Shumai!

Shumai are open-topped dumpling,s stuffed with tasty ground meat and vegetable filling, then steamed. Tonight I will be making these with the first batch  of our own ground pork. I will likely close them and give them a quick pan sear for a seal and extra flavor before steaming. 

Ingredients

1 pound ground chicken (or pork)

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk

1/4 cup coarsely shredded carrot

2 Thai chilis, minced

2 Tablespoons chopped basil

2 Tablespoons Asian fish sauce

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

1 garlic clove, minced

1 large egg beaten

1 small shallot, minced

1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

40 wonton wrappers

Green leaf lettuce leaves for steaming

special equipment: bamboo steamers

Soy sauce and Sriracha chili sauce, for serving

Process

1. In large bowl, combine the ground chicken with the coconut milk, carrot, chiles, basil, fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, garlic, egg, shallot, ginger, salt and pepper. Using your hands mixed thoroughly.

2. Follow the directions on the wrappers, create your shumai dumplings in the wonton wrappers. Repeat with the remaining wonton wrappers and filling. 

 

 

3. Fill a wok or a very large skillet with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil.

4. Line a double tiered bamboo steamer with lettuce leaves and arrange the shumai in the steamer without crowding.

5. Cover and steam over moderate heat until cooked through, about 10 minutes.

6. Repeat with the remaining shumai. You may also choose to pan fry them for extra crisp after the steam or even skip the steam all together. Yummy versatile and great for the whole family!

Serve immediately with the sauces.

Shu Mai

It looks like this recipe MAY have originated from a Food and Wine magazine. I found a nearly identical recipe here: Chicken and Coconut Shumai