It’s no big secret that Raffles loves a dumpling. And when I say loves, I mean with a passion equalled only by that of a seagulls for chips. In fact, if eating dumplings were an Olympic sport, he’d bring home Gold. In every event. Including the relay.
This is a child who considers Xiao Long Bao (pork dumplings dripping with gingery broth) and Gyoza (Japanese pan fried dumplings) as important to his survival as oxygen. A boy who has been known to inhale 23 har gau (prawn dumplings) in one sitting and still ask for more, thinks that momo (Nepalese dumplings) are a food group and would bathe in a steaming bowl of wontons if given half the chance.
Steamed, fried or boiled I don’t think he’s ever met a dumpling he wouldn’t eat… by the bucketful. After our dumpling devouring adventures in Guangzhou, Raffles asked me if he could try making siu mai (dim sim) at home, I handed over the keys to the kitchen and let him at it.
Together we play around with different recipes and ingredients for the filling, adding a splash of this and a sprinkle of that until we came up with a winning formula. The end result is so good, Raffles reckons they are just about the tastiest he’s ever had… which is handy given this Siu Mai recipe knocks out about 36 of the buggers. Which Raffles devoured (minus a taster or two for the rest of us) in record time.
Ingredients
- 400g fatty pork mince
- 260g raw prawn meat, roughly chopped
- 2 large shitake mushrooms (stalks removed), finely diced
- 2 tsp. caster sugar
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tbsp. oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp. sesame oil
- 1 tbsp. Shaoxing wine
- 1 tbsp. ginger minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. potato flour
- 1 egg white
- 3 spring onions, very finely chopped
- Pinch of white pepper
- Packet of Gow Gee Wrappers
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Work together for 5 minutes to create a firm, springy texture.
- Place a tbsp. of mixture into the centre of each gow gee wrapper.
- Gather sides together leaving top open to form a cylindrical shape.
- Place on a tray with baking paper.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Steam in a lined bamboo steamer for 7-8 minutes or until cooked through.
- Serve with soy and chilli sauce.
An award-winning travel writer and photographer, Aleney de Winter was fresh from school when she first set off to explore the far reaches of Australia with a two-man tent and a beaten-up Kingswood for company. Three decades, and two kids later, and she's still on the go, with her itchy-footed offspring in tow. 
Christine
January 9, 2016 at 5:17 pm (11 years ago)These are amazing. Go Raf!
BOYEATSWORLD
January 9, 2016 at 5:41 pm (11 years ago)Thanks CHristine! x
Rachel Stewart
January 9, 2016 at 5:34 pm (11 years ago)Oh my goodness I love dumplings and have never considered making them myself. None of that seems particularly difficult at all. Two little questions though…. what is Shaoxing wine and could I possibly substitute it for something else? (or omit it?) and where would I buy Gow Gee Wrappers? (I’m also suddenly SO hungry…)
BOYEATSWORLD
January 9, 2016 at 5:41 pm (11 years ago)Shaoxing is a Chinese cooking wine and both it and Gow Gee wrappers are available in most Woolworths and Coles. If not your local Asian grocer will definitely have both. You can also replace the Shaoxing with a medium dry sherry if you can’t find it! 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
January 9, 2016 at 10:57 pm (11 years ago)I love Raff’s enthusiasm for all things dumpling! I’ve got to give these a go as I love home made siu mai 😀
BOYEATSWORLD
January 12, 2016 at 6:33 am (11 years ago)They’re pretty delish! 🙂
hugzillablog
January 10, 2016 at 3:33 pm (11 years ago)Oh DUDE, I am MILDLY hungover today and I could SMASH about 23 of these right now myself.
BOYEATSWORLD
January 12, 2016 at 6:34 am (11 years ago)They’d make an awesome hangover cure,
Linda Bibb
January 11, 2016 at 9:19 am (11 years ago)It sounds like Raffles might have the chef gene in his DNA. Love it when kids like to get involved in things like this.
BOYEATSWORLD
January 12, 2016 at 6:34 am (11 years ago)He definitely does! He’s obsessed with cooking eating and talking about food 🙂
stuntman
January 11, 2016 at 3:05 pm (11 years ago)Wow. Awesome folding there dude.
BOYEATSWORLD
January 12, 2016 at 6:35 am (11 years ago)He has the skillz…
Sherry Aikens (@Babypop)
January 11, 2016 at 9:59 pm (11 years ago)This Looks super yummy I cant wait to try them with my kids
BOYEATSWORLD
January 12, 2016 at 6:35 am (11 years ago)Would love to hear how they enjoy them 🙂
BOYEATSWORLD
January 12, 2016 at 10:25 am (11 years ago)test
Sudarshan Hebbar
February 22, 2016 at 5:25 pm (11 years ago)very nicely presented. I will try this out