The Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

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.

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.

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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FAQs

What is the best drink for 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. Indeed, in order not to mask, but to accompany the iodized notes of the seafood, an appellation known for its minerality is appropriate.

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Can I make dim sum at home? ›

Making dim sum at home can be a real family activity—even if you're not perfect at pleating dumplings. I have a lot of fun folding dumplings with my kids. You don't have to have the “perfect” wok and bamboo steamer setup either; at home I use a steamer basket set on top of a large skillet.

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What are the different fillings for dim sum? ›

Popular fillings include: beef, dough fritter, shrimp and barbecued pork. Often served with sweetened soy sauce. steamed rice noodles rolled around youjagwai (油炸鬼), typically doused in soy sauce, hoisin sauce, or sesame paste, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Duck feet wrapped in bean curd sheets.

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What is the most popular 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).

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What tea is most popular at dim sum? ›

Pu erh (or Bo Lei) is the favorite Dim Sum tea for older Chinese. It's an easy choice since good Pu erh tea is delicious and packed with health benefits.

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How healthy is dim sum? ›

Many dim sum dishes are calorie dense, and high in fat and sodium, which could be contributors to increased risk of heart disease. Eating dim sum is a part of most Hongkongers' lifestyle.

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What is the difference between dimsum and dim sum? ›

A 'Dim Sim' is traditionally made with pork and cabbage wrapped in a delicate pastry skin. It is lightly seasoned and delivers a delicious meaty texture with each bite. 'Dim Sum' is an umbrella term and refers to a whole range of small dishes and parcels served at Yum Cha.

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What flour is used for dim sum? ›

What flour is used for Chinese food dim sum? For making Chinese dim sum all purpose flour or rice flour or tapioca flour along with potato starch is used.

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.

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Why is dim sum so special? ›

Dim sum is so unique because there are many varieties of special Chinese dishes, served in small portions for all to share. The best part is that I don't have to order from the menu because carts full of cooked, ready to eat dishes will be pushed right to my table. I can pick whatever I like from the cart.

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How many dumplings per person? ›

You'll want to make at least as many dumplings as your guests can eat in one sitting—estimate about 15 to 20 dumplings per guest, on the generous side. But the real genius of a dumpling party is you can basically trick your guests into making you a week's worth of dinners.

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How to serve dim sum at a party? ›

Serve family-style, in any order you want

Since dim sum is all about sharing, there really is no right or wrong way to do it. "The general rule is the more on the table, the more fun you're having," says Walker. Always serve it family-style, where dishes come out as they're ready.

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What is a dim sum dish? ›

Dim sum means 'touch the heart' in Chinese. The small portions were designed to merely touch the heart not sate the appetite, and as such were first enjoyed as snacks. Over time, however, yum cha has evolved, and the cuisine is now a vital part of Chinese culture.

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What beverage is usually served with dim sum? ›

A common beverage to have with dim sum is tea. Traditionally, Chinese tea is served with dim sum dishes. Popular choices include jasmine tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea. Drinking tea with dim sum is a cultural tradition and is often referred to as "yum cha" in Cantonese, which means "drinking tea."

The Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

1. Char Siu

2. Steamed Char Siu Bao

3. Chinese Turnip Cake

4. Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup

5. Steamed Ribs in Black Bean Sauce

6. Dan Dan Noodles

7. Pineapple Buns

8. Chicken Egg Roll

9. Steamed Custard Buns

10. Soy Sauce Chicken

11. Instant Pot Chinese Sausage Rice

12. Shu Mai

13. Salt and Pepper Shrimp

14. Addictive Kimchi Pork Steamed Bun

15. Eight Treasure Rice

FAQs

What is the best drink for dim sum? ›

How many dumplings per person? ›

References