Siomai, with ground pork, shrimp, and shitake mushrooms, are tasty and filling. These steamed dumplings are easy to make and delicious as an appetizer, snack, or main meal!
This siomai recipe was first published in 2013 and needed a little refresh, so I thought I'd put on my dumpling-making hat today and take new pictures and add cooking tips.
But although it took me five years and a day to finally revamp the post, I do make these steamed dumplings on a regular basis. They're one of the make-ahead meals I like to stock up for busy weeknight dinners, midday snacks, or impromptu parties.
I usually prep and steam a few dozen every week or so and then freeze them in airtight containers. On days when I am too busy to cook or just want a quick dim sum fix, I pop a few pieces in the microwave for a few seconds or steam them for a few minutes to warm up.
Ingredient notes
- Minced meat- the recipe below uses a combination of ground pork and minced shrimp. You can swap the pork with ground chicken or the shrimp with crab meat or squid for variety. You can also omit the seafood, if you prefer, and use all meat.
- ย Vegetables- I use chopped shitake mushrooms for extra flavor and texture. You can include finely shredded napa cabbage to add bulk or green onions to boost color.
- Ginger- grate the fresh ginger and press to extract juice; this way, you reap the flavor without any bits to bite into.
- Cornstarch- serves as a binder and acts as a tenderizer, keeping the pork moist and juicy.
- Shumai wrappers- you can use round wrappers instead of the square as they wrap around the meat more snugly. If you can't find them, use the mouth of a drinking glass as a stencil and cut the wrappers into circles.
Helpful tips
If using a metal steamer, line the steamer basket with steaming paper or lightly grease with cooking spray prevent the siomai from sticking.
How to Freeze
- Although you can freeze the shumai uncooked, I prefer to store them already steamed, so they're ready to serve after a quick reheating in the microwave or in the steamer.
- Arrange the steamed dumplings in a single layer about an inch apart on a baking sheet and freeze until solid before transferring into airtight containers, so they don't stick together when frozen. They should keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat
- In the microwave, place a few pieces of dumplings on a shallow plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave at medium power for about 20 to 30 seconds or until heated through.
- In the steamer, arrange in a single layer on a steamer basket, cover with the lid, and steam for about 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through.
- In a skillet, place the dumplings in a single layer, add about 2 tablespoons of water, cover the pan with a lid, and steam for about 2 to 3 minutes or until heated.
Serving suggestions
- Delicious as an appetizer or snack with a calamansi or lemon and chili garlic dipping sauce!
- Serve for breakfast along with other dim sum favorites.
- Add to meat broths to make a filling soup.
- Use in pancit or noodle and vegetable stir-fries.
More dim sum recipes
Ingredients
- 6 medium dried shitake mushrooms
- 1 pound ground pork
- ยผ pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined and finely chopped
- 1 thumb-size ginger, peeled, grated, and juice extracted
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon pepper
- ยฝ teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 package (30 pieces) shumai wrappers
Dipping Sauce
- calamansi or lemon juice to taste
- soy sauce to taste
- chili garlic to taste
Equipment
- Steamer
Instructions
- In a small bowl with warm water, soak shiitake mushrooms until softened. Using hands, squeeze liquid and then mince.
- In a bowl, combine ground pork, shrimp, mushroom, ginger juice, soy sauce, salt, sugar, and pepper until well-distributed.
- In a bowl, combine corn starch and water, Stir until cornstarch is dissolved and add to pork mixture.
- Mix pork mixture until very sticky.
- Separate wrappers into individual sheets. Spoon a heaping tablespoonful of meat mixture on the middle of the wrapper and then gather sides to form a "cup" around the filling. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Arrange siomai in a single layer about ยผ-inch apart on a lightly greased steamer basket and steam for about 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through.
- Gently remove from steamer and serve hot with dipping sauce.
Dipping sauce
- In a small bowl,combine calamansi juice, soy sauce and chili garlic sauce.
Notes
- The recipe makes about 30 pieces; nutritional info is based on 5 shumai per serving.
- If using a metal steamer, line the steamer basket with steaming paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray to prevent the siomai from sticking.
Video
Nutrition Information
โThis website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.โ
Sheree says
Why my the wrapper that's not touching the filling is aldente?
Im using wanton wrapper that is yellow color. I think it has an egg.
Joanna says
How to make chili garlic?
vincent paul joson says
mam i plan to have siomai business i use mushroom siomai can u help me how i use oyster mushroom white
Janelle Cua says
Kahit po lean yung mean na ginamit ko, natatanggal yung siomai filling sa wrapper. Di ko alam bakit ganoon ๐ nakatatlong tries nako. Iba't ibang meats pero ganoon pa rin lagi natatanggal sa wrapper yung filling.
Allen says
Paano po hindi magdikitdikit ang siomai?
Judy Ramirez says
Hi Ms. Lalaine
Ask ko po napansin ko po kasi s directions of cooking hindi n po pini preheat ang steamer before ilagay ang siomai?. Ilang beses n rin po ako nakapag luto ng siomai pero diff recipe po ginamit ko, pero i would love to try ang recipe nyo po.
Thank you,
Judy
Erwin says
Maam, ung exact measurement nang recipe magkanu po aabutin?plan ko po sana mag tayo ng siomai business using your recipe po kung ok lang po sa inyo dito sa pinas, magkanu ko po pwede ibenta at ilang piraso po, salamat maam
Francis says
Hi can i use fish as an alternative to pork / beef?
Lalaine Manalo says
I've never tried fish in this recipe so I am not sure how it would work. I suppose you can run the fish fillet in a food processor until coarsely chopped and then proceed with the recipe.
dhette says
paano po maiwasng magloosen ung wrapper?? gumawa ako ndi dumkit
Lalaine Manalo says
Make sure po na hindi masyado mataba ang ground pork para hindi masyado magrender nang fat at lumiit pag steam ๐
Xienna Marie says
Super yummy!!! I added water chestnuts instead of the shitake mushrooms. The recipe was amazing!It was the first time my Norwegian boyfriend ate siomai and he loved it. Why didnโt I discover the recipes in Kawaling Pinoy before? You are the bestโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธI downloaded your free ecookbook and I will surely cook all the foods there! โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
Lalaine Manalo says
I'm so glad your boyfriend loved it! Feel free to let us know what other dishes you're going to let him try ๐
Anna says
Hi Ms Lalaine,
I tried cooking it, Bakit po Hindi dumikit sa wrapper ung meat?
Thank you.
PERLA Buce says
Tanong lang po! Ilang kutsara ng katas ng luya po ang ilalagay Salamat po! ๐
Eve says
Can I replace fresh ginger with powdered ginger? If so, how much?
Sofia says
I will try this tonight!
Ms Lalaine maraming salamat for sharing your recipes, your page is my go to page for my cravings ๐
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank you, Sofia. I am glad you find the recipes helpful ๐
Joanna says
Hi po, para san po ba yung egg beaten sa siomai meat? Sinubukan ko recipe nyo but then i forgot to add the egg. Ok lang po ba yun? Mag iiba lasa? Thank you!
Lalaine Manalo says
Walang egg yung recipe ๐
Mary ann tamba says
HELLO po bakit kapag na steam na lumiliit un meat nya sa loob parang nagloloosen yung meat sa wrapper?
Thank you and God Bless
Lalaine Manalo says
Hello, Mary Ann
Lumiliit siya kasi nagrerender nang fat yung pork habang linuluto.
Cathy says
Hi! I wanted to try this recipe but Im allergic to chicken, can I use only beef instead?
Lalaine says
Yes, you can use ground beef or ground pork. ๐
Jen says
Bakit po madaling madurog un mixture ng pork siomai ko nasa loob ng wrapper.? . Hndi po intact. My egg and may cornstarch naman po
Sue says
Not sure what siomai wrappers are--where can you purchase them? Thank you!
Lalaine says
Hello Sue
They're wrappers kind of like eggrolls but smaller. You can find them at most grocery stores such as Walmart, Target in the refrigerated aisle along with tofu etc.