Dim Sum

China

About Dim Sum

Dim Sum is a Cantonese style of eating made up of many small dishes, mostly dumplings and buns, shared at the table with tea. It is especially famous in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, where families gather for dim sum on weekend mornings.

Classic dishes include har gow, translucent shrimp dumplings; siu mai, open-topped pork and shrimp dumplings; char siu bao, fluffy barbecued pork buns; rice noodle rolls; and egg tarts. Most items are steamed in bamboo baskets, while others are fried or baked.

The tradition grew out of teahouses along the Silk Road, where travelers rested and snacked. In Cantonese this is called yum cha, meaning "drink tea". In traditional restaurants, servers push carts of steamers around the room and diners pick what they like.

Ingredients

• wheat flour wrappers
• pork
• shrimp
• vegetables
• soy sauce
• ginger
• garlic