All The Dim Sum You Need to Order (or Make)

Dim sum is a Chinese tradition that started out in roadside establishments in Canton where vendors provided weary travelers with tea and a snack. Eventually, the popularity of the bite-sized dishes surpassed the tea, and dim sum transformed into a leisurely family meal that is often enjoyed on weekends or holidays. Because there are many dim sum dishes to choose from, the key is to share so that you make sure you get a taste of everything you’re served. To help you decipher the dim sum options and make your order a little smoother, here are 14 dim sum dishes — ranging from savory to sweet — that should become staples at your table.

Steamed BBQ Pork Buns: These steamed buns have an outer texture similar to American bread, but the inside contains a tasty version of barbecue pork filled with Chinese spices. It’s no surprise that these are a favorite. (via The Woks of Life)

Sticky Rice Lotus Leaf Wraps: Known as lo mai gai in Chinese, these beautifully packaged rice domes are stuffed with chicken, oyster mushrooms, and scallions. Half the fun of this dish is the treasure hunt that you experience as you unwrap the (inedible) lotus leaf and dive in with your chopsticks. (via The Woks of Life)

Shrimp Dumplings: This might be the number one dim sum item of all time. Whoever has a plate of crystal shrimp dumplings, or har gow, is going to be the most popular person at the table. (via The Woks of Life)

Shrimp Wrapped in Tofu Skin: Tofu skin is a sweet, sheer layer that forms on top of soy milk and is used as a wrapper for proteins like seasoned shrimp. When fried, it becomes a wonderfully crispy shell that will hold a heaping scoop of sauce and make for one satisfying bite. (via Rasa Malaysia)

Steamed Rice Rolls: These elegantly wrapped beauties, called cheung fun, are usually stuffed with shrimp and dressed with a savory soy sauce and sesame oil mixture. (via What to Cook Today)

Beef Short Ribs With Black Pepper: Dim sum veterans who are looking for something a little different can try a lesser known Cantonese dish like beef short ribs. The use of fresh cracked pepper is what livens things up and gives you a dish exploding with flavor. (via The Woks of Life)

Taro Root Dumplings: In Chinese cuisine, taro is a popular starch that's used in everything from stews to desserts. One of its best-known uses, however, is when it's molded into taro pockets and stuffed with shrimp, pork, and mushrooms, and then battered and deep fried. (via Dim Sum Central)

Turnip Cake: Although it’s called a turnip cake, these cakes are actually made out of daikon radish and are very traditional in Chinese dim sum houses. The cakes are made from shredded daikon radish that's mixed with rice flour, cornstarch, mushroom, dried shrimp, and occasionally sausage before they're steamed and then finished off with a quick pan fry. (via The Woks of Life)

Chicken Porridge: This porridge, also known as congee, is a staple at dim sum year-round. It's especially comforting to make at home in the winter when you want to warm yourself up or nurse a cold. (via Daily Cooking Quest )

Siu Mai Dumplings: Open-faced dumplings mean one thing: toppings! These mini pockets are already stuffed with a shrimp and pork filling, but you can give them an extra dose of fun with a dollop of chili paste, a sprinkle of scallions, or even a few slices of crunchy carrot for some textural variety. (via Thirsty For Tea)

Sesame Balls: Also called jian dui at dim sum, these little balls are somewhere between sweet and savory, which is exactly why they're often served as a palate cleanser between dishes. In China, they’re also incredibly popular simply to eat on their own for breakfast. (via China Sichuan Food)

Egg Tarts: Hong Kong egg tarts are a classic at the dim sum table, and an interesting result of the culinary fusion that occurred as a result of British Imperialism. This is Brit + Co’s take on the custard tart recipe. (via Brit + Co)

Mango Pudding: Any leisurely meal, including dim sum, needs to be finished off with a dessert. If you don’t want anything too heavy, this mango pudding is your solution. Light in taste and delicate in texture, this pudding can be paired with a cup of tea for a refreshing end to your celebratory meal. (via China Sichuan Food )

Malay Steamed Cake: Steamed sponge cakes are a must at dim sum. This brown sugar-based steamed sponge cake is so light and fluffy, you might think you were eating air if not for the lingering sweet notes to remind you that you have indeed just eaten a slice of cake. While readily available at dim sum restaurants, this honeycombed cake will require a lot of patience if you want to make it yourself. You’re going to want to let the batter ferment overnight for best results. (via Miss Tam Chiak)