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

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The Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What do you put in dim sum? ›

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.

What is difference between dim sum and dumplings? ›

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.

Are dim sum good for weight loss? ›

Dim sum has a lot of calories

With these rough estimates, the calories of a single dim sum item (e.g. dumpling, roll, meatball, etc.) max out at around 300 calories for the sugariest, fattiest ones, but most range between 50 and 100 calories.

What is usually served at dim sum? ›

A traditional dim sum brunch includes various types of steamed buns, such as cha siu bao (a steamed bun filled with barbecue pork), rice or wheat dumplings, and rice noodle rolls that contain a range of ingredients, including beef, chicken, pork, prawns, and vegetarian options.

Is dim sum good or bad for you? ›

Some popular dim sum dishes may be high in sodium, sugar, or fat, which can contribute to health issues if consumed in excess. It is not necessarily bad to eat dim sum for breakfast, but it may not be the healthiest choice depending on the specific dishes you choose.

Should dim sum be eaten hot or cold? ›

As the tea freshens your palate diners can mix sweet and savoury dishes. Don't eat dim sum cold, it needs to be eaten hot. It should not be left to cool and it should be eaten within 15 minutes of being served. Start with fried dim sum then steamed as the fried dim sum cools quicker.

Are Bao buns the same as dim sum? ›

It comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and tastes, commonly served in dim sum restaurants and stalls in Chinatown. You may think bao buns are the same as dumplings or dim sum, but they are actually a unique and distinct type of dish.

Is dim sum the same as potstickers? ›

Pot stickers - pan fried dumplings. Dim Sum - Southern China breakfast/brunch small eats. It can including dumpling items (usually steamed) - traditionally potstickers do not count as dim sum but in US, since people know it, usually offered as a choice.

Is bao the same as dim sum? ›

Xiaolongbao is the name of a single item. It is a small meat bun with liquid inside. Dim sum is a name used for a variety of steamed, baked, deep-fried, snacks in some Chinese restaurants. On a dim sum menu, you may find xiaolongbao and other steamed buns with other stuffings (chaxiaobao, lianrongbao, hongdoubao, etc.)

What is the healthiest dim sum dish? ›

Generally, in Dim Sum dishes, the healthiest are the dumpling dishes or (gao zi) as they have skins of dough, filled with meat and are steamed (though some are fried as well) The suimai, xiaolongbao and har gow are my favorites and seem to be the healthiest.

Why am I gaining weight on dim? ›

Will DIM Supplement Cause Weight Gain As a Side Effect? DIM should not cause weight gain. Research has found that DIM increases lipolysis (fat burning), which suggests that DIM should not cause weight gain. It may even help you lose weight if the underlying cause of those excess pounds is estrogen-related.

Can you eat dim sum everyday? ›

Are there any health risks associated with eating dim sum every day? Yes, there can be health risks associated with eating the same food every day. It's important to have a balanced diet to ensure you get all the necessary nutrients your body needs.

What is the most popular on dimsum? ›

The most popular dim sum menu items include Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns), Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls), Lo Bak Go (turnip cake), Fung Zao (chicken feet), and Dan Tat (egg tart).

Why is dim sum served in threes? ›

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 gets served first at a dim sum meal? ›

First, pick a tea, as it will be a central part of the meal — dim sum did originate in tea houses after all. If you want to follow traditional etiquette, the person closest to the teapot should pour tea for guests first before pouring his or her own cup.

Do you eat dim sum with sauce? ›

Sauce- this is one of the most important types of dim sum. It is difficult to forget about sauce when in a dim sum restaurant. There are different types like hot mustard, chili oil, soy sauce, and red-vinegar-based condiments.

What meat is in a dim sim? ›

INGREDIENTS. Cabbage, Meat (24%) (Beef and/or Mutton), Wheat Flour, Wheat Starch, Water, Salt, Onion, Sugar, Onion Powder, Spices, Flavour Enhancer (621).

Does dim sum come with sauce? ›

The very best dim sum require no sauce besides what is served with each specific item. If no sauce is served, you can eat it as is. Or, if you prefer, you can mix a little soy sauce and mustard together on your plate (for something like shu mai or har gow), or use some combination of chile oil, soy sauce and vinegar.

What alcohol goes 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.

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