XIAO LONG BAO (SHANGHAI SOUP DUMPLINGS)

Xiao Long Bao (Shanghai Soup Dumplings) image

Steam these soup dumplings in batches and eat them when they're at their best-hot out of the steamer.

Provided by Anita Lo

Categories Soup/Stew Chicken Fish Garlic Ginger Leafy Green Mushroom Onion Pork Soy Appetizer Steam Cocktail Party Entertaining Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Kidney Friendly Peanut Free Tree Nut Free

Yield Makes about 75 dumplings

Number Of Ingredients 30

Ingredients

Soup
10 cups plus 3 tablespoons (or more) water
2 3/4 to 3 pounds chicken wings, backs, and necks
2 1/2 ounces Chinese-style cured smoked ham or Smithfield ham, cut into 4 slices
3/4 cup coarsely chopped green onions (white parts only)
2 (1-inch-diameter 1/2-inch-thick) slices peeled fresh ginger
1 whole dried shiitake mushroom
1 large garlic clove, flattened
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine (Chinese rice wine)
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin (from 2 envelopes)
Sauce
1 cup black vinegar
6 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons very thin matchstick-size strips peeled fresh ginger
Filling
1 pound ground pork
1/4 pound peeled deveined uncooked shrimp, finely chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped green onions (white parts only)
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 large garlic clove, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon Shaoxing wine (Chinese rice wine)
1/4 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
Dumplings
75 (about) 3-inch square or round dumpling wrappers (from two 14-ounce packages)
1 large head of Napa cabbage, leaves separated

Steps:

Stock your pantry
Look for the ingredients and supplies featured here at an Asian market or online at adrianascaravan.com: Chinese-style cured smoked ham (or use Smithfield ham), dried shiitake mushrooms, Shaoxing (also spelled Shao Hsing) wine, black vinegar, dumpling wrappers (don't use wonton wrappers; they are too thin), and bamboo steamer sets.
Make the soup
Combine 10 cups water and all remaining soup ingredients except gelatin in large pot. Bring to boil, spooning off any foam that rises to surface. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until chicken pieces are very soft and beginning to fall apart, adding more water by cupfuls if necessary to keep chicken submerged, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Strain and chill
Strain soup; discard solids. Return broth to same pot. Boil until reduced to 2 cups, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour 3 tablespoons water into small bowl; sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand until gelatin softens. Add to hot broth; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Transfer to 13x9x2-inch glass dish. Cover; refrigerate aspic overnight.
Make the sauce
Mix 1 cup black vinegar, 6 tablespoons soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons fresh ginger strips in small bowl. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Make the filling
Combine all filling ingredients in large bowl and mix with fork just until blended. Cut aspic into 1/3-inch cubes. Add aspic to pork mixture; stir gently with wooden spoon just until incorporated. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
Assemble the dumplings
Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 1 dumpling wrapper on work surface. Spoon 1 very generous teaspoon filling onto center of wrapper, including at least 2 or 3 aspic cubes.
Pleat the wrapper
Lightly brush edges of dumpling wrapper with water. Bring 1 corner of wrapper up around filling, then pleat remaining edges of wrapper at regular intervals all around filling until filling is enclosed and wrapper forms bundle-like shape with small opening at top.
Twist the top
Gather top edges of wrapper together and twist at top to enclose filling. Place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. DO AHEAD Can be refrigerated, covered, for 1 day, or frozen in single layer in covered containers for 2 weeks.
Prepare the steamer
Line each layer of bamboo steamer basket with cabbage leaves; place over wok filled with enough water to reach just below bottom of bamboo steamer basket. (Or line metal steamer rack with cabbage leaves and set over water in large pot.) Place dumplings atop cabbage, spacing apart.
Steam the dumplings
Bring water to boil. Cover; steam until cooked through, adding more water to wok if evaporating too quickly, about 12 minutes for fresh dumplings and 15 minutes for frozen. Serve dumplings immediately, passing sauce alongside for dipping.