The Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

Table of Contents

1. Char Siu 2. Steamed Char Siu Bao 3. Chinese Turnip Cake 4. Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup 5. Steamed Ribs in Black Bean Sauce 6. Dan Dan Noodles 7. Pineapple Buns 8. Chicken Egg Roll 9. Steamed Custard Buns 10. Soy Sauce Chicken 11. Instant Pot Chinese Sausage Rice 12. Shu Mai 13. Salt and Pepper Shrimp 14. Addictive Kimchi Pork Steamed Bun 15. Eight Treasure Rice FAQs References

Treat yourself to dim sum at home any time. My dim sum recipes will have you making your favorites even better than your favorite Chinese restaurant!

I know it’s a difficult time for all of us as the world virtually holds its breath. Making the best of it is all we can do, and while we’re staying home, one of the best ways to pass the time is to learn a new skill.

Dim sum recipes only look complicated. My list of the best dim sum recipes will have you fine-tuning your culinary skills with easy-to-follow steps for authentic flavors. Best of all, you can make most of these in big batches and freeze them to enjoy again later. Once all this passes, you’ll be able to impress friends and family with dim sum that tastes better in your kitchen!

1. Char Siu

Stop dreaming of that juicy, sweet-glazed pork at the local Cantonese place. Make it yourself and you can have it any time you desire!

Get the recipe: Char Siu

2. Steamed Char Siu Bao

Once you make your own Chinese BBQ char siu, you can then master these steamed buns. Soft, fluffy bread stuffed with that glorious sweet-glazed pork filling will have you head over heels!

Get the recipe: Steamed Char Siu Bao

3. Chinese Turnip Cake

Flavorful and fun, this is one of the most classic dim sum recipes. Make it for an appetizer tonight and start perfecting it so you can look forward to serving it at a party in better days ahead.

4. Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup

The Cantonese version of wonton soup is one you’ve simply got to try. Plus, it’s easier to make than you think!

Get the recipe: Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup

5. Steamed Ribs in Black Bean Sauce

These juicy pork ribs are one of my favorite dim sum recipes! The sauce is so fragrant and savory, you’d better make a bigger batch or you’ll regret not having leftovers.

Get the recipe: Steamed Ribs in Black Bean Sauce

6. Dan Dan Noodles

Surprise your taste buds now, and later on, surprise family in friends by making them this truly authentic and famous Sichuan noodle dish.

Get the recipe: Dan Dan Noodles

7. Pineapple Buns

Just like you find in Asian bakeries, these pineapple buns are a crispy, buttery, fluffy treat that everyone will love. Spoiler alert: they’re not made with pineapples. The name comes from their textured appearance.

8. Chicken Egg Roll

Why wait for delivery? When you make my chicken egg roll dim sum recipe, you’ll get the real deal in Cantonese cuisine. Colorful veggies, fresh chicken, and savory flavors unite for a dim sum delight!

Get the recipe: Chicken Egg Roll

9. Steamed Custard Buns

This classic dim sum recipe will go fast. Make up a big batch of these soft and spongy buns filled with sweet and creamy custard. They freeze well, perfect for later enjoyment. Serve them warm for a melty mouthfeel!

Get the recipe: Steamed Custard Buns

10. Soy Sauce Chicken

Slice this classic dim sum chicken up and serve it cold. With a silky texture and savory flavor, it’s not dim sum without it!

Get the recipe: Soy Sauce Chicken

11. Instant Pot Chinese Sausage Rice

This mostly hands-off recipe comes together in a flash. Your reward are hunks of sweet Chinese sausage mingling with crunchy water chestnuts for a speedy and tasty meal.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chinese Sausage Rice

12. Shu Mai

Beautiful and delicious steamed dumplings brimming with a juicy filling of pork and shrimp make a stunning presentation. They’re easier than you think! Make a bunch now and freeze later for when you can share them with everyone!

Get the recipe: Shu Mai

13. Salt and Pepper Shrimp

For shrimp lovers, this easy appetizer gives you a crunchy crispy texture with a garlicky salt and pepper taste that is irresistible.

Get the recipe: Salt and Pepper Shrimp

14. Addictive Kimchi Pork Steamed Bun

Fluffy steamed buns are stuffed with juicy pork and spicy kimchi. And with only 4 ingredients needed to fill it up, you’ll be happy to have it fill YOU up!

Get the recipe: Addictive Kimchi Pork Steamed Bun

15. Eight Treasure Rice

My modern take on this traditional recipe makes for a light and healthy dessert topped with fragrant chrysanthemum syrup for a uniquely special taste.

Get the recipe: Eight Treasure Rice

Want to learn more about Chinese Cooking? Sign up my newsletter to receive the 5-Day Chinese Cooking Crushing Course and recipe update!

FAQs

What not to do in dim sum? ›

Do not eat directly from the steamer basket or shared plate. Dim sum is for sharing! Never lay claim to any one dish. Ask everyone at your table before taking the last piece of a dish.

Learn More ›

What can you put in dim sum? ›

Common dim sum dishes include a variety of dumplings (steamed, boiled, pan-fried, open-topped shumai, and the coveted xiao long bao), bao buns, char siu (barbecued pork), steamed radish or turnip cakes with pork and dried shrimp, and many items wrapped in rice paper rolls or tofu skins.

Get More Info Here ›

Is dim sum good for you to Lose Weight? ›

The Nutritional Powerhouse in Dim Sum

Opt for Steamed Over Fried: Steamed dim sum dishes retain more nutrients compared to their fried counterparts. They also contain less oil, reducing calorie count and making them a healthier choice.

Discover More ›

What is the best drink for dim sum? ›

A white wine with good acidity and a notable freshness will respect the flavours and textures of the dim sum. A wine with a nice minerality is also to be preferred.

Discover More Details ›

How unhealthy are dim sims? ›

Dim sum has a lot of calories

max out at around 300 calories for the sugariest, fattiest ones, but most range between 50 and 100 calories. Taking a ballpark average of 75 calories, it takes 9-12 items to fill out a meal, depending on your calorie needs.

Why is dim sum served in 3s? ›

The reason restaurants don't serve most dim sum dishes in sets of fours is simply to avoid any associations with bad luck. In Chinese culture, the number four is considered unlucky because it is nearly hom*ophonous to the word "death," while the number three is associated with life and new beginnings.

What tea is best with dim sum? ›

My Dim Sum Tea recommendations

Oolong tea: this is my fave Dim Sum tea!
Scented Green tea.
Chinese Black tea such as Lapsang Souchong.
Chrysanthemum tea.

Learn More Now ›

What alcohol goes with dumplings? ›

Try a wine that's got a little oak on it with good acidity – I'd go for a nice Bourgogne Chardonnay, maybe a Mâcon. ' 'Personally, I love Rieslings, so I'd try a Kabinett—with refreshing acidity and a little bit of residual sugar, to pair with it.

Explore More ›

What is the healthiest dim sum dish? ›

Steamed shrimp dumplings are one of the recommended dim sum dishes if you are looking for healthy options. Chinese steamed buns are among the healthier dim sum offerings.

See Details ›

Does dim help with belly fat? ›

Help with weight loss

Most studies of DIM affecting weight loss have involved animals and not humans. But these studies suggest DIM supplements may cause fat breakdown and keep fat cells from forming. More research is needed.

Find Out More ›

Can you eat dim sum every day? ›

“You definitely cannot have a dim sum meal every day because it's not possible to get a balanced diet that way,” said Ho Yuk-yin, a consultant with the government's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, who led the research.

View Details ›

What is the most popular dimsum? ›

Shu Mai. Shu mai just might be the most famous dish in the dim sum canon and it is a mandatory order. Generally, the steamed dumpling is filled with a blend of pork and shrimp alongside mushrooms, ginger, scallions. Some variations even include water chestnuts or crab if they are feeling extra fancy.

Read The Full Story ›

What are common dim sum dishes? ›

The most popular types of dim sum range from dumplings, buns, wraps and noodle rolls (often filled with a mixture of fresh seafood, meat and vegetables) to puffs, tarts and puddings.

Should dim sum be eaten hot or cold? ›

Don't eat dim sum cold, it needs to be eaten hot. It should not be left to cool and it should be eaten within 15 minutes of being served. Start with fried dim sum then steamed as the fried dim sum cools quicker.

Explore More ›

Are you supposed to eat dumplings with your hands? ›

Chinese restaurants typically serve dumplings with a large soup spoon, signaling to diners that this is what they should use to eat the dumpling . However, the diner still needs to get the dumpling onto the spoon. He or she can accomplish this by using a pair of chopsticks and picking it up closest to the knot.

Explore More ›

How much to tip at dim sum? ›

Do: Leave a tip on your table. A standard 15 to 20 percent tip is customary; in most restaurants, tips are shared among waitstaff, including those pushing the carts. Don't: Fill up on rice.

Discover More Details ›

Why is dim sum eaten in the morning? ›

Morning tea is a Cantonese tradition of morning activity, originated in the Qing dynasty. After years of change, it has evolved to the current form, serving an assortment of small dishes (dim sum) alongside Chinese tea.

Learn More Now ›