Chinese Cuisine: Dim Sum

Every country has its own unique cuisines and traditions when it comes to food. In China, and more specifically, in southeastern China, dim sum is very popular. In Mandarin, dim sum is pronounced 点心 (diǎnxīn). Traditionally, dim sum is the experience of eating at a chinese restaurant in which there are food attendants that serve countless small portions of food in bamboo steamer baskets on mobile carts. The food attendant usually stops by your table so that you can pick out the dishes that you would like to try.

Astonishingly, there are over 2,000 different dim sum dishes served at teahouses or chinese restaurants all around the world! A dim sum restaurant can have anywhere from as little as a dozen dishes offered on their menu to as many as one hundred. So you might be asking yourself, “which dishes should I try?”

1. 肠粉 (chángfěn)

肠粉 (cháng fěn), also known as rice noodle rolls, are characterized by a folded rice sheet with small fillings inside, typically either shrimp, pork, fried dough, or beef. The center of the 肠粉 (cháng fěn) is like the heart of the dish – it decides whether or not the dish will be sweet, crispy, or tender. After the fillings are added, it’s then either steamed or pan-fried. This wrapper around the filling is both thin and soft, giving the dish a chewy and light texture. 肠粉 (cháng fěn) is very savory, and sometimes it’s even served with soy sauce on it. 

2. 蝦餃 (xiājiǎo)

蝦餃 (xiājiǎo), also known as “har gow” in Cantonese, are steamed shrimp dumplings. The translucent wrapping on the dumplings are firm but also soft at the same time. The skin is translucent due to the dough being prepared with wheat starch. There are small chunks of shrimp that are stuffed inside these sumptuous dumpling wrappers. 蝦餃 (xiājiǎo) is definitely a dish worth trying! It is both flavorful and savory.

3. 蛋挞 (dàntà)

蛋挞 (dàntà), or egg tarts are a popular Chinese dessert. It’s baked and filled with egg custard inside. This delicious pastry is flaky on the outside and rich on the inside. 蛋挞 (dàntà) is a great dessert to consume after a hearty meal. I highly recommend this dish as it is crisp, refreshing, and sweet. 

Sources:

https://www.thespruceeats.com/dim-sum-menu-translator-694589

https://asiasociety.org/reference/what-dim-sum-beginners-guide-south-chinas-traditional-brunch-meal