some kind of Fried Rice! If you are in the mood for more dumplings, I would make my Pork and Chive Dumplings!

Is pork siu mai healthy? ›

High in Fat: Siu Mai is typically made with ground pork, which is a high-fat meat. Depending on the recipe, Siu Mai may also contain shrimp or other ingredients that are high in fat. Eating foods that are high in fat can contribute to weight gain, high cholesterol, and other health problems. High in Sodium: Siu M.

Is siomai Chinese or Filipino? ›

Siomai. Another widely cherished dish is siomai, a type of traditional Chinese dumpling. Filipino siomai, however, is unique. Its filling is a combination of ground pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and finely chopped vegetables.

What do Americans call siomai? ›

Siomai is the Filipino term for steamed Chinese. dumplings. It's what Americans call “siumai” (siu mai)

Is eating siomai healthy? ›

Therefore, Siomai and rice is not a healthy meal. Choose real protein like fish or chicken without skin. Eat more vegetables and fruits.

Is shumai considered dim sum? ›

Shumai is a traditional dish that can be made in many different forms. In the United States, the most common form is the shumai dim sum. While there are many different fillings and techniques use for this delicious treat, it usually is served as a filling of pork in a thin dough which is streamed or fried.

Is Bao the same as dim sum? ›

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. You can have it for breakfast, lunch, or brunch and enjoy a hot plate of bao or dumplings.

Is siomai and dimsum the same? ›

These are different regional names of the same thing. Essentially they all are dumplings filled with minced vegetable/meat stuffing and usually steamed or fried.

What is the difference between Chinese 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.

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