Chicken Shu Mai – This easy Chinese steamed chicken siu mai dim sum is made with juicy and flavorful prawn chicken fillings and crunchy water chestnuts perfect for your quick family appetizer.
What Are Chicken Shu Mai?
Shu Mai are delicious crafted chicken dumplings, traditionally made with minced chicken, shrimp (though some prefer pure poultry), water chestnuts, scallions, ginger, and a touch of soy sauce and sesame oil. These fillings are then hand-folded into a little wonton wrapper, open from the top, and steamed to perfection.
Tips & Tricks
Get your hands dirty! Mixing the filling with your hands helps distribute the flavors and ingredients evenly.
Wonton wrapper? Don’t worry! Use store-bought wrappers if you’re short on time or practice your folding skills with wonton dough.
Steaming secrets: Line your steamer basket with Napa cabbage leaves to prevent sticking and add a delicate aroma.
Beyond the classics: Experiment with different fillings! Try pork and shrimp, vegetarian with shiitake mushrooms and tofu, or even a daring prawn and scallop combo.
Variations
Har Gow: These translucent beauties are filled with shrimp and steamed to reveal the delicate pink filling.
Xiao Long Bao: Soup dumplings, anyone? These wrappers burst with savory broth and tender pork filling.
Woo Mai: Deep-fried and filled with pork or shrimp, these crispy dumplings offer a textural contrast to their steamed shumai.
Vegetarian Delights: Don’t miss out on veggie-filled options like spinach and tofu or mushroom and cabbage.
Use parchment paper to prevent sticking the dumplings to the bamboo steamer. If you don’t have perforated parchment paper, use non-stick baking paper – cut it into the shape of the basket and make small holes in the middle with the help of fork.
How to serve this chicken shu mai?
Chicken shu mai are the perfect starter for a dim sum feast. Pair them with other dim sum classics like har gow, xiao long bao, and steamed buns. Don’t forget to have a variety of dipping sauces on hand, from chili oil to ginger-vinegar, to cater to different palates.
Chicken Shu Mai – FAQs
Are Shu Mai healthy?
Yes of course! Make them with lean chicken, skip the deep-frying, and go easy on the dipping sauces. You can even add chopped vegetables like carrots or zucchini to boost the veggie content.
How do I eat shu mai?
Pick them up with chopsticks (bonus points for skillful dipping!). Take a small bite, savoring the juicy filling and delicate wrapper. Don’t forget to dip in a flavorful sauce, like soy sauce with chili oil or ginger-infused vinegar.
Where can I find the best shu mai?
Seek out dim sum restaurants with a focus on quality ingredients and traditional preparation. Look for restaurants with open kitchens where you can see the dumplings being made fresh.
This easy Chinese steamed chicken shu mai dim sum is made with juicy and flavorful prawn chicken fillings and crunchy water chestnuts perfect for your quick family appetizer. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. All Chicken Recipes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although allchickenrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.Chicken Shu Mai (Steamed Siu Mai)
Ingredients
For the seasonings:
For the Siu Mai Sauce:
Instructions
Steaming Siu Mai
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Nutrition Information
Yield
25
Serving Size
6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 82Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 33mgSodium 386mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 6g