Crystal Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow) Recipe | Sur La Table (2024)

By Recipe developed for Sur La Table’s Cooking Classes

Images

Serves

Makes 30 dumplings

Ingredients

  • For the filling:
  • 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup minced bamboo shoots
  • 1 tablespoon minced green onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger root
  • 2 tablespoons minced pork fat or minced fatty bacon
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 4 teaspoons tapioca starch or corn starch
  • ⅛ teaspoon white pepper

  • For the dough:
  • 1¼ cup wheat starch
  • ¼ cup tapioca starch
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • Cabbage leaves, for lining steamers

Procedure

Plump and juicy, with chunks of shrimp barely visible through translucent dough, har gow are one of the most widely recognized dim sum classics. The wheat starch skin that encases the filling is cut with tapioca to give it elasticity. A metal tortilla press is excellent for pressing out dough balls to the desired shape and thickness for the dumpling. Line the press with wax paper to prevent sticking.

To make filling: In a medium bowl stir to combine the shrimp, bamboo shoots, green onions, cilantro, ginger and pork. In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, wine, sugar, salt, sesame oil, tapioca starch and white pepper and stir thoroughly. Pour the soy mixture over the shrimp mixture and mix well with a silicone spatula. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator while you prepare the dough.

To make dough: In a medium bowl add the wheat starch, tapioca starch, and salt and stir well with a wooden spoon to combine. Add the boiling water and canola oil and stir until well combined. Transfer the dough while it is still hot onto a clean surface dusted with wheat starch. Knead until smooth, adding a little more wheat starch if necessary. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Transfer warm dough to a gallon size plastic zip lock bag, to prevent the dough from drying out.

To form dumplings: Fill a small bowl with water for sealing edges. Lightly dust a clean work surface with wheat starch. Cut the dough into 4 sections and roll each section into an 8-inch long rope, using the palms of your hands. Cut each rope into 8 pieces and roll into balls. Place any dough you’re not working with in the plastic bag. Using a small rolling pin or tortilla press, flatten each ball into a circle about 3-inch diameter and about a ⅛-inch thick. Make sure to keep the finished rounds of dough stacked up inside the plastic bag so that they don't dry out before you can fill them. Take one disc out of the bag and make 7 pleats on one half of the disc. The disc should now be shaped like a bowl. Fill the bowl with a heaping teaspoon of the filling. Moisten the un-pleated side of the wrapper with a bit of water and press the edges of the dumpling together to seal. Repeat with remaining rounds.

To cook dumplings: Pour water into a wok or large pot to a depth of 3 inches and heat over medium-high heat to a strong simmer. Stack bamboo steamers in the wok or place a steamer insert into the pot. Steamer should not touch the surface of the water. Line the steamer with cabbage leaves or oiled sheets of parchment paper. Arrange dumplings in steamers at least ½ inch apart. Cover steamer and steam dumplings until filling is cooked through and wrappers are translucent, about 6 to 8 minutes.

To serve: Arrange the dumplings onto warmed plates or platters and serve immediately with soy dipping sauce.

By Recipe developed for Sur La Table’s Cooking Classes

Serves

Makes 30 dumplings

Ingredients

  • For the filling:
  • 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup minced bamboo shoots
  • 1 tablespoon minced green onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger root
  • 2 tablespoons minced pork fat or minced fatty bacon
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 4 teaspoons tapioca starch or corn starch
  • ⅛ teaspoon white pepper

  • For the dough:
  • 1¼ cup wheat starch
  • ¼ cup tapioca starch
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • Cabbage leaves, for lining steamers

Procedure

Plump and juicy, with chunks of shrimp barely visible through translucent dough, har gow are one of the most widely recognized dim sum classics. The wheat starch skin that encases the filling is cut with tapioca to give it elasticity. A metal tortilla press is excellent for pressing out dough balls to the desired shape and thickness for the dumpling. Line the press with wax paper to prevent sticking.

To make filling: In a medium bowl stir to combine the shrimp, bamboo shoots, green onions, cilantro, ginger and pork. In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, wine, sugar, salt, sesame oil, tapioca starch and white pepper and stir thoroughly. Pour the soy mixture over the shrimp mixture and mix well with a silicone spatula. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator while you prepare the dough.

To make dough: In a medium bowl add the wheat starch, tapioca starch, and salt and stir well with a wooden spoon to combine. Add the boiling water and canola oil and stir until well combined. Transfer the dough while it is still hot onto a clean surface dusted with wheat starch. Knead until smooth, adding a little more wheat starch if necessary. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Transfer warm dough to a gallon size plastic zip lock bag, to prevent the dough from drying out.

To form dumplings: Fill a small bowl with water for sealing edges. Lightly dust a clean work surface with wheat starch. Cut the dough into 4 sections and roll each section into an 8-inch long rope, using the palms of your hands. Cut each rope into 8 pieces and roll into balls. Place any dough you’re not working with in the plastic bag. Using a small rolling pin or tortilla press, flatten each ball into a circle about 3-inch diameter and about a ⅛-inch thick. Make sure to keep the finished rounds of dough stacked up inside the plastic bag so that they don't dry out before you can fill them. Take one disc out of the bag and make 7 pleats on one half of the disc. The disc should now be shaped like a bowl. Fill the bowl with a heaping teaspoon of the filling. Moisten the un-pleated side of the wrapper with a bit of water and press the edges of the dumpling together to seal. Repeat with remaining rounds.

To cook dumplings: Pour water into a wok or large pot to a depth of 3 inches and heat over medium-high heat to a strong simmer. Stack bamboo steamers in the wok or place a steamer insert into the pot. Steamer should not touch the surface of the water. Line the steamer with cabbage leaves or oiled sheets of parchment paper. Arrange dumplings in steamers at least ½ inch apart. Cover steamer and steam dumplings until filling is cooked through and wrappers are translucent, about 6 to 8 minutes.

To serve: Arrange the dumplings onto warmed plates or platters and serve immediately with soy dipping sauce.

Crystal Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow) Recipe | Sur La Table (2024)

FAQs

What are crystal dumplings made of? ›

To create the crystal dumpling, I'm using two main types of starches: wheat and tapioca. The next most important ingredient is boiling water as the water will immediately cook the starch and turn them into a moldable dough.

What is a substitute for wheat starch in dumplings? ›

In a large mixing bowl, combine sweet potato or potato starch, tapioca starch, and salt. Bring 1 cup of water to boil. We will only use about ¾ cup hot water. Slowly add hot boiling water 1-2 tbsp a time (up to ¾ cup) to the mixing bowl while stirring so the starch mixture quickly turns into a translucent dough.

What are the three types of dumplings? ›

Dumplings are either boiled, steamed, or fried, but there's a couple of different ways to further differentiate these techniques: Boiled dumplings can be cooked in water or directly in the soup or stew in which they will be served.

What do dumplings usually have in them? ›

Dumplings are made of a dough wrapper and meat, seafood, or vegetable filling. Usually, the wrappers are translucent, but sometimes the wrappers are other colors like green or orange. They come in many shapes and sizes and may be stuffed with a variety of savory or sweet fillings like: Beef.

How do I know when my dumplings are cooked? ›

Boil Until Cooked Through

But hold on, they're not done just yet! Once they're floating, add about 1/3 cup of cold water to the pot. Then wait for the water to boil again. At that point, your dumplings should be cooked all the way through and ready to eat.

Can you overcook dumplings? ›

Yes, dumplings that are overcooked will begin to fall apart and disintegrate into the soup, so try to stick to the cooking time. I always use a timer.

What does har gow mean in English? ›

Noun. har gow (plural har gow) A type of traditional Cantonese shrimp dumpling; the outer skin is translucent and the filling is made of shrimp.

What is the difference between hargow and dumplings? ›

Har Gow (虾饺)

Unlike the artsy translation of wonton, the English translation of “har gow” is quite literal: it means “shrimp dumpling.” These Cantonese dumplings are not made with a flour wrapper; but instead with various starches, such as extracted wheat starch, rice starch, or tapioca starch.

What is har gow in Chinese food? ›

Har gau, also known as har gow, are a type of Chinese dumpling traditionally served as dim sum. Tong Chee Hwee uses prawn in this stunning steamed dumpling recipe, although shrimp are also commonly used.

What kind of flour is best for dumplings? ›

These dumplings start with all-purpose flour, which creates structure and holds the other ingredients together. Baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it releases gas that makes the dough expand. It's responsible for the dumplings' light and fluffy texture.

Can you use normal flour for dumplings? ›

For dumplings made with wheat flour, all purpose or plain flour will suffice. If your recipe calls for leavening, you'll need to add baking powder and salt. Alternatively, you can use self-rising flour which has the leavening included. For a lot of dumplings, plain flour is all that is required with no baking powder.

What does cornstarch do in dumplings? ›

The cornstarch will absorb excess water, which will then convert to steam, allowing the bottoms to form that crisp crust. After the dumplings have drained, place them, bottom-side down, on a plate covered with cornstarch. Then, into a hot skillet coated with enough oil to fry up a solid crust.

What are Chinese steamed dumplings made of? ›

Jiaozi (pronounced "jow-zee") are perhaps the most common type of Chinese dumpling. Crescent-shaped and formed with an opaque wrapper made from wheat dough, jiaozi are usually filled with ground pork, cabbage, and scallions, and served with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil.

What is Chinese dumpling skin made of? ›

Wheat wrappers: Wheat wrappers are made from wheat flour and water and are the most commonly used wrappers for dumplings. They have a chewy texture and a mild wheat flavor.

What are potstickers dumplings made of? ›

These pot stickers made with homemade dough and filled with ground pork, ginger, garlic, and cabbage are so versatile — you can fill them with anything you want and as full as you want. The dumplings are fried and steamed, then fried again until golden and perfectly crispy on the bottom for a truly unique dumpling.

What are Chinese dumplings made of? ›

Originating in Northern China, these dumplings are filled with ground meat and vegetables, such as cabbage, scallions, garlic and ginger and wrapped in a thin, circular-shaped wrapper made of flour and water.

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