How to make gourmet dim sims at home
If you think making dim sims is complex or need help figuring out where to start, then we encourage you to give it a try because it’s easier than you think.
If you can find the right ingredients and methods you’ll be able to make mouth-watering dim sim anywhere. In this guide, we’ll show you how to make dim sims at home just as good as the ones you’d get in the south Melbourne market.
Gather the necessary fillings for your dim sims
The first thing you’ll need to do if you want to create your own delicious homemade dim sim is preparation. This means gathering all the necessary ingredients, you’ll need to choose protein for the meat in a dim sim which is usually ground pork or beef, you can add some fresh prawns also if you’d like to make the seafood variation. Include some cabbage, mushrooms, chives and spices according to taste.
Make sure you use the freshest ingredients possible for the best results. This is possibly the most underlooked part of cooking but will have a massive impact on taste. The best dim sims are often the ones crafted with the highest quality ingredients, that’s what will set you apart from most store-bought varieties.
How to create the dough for dim sims
The dough for dim sims typically consists of wheat flour, baking powder and salt. It has a high gluten content which gives it the ideal texture for forming the desired shape and size of the dim sim. The baking powder is also necessary to create a light and fluffy texture while the salt helps to bring out the flavour of the filling.
Mix together the ingredients
To begin making your dough, sift the flour and baking powder together in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Then add water and mix until you have a soft but not sticky dough that is smooth to the touch, then cover it in a damp cloth and let it sit for 30 minutes.
Roll and cut the dough
After resting, you can cut and roll it out on a floured surface until thin, preferably less than 1cm thick. If you don’t have a rolling pin, use an empty bottle or cup and then cut out the dim sim shapes depending on your preference.
Add the fillings and craft the dim sims
Now for the fun part, adding the fillings and crafting these delicious snacks. We usually start by placing a small portion of your chosen filling onto each circle of dough, be careful not to overfill the dim sims as they can easily fall apart. You can then carefully fold the dough over to create a perfect little pocket and coat it lightly with some cooking oil. They are now ready to cook.
Cook the dim sims for a golden brown crust
While it’s also popular to steam dim sims, the classic way to cook dim sims is fried with the perfect crust. The crispy crunch gives way to a steaming hot interior filled with savoury goodness and you can achieve this at home with some simple steps.
Heat your oil to the right temperature, and make sure your dim sims are patted dry before frying to avoid any unnecessary splattering. You then need to fry the dim sims for roughly 3-5 minutes until you get a golden brown crust, it may take some practice to get the timing just right but when achieved it is well worth the effort involved.
Enjoy homemade dim sims
If you’re looking to recreate and improve some classic Australian snack foods then making homemade dim sims is certainly worth the effort for the results. All it takes is some attention to your ingredients, as well as a little practice and patience. Whether as an appetizer or main dish, these delectable snacks are sure to be a hit, so don’t hesitate and include them in your weekly meal plan, enjoy!
