25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

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We have rounded up 25 of the best and most popular Chinese dim sum recipes including potstickers and dumplings, steamed buns and spring rolls, and everything in between. So if you are wondering how to make dim sum at home this year, whether for a Chinese New Year dim sum party (even if it's virtual this year) or just because you are craving a delicious appetizer, you are in the right place.

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (1)

What is Dim Sum?

Dim Sum is a traditional Chinese meal enjoyed over brunch that consists of a variety of small dishes in bite-sized portions served with hot tea. Dim sum is often eaten family-style, which means that the small dishes are passed around and shared at the table so everyone gets to try a little bit of everything. The most popular items on a dim sum menu include dumplings and steamed buns.

Best Dim Sum Dishes

1

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (2)

Crispy Bottom Shanghai Pan-Fried Pork Buns

Crispy bottom Shanghai pan-fried pork buns are crunchy on the bottom and fluffy and airy inside with a juicy and flavourful pork and spring onions filling. They are one of the most popular dim sum recipes in Shanghai.

2

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (3)

Beef Potstickers (Dumplings)

Homemade Chinese beef potstickers (dumplings) are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy inside packed with a delicious beef filling.

3

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (4)

Spicy Chili Oil Wontons

Easy spicy chili oil wontons, a signature Sichuan dish ready in just 10 minutes, hits every sense of your palate — sour, spicy, sweet and nutty.

4

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (5)

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Better than takeout, light and crispy fried vegetarian spring rolls are packed with a tender mushroom and cabbage vegetarian filling in a crunchy skin.

5

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (6)

Shanghai Style Vegetarian Steamed Buns

Homemade Shanghai style vegetarian steamed buns is spongy with a juicy, flavourful bok choy and mushroom filling inside bursting with Asian flavours.

6

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (7)

Pork Dumplings

Homemade pork dumplings are quick and easy to make, with perfect crispy bottoms and a tender, juicy pork filling inside.​ Easy to meal prep and freeze well.

7

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (8)

Crispy Bottom Pan-Fried Vegetable Buns (No Yeast)

Crispy bottom pan-fried fried vegetable buns (no yeast) are crunchy outside yet tender inside with a mushroom, carrot and vermicelli vegetarian filling.

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (9)

Chicken and Cilantro Wontons

Learn how to make homemade chicken and cilantro wontons to celebrate Chinese new year with this easy to follow recipe and instructions on how to fold wontons.

9

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (10)

Savoury Chive Pancakes with Sourdough Starter

Don't let your sourdough starter go to waste, use your discard to make this easy one bowl recipe for crispy, light and fluffy, savoury chive pancakes.

10

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (11)

Pan-Fried Pork and Shrimp Wontons

Better than takeout pan-fried pork and shrimp wontons are so crispy outside and tender and juicy inside with a savoury pork, shrimp and vegetable filling.

11

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (12)

Miso Garlic Chicken Wings

Baked miso garlic chicken wings are crispy, delicious, and easy to make. They're marinated in a savoury Asian marinade, and cooked in the oven orair fryer.

12

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (13)

Pork and Sardine Dumplings (Potstickers)

Wrinkly crispy pork and sardine dumplings (potstickers) with vinegar dipping sauce, are filled with pork, canned sardines, green onions and Asian seasoning.

13

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (14)

Shrimp Egg Rolls

Better than takeout, shrimp egg rolls are a delicious, flavourful and easy appetizer to make. They can be deep fried, baked or air fried.

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25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (15)

Steamed Scallion Buns

Steamed scallion buns (hua juan 花卷) are delicious flower rolls made of a light and fluffy dough layered with green onions that is twisted and steamed.

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25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (16)

Air Fryer Short Ribs

Air fryer short ribs are crispy, flavorful, and delicious. The easy marinade ensures they're tender and juicy inside, while the air fryer makes them crispy.

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25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (17)

Egg and Chive Vegetarian Dumplings

Fragrant chives with fluffy scrambled eggs, and a dash of flavour come together to create the perfect appetizer — egg and chive vegetarian dumplings.

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25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (18)

Zongzi Sticky Rice Dumplings

Zongzi Chinese tamales (粽子) or sticky rice dumplings are stuffed with sticky rice, pork belly, and shiitake mushrooms, wrapped inside reed or bamboo leaves.

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25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (19)

Mini Meat Pies with Soy Sauce

Mini meat pies with soy sauce are flakey puff pastries stuffed with delicious and juicy meat inside marinated with Asian flavours.

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25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (20)

Chinese Beef Dumplings with Celery

Easy-to-make Chinese beef dumplings with celery can be made in advance for a stress-free meal. Enjoy these steamed, boiled or pan-fried!

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25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (21)

Chicken and Shrimp Dumplings

Easy to make chicken and shrimp dumplings can be steamed, boiled or fried and served with a side of soy sauce for dipping.

21

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (22)

Cranberry Pumpkin Steamed Buns

Cranberry pumpkin steamed buns (baozi) are light, spongy, and fluffy Chinese buns packed with colourful cranberries and pumpkin puree for the best flavour.

22

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (23)

Crispy Baked Asian Chicken Wings

You will be amazed by how crispy these baked Asian chicken wings turn out! We add sriracha for heat, honey for sweetness, and ginger to balance the flavours.

23

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (24)

Vegetarian Lumpia (Spring Rolls)

Vegetarian lumpia recipe are delicious, crispy spring rolls packed with a flavourful savoury filling. They can be fried, baked or air fried.

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Mini Egg Tarts

Mini egg tarts with a flaky buttery crust and silky smooth rich egg custard filling are a delicious Hong Kong pastry served as dessert with dim sum.

Storing Instructions

  1. How to store: Dim sum is best served fresh. Store any leftover dim sum in anairtight containerand place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a steamer or air fryer (depending on the recipe).
  2. How to freeze: Most of these recipes are freezer-friendly (either before cooking or after according to recipe instructions) and can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. For instance, you can make a big batch of dumplings and wontons, store in the freezer, and cook directly from frozen when ready to use.

More Chinese Recipes

  • Healthy Lemon Chicken
  • 10-Minute Vegetarian Fried Rice
  • Shanghai Style Fried Noodles
  • Tigers Prawns in Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce
  • Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Shrimp
  • Baked Sesame Chicken
  • Hand-Pulled Noodles
  • Air Fryer Black Cod with Black Bean Sauce
  • Spicy Dan Dan Noodles
  • Scallion Oil Noodles
  • Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles
  • 10-Minute Seafood Fried Rice
25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (26)

Did You Make Any of These Popular Chinese Dim Sum Recipes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of Chinese dim sum recipes. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram@aheadofthymeor share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Don't forget to sign up for myemail newsletterso that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along onInstagramandPinterestfor more recipe updates.

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25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (27)

25 Best Dim Sum

★★★★★5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings
Print Recipe

Description

Roundup of the most popular 25 best Chinese dim sum recipes including potstickers, dumplings, steamed buns, spring rolls and more appetizers.

Ingredients

Check each recipe to get full ingredient list. You may need some of the following, depending on what you are making:

  • dumpling or wonton wrappers
  • ground meat
  • vegetables
  • soy sauce
  • rice vinegar

Instructions

  1. How to store: Dim sum is best served fresh. Store any leftover dim sum in anairtight containerand place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a steamer or air fryer (depending on the recipe).
  2. How to freeze: Most of these recipes are freezer-friendly (either before cooking or after according to recipe instructions) and can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. For instance, you can make a big batch of dumplings and wontons, store in the freezer, and cook directly from frozen when ready to use.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Dim Sum
  • Method: Fried
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

  • Calories: 150

Keywords: 25 best dim sum recipes, best dim sum recipes, chinese dim sum recipes, chinese appetizers, asian appetizers, asian dim sum

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie says

    I absolutely love dim sum. I can't wait to try out these recipes!

    Reply

    • Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says

      Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Beth says

    Wow, what a delicious roundup! Guess I'll have to start eating these recipes for breakfast lunch and dinner - not a bad idea tho!

    Reply

    • Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says

      Thanks Beth! Hehee not a bad idea at all!

      Reply

Leave a Comment

25 Best Dim Sum Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular on dimsum? ›

The most popular dim sum menu items include Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns), Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls), Lo Bak Go (turnip cake), Fung Zao (chicken feet), and Dan Tat (egg tart).

What gets served first at a dim sum meal? ›

First, pick a tea, as it will be a central part of the meal — dim sum did originate in tea houses after all. If you want to follow traditional etiquette, the person closest to the teapot should pour tea for guests first before pouring his or her own cup.

How many dim sum dishes for 2 people? ›

What is dim sum? Each dish usually consists of three or four bite-sized pieces, and like tapas, it's meant for sharing. As a general rule of thumb, 3-4 dishes per person is about right, depending on how hungry you are. Try to order a variety, e.g. steamed, fried, grilled etc.

Is dim sum good or bad for you? ›

She revealed that dim sums are among the healthiest eating-out options. Explaining the reason, the nutritionist mentioned that these are generally bite-sized, high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and steamed. According to Makhija, steamed foods are the healthiest and most versatile.

What tea is most common at dim sum? ›

PU-ERH. Pu-erh (Bo-Lay in Cantonese) is popular in China but apparently less well known in the west. It is a traditional tea of choice to be served with Dim Sum, but remember that it's strong and considered by many to be an acquired taste.

What is the healthiest dim sum dish? ›

Generally, in Dim Sum dishes, the healthiest are the dumpling dishes or (gao zi) as they have skins of dough, filled with meat and are steamed (though some are fried as well) The suimai, xiaolongbao and har gow are my favorites and seem to be the healthiest.

What is dim sum etiquette? ›

As a sign of respect, always pour tea for your companions first. Always move an item from the communal dish to your own before eating using a serving utensil or the top ends of your chopsticks. Do not eat directly from the steamer basket or shared plate. Dim sum is for sharing! Never lay claim to any one dish.

Should dim sum be eaten hot or cold? ›

Don't over order.

It makes a big difference when you steam dim sum for one minute more or one minute less. You should eat them hot. Their flavors will totally change if you warm them by microwave at home.”

Why is dim sum eaten in the morning? ›

Simply because it is not filling enough. Dim Sum is something like snacks so it is not as filling as rice or noodles. Therefore, dim sum is only eaten at breakfast or lunch, but not dinner.

Why does dim sum make you sleepy? ›

When we eat, our body releases insulin to help regulate our blood sugar levels. This can lead to a dip in our blood sugar levels after a meal, which can cause feelings of fatigue and drowsiness. Additionally, digestion requires a lot of energy from the body, which can also contribute to feelings of sleepiness.

Can you eat dim sum everyday? ›

As with all restaurant food it depends on the choices you make. A lot of dim sum offerings are steamed so they aren't bad. If you choose all deep fried stuff you have an unhealthy meal. If you pick vegetables and steamed dumplings you can make a healthy meal.

What does dim sum mean in English? ›

The word dim sum comes from the Cantonese tim sam, "appetizer," or literally, "touch the heart." Definitions of dim sum. traditional Chinese cuisine; a variety of foods (including several kinds of steamed or fried dumplings) are served successively in small portions. type of: cuisine, culinary art.

Why is dim sum popular? ›

For generations, it's been a tradition for families to go to yum cha on holidays. There's a sense of sharing and camaraderie that comes with the food,” adds Mak. In Chinese, “dim sum” literally means “a light touch on the heart”, which is an ideal way to describe the small, delicious sweet or savoury dishes.

Why do people love dim sum? ›

The essence of dim sum is the hand craftsmanship. It's not a dish where you can find a recipe and imitate it easily at home. It requires skill and years of training,” says Saito Chau, a chef with vast experience in contemporary Cantonese cuisine. “It's the attention to detail, precision and the human touch.

Why do people eat dim sum? ›

Dim sum means 'touch the heart' in Chinese. The small portions were designed to merely touch the heart not sate the appetite, and as such were first enjoyed as snacks. Over time, however, yum cha has evolved, and the cuisine is now a vital part of Chinese culture.

Why is dim sum so special? ›

Dim sum is so unique because there are many varieties of special Chinese dishes, served in small portions for all to share. The best part is that I don't have to order from the menu because carts full of cooked, ready to eat dishes will be pushed right to my table. I can pick whatever I like from the cart.

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