Not soup with dumplings in it, but dumplings with soup in them. This is a famous kind of steamed dumpling for dim sum. You bite a little hole in the dumpling, then carefully sip the scalding hot broth out of it, then dip the rest of the dumpling in a dip and eat. It’s amazing how they get it inside-out like that. I have just learned, from a cookbook called “Dim Sum and Other Chinese Street Food” by Mai Leung, that the secret is to gel some broth with agar-agar and seal the solid broth inside the dumplings. When the dumplings are heated, the broth liquifies again, so you get dumplings full of soup. I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but I don’t usually make my own dim sum, so I thought I’d go ahead and post it for those who do. She says you can only make these a few hours in advance, and if you do, you should refrigerate them before steaming.
I love this Chinese sauce – all different variations. This should be called the Asian Pesto Sauce for it’s versatility and taste. It is excellent dipping sauce for simply poached or grilled chicken, poached or steamed fish and my very favorite, with crab or boiled prawns. I spread this sauce and eat away! The oil is heated to smoking and poured over the seasonings to develop their taste and fragrance loved by all Asians. Yes, it is salty by itself. You can also use this as a condiment for soups. Great in ramen too.
This quick Cantonese dish comes from an old Playboy magazine. I think it’s the hoisin sauce that makes it.
This is a traditional favorite in Hong Kong, found in most dessert houses and revered for its heartwarming and revitalizing properties. It can just be as easily prepared at home, and is sure to warm even the coolest of days (though it’s popular all year-round). Yellow, red, and purple sweet potatoes are commonly found in the market, though yellow ones are ideal given its richer flavor. The amount of ginger may be adjusted according to level of tanginess desired. Red dates are natural sweeteners that add more flavor (optional). Raw slab sugar is commonly used in Southeastern Chinese desserts, and can be readily found in Asian groceries. The slab sugar is ideal for this recipe as it not only enhances the taste but also adds a nice golden color. A light, non-creamy, easy and healthy dessert that works great for any time of the day… and especially when you are down with a cold.
Colorful, tasty and juicy with the wonderful texture of the crisp noodles, which places this firmly within my top 5 all time favorite stir-frys. You may want to use less mushrooms, but I love having tons in this!
