This post may contain affiliate links.
Enjoy this Dim sum classic, a plump crystal dumpling stuffed with shrimp and bamboo, from the comfort of your home!
Har gow, shrimp dumplings with a chewy, translucent wrapper, is a classic Cantonese dish often served at dim sum restaurants. Dim sum is a Cantonese dining tradition in which small, shareable dishes are served from rolling carts, allowing guests to choose the items they want. Because each dish is appetizer-sized, diners can enjoy a variety of flavors and share multiple dishes with the table. Traditionally, dim sum is accompanied by hot tea.
There is a wide variety of dim sum dishes, with some of the most popular including har gow, shiu mai, barbecue pork buns, egg tarts, and chicken feet. Har gow is one of my personal favorites, so being able to make it at home is certainly a nice perk!
These shrimp dumplings are traditionally made with delicate pleats in the dough, a technique that requires plenty of practice. Since I am not a dim sum master, I skipped the pleating and opted for a more traditional dumpling shape, which changes only the appearance and not the flavor. Additionally, har gow dough can be challenging to work with. If your dumplings do not look perfect on the first try, don't worry, just keep practicing! To make har gow, you will need the following ingredients and tools:
Wheat starch: a carbohydrate extracted from wheat gluten and is used to thicken foods like sauces and soups. Wheat starch gives the wrappers the crystal, translucent appearance. Wheat starch is NOT the same as wheat flour. There is no substitution for this ingredient. You may purchase this ingredient online or in an Asian grocery store.
Tapioca starch: you may substitute tapioca starch with corn starch
Bamboo: fresh or canned
Steamer: any simple steamer will do; a bamboo steamer is traditionally used for dim sum