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Kid's Favourites: Dim Sum Dishes

Written by Clare Cassidy on Monday, 03 November 2014. Posted in Family Life, Life in the +852

Dim sum dishes that kids just can't get enough of...

Kid's Favourites: Dim Sum Dishes

Going out to feast on dim sum is an affair to be enjoyed by the whole family. But some dishes feature rather ‘unique’ ingredients, and require an adventurous personality and a mature palate. For those of you who are new to the local cuisine, you may struggle to navigate the menus at dim sum restaurants - especially when it comes to ordering for the children. So to make life a little easier for you, here are several dishes that are sure to be winners with the young ones. Don’t worry - we haven’t forgotten to throw in a couple of desserts too!

Savoury Thrills

 

“Har Gow” (蝦餃)

Even if the Chinese name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ll probably recognise this dish instantly once you lay eyes on these plump, pale-pink parcels. The English name for it is “Crystal Shrimp Dumplings”, with the “crystal” referring to the lucid or crystal-clear skin, which is typically pleated to resemble a seashell. Canton-style har gow is crammed with shrimp and other ingredients like bamboo shoots and scallions for a kick, and is served with a side of seasoned soy-sauce to intensify the flavours. Kids are generally huge fans of har gow, presumably because of its mild taste and the soft, chewy texture of the skin.  

 

Charles Haynes / Flickr

 

“Cheong Fun” (豬腸粉)

Translated literally as “intestine rice noodles” due to it’s coiled, cylindrical shape (just its shape!), cheong fun is a very simple and versatile dish that is favoured around the world. Again, it is probably thanks to it’s simplicity and supple texture, that makes it an all-time fave for the young ones. Essentially, they are just thin sheets of white rice noodle that are steamed before being rolled and served with a drizzle of sweetened soy-sauce on top. But if this is too humdrum and vanilla for your adventurous tot, there are a million and one ways to inject some life and spice into it! Introduce them to cheong fun containing different fillings like pork, beef, shrimp, chicken and even veggies like scallions and bean sprouts. You can also change it up with a range of sauces and toppings from peanut and hoi sin sauce, to crushed sesame seeds or even a few drops of chilli oil.

 

 

“Char Siu Bao” (叉燒包)

Another simple yet genius gem that gives Chinese cuisine its tip-top reputation is this classic: char siu bao. There are two variations of this exquisite dish; they either come steamed or baked. While the steamed type boasts an ivory-coloured bun with a fluffy appearance and feel, the baked version features a glazed, golden brown crust that masks a soft and feathery interior. These buns envelope a rich core of tender, slow-roasted pork tenderloin (called “char siu”) that is coated in a sweet and tangy barbeque sauce. The contrast in taste between the piquant centre and the spongy loaf lends itself to a perfectly-balanced flavour, and the soft, cushiony texture makes it a pie-in-the-sky for the little ones!

 
 
 

“Siu Mai” (燒賣)

Siu mai is a staple food that is sold absolutely everywhere - from street-food stalls and Chinese restaurants to the cooked food counters at 7-11! Though there are many adaptations of siu maifrom regions all across China, the Canton-style rendition that hails from Guangdong province is no doubt the most prominent. These tasty bite-size dumplings are stuffed with pork, shrimp and Chinese mushroom, and often contain additional ingredients like green onion, ginger, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. The vivid, yellow skin that holds the contents of each parcel makes the dish distinctive. Dip them in a vinegar-based sauce and let the little ones try them out - we guarantee they’ll love them!

 

Andrewarchy / Flickr

 

Spring Rolls (春卷)

Wrapped in crunchy, golden-brown layers, these deep-fried goodies are a common dish with many variations in countries all over Asia, and even Europe and in Hispanic nations across Central and South America. As a versatile dish, different fillings and dipping sauces are used across the world; Hong Kong-style spring rolls are typically stuffed with shredded pork or diced shrimp with vegetables like carrots and cabbage. Bean sprouts, sliced Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots and vermicelli are also popular spring roll fillings. Like many other dim sum dishes, they are complemented by a seasoned soy-sauce, or sometimes a sweet chilli dip.

 

 

Sweet Delights

 

Mango Pudding (芒果布丁)

Finally, this list of kid faves would not be complete without the simple yet undeniably delicious mango pudding. As the name suggests, it is a heaping, wobbling mound of creamy mango goodness served chilled, with large chunks of mango inside, and if you’re lucky a generous dollop of sweet condensed milk. It’s no mystery why this treat never fails to make kids (and adults) salivate at the mere sight of it. Even after you’ve stuffed yourself full, there always seems to be just enough space for a serving of mango puds!

 

 

“Daan Taat” (蛋撻)

Daan taat is the Chinese name for those heavenly, yellow egg tarts you see all over town at local bakeries, dim sum joints, cha chaan tengs and even in Circle K. You might know them as Portuguese egg tarts, which are nearly the same thing except with a crispy, caramelized glaze on top; these blew up all over Asia - especially in the former Portuguese colony of Macau - in the 1990s. However, the original crumbly tarts filled to the top with a sweet, creamy custard filling (without the Portuguese-inspired crunchy top) have been around since the 40s, and you can almost always find them on the menu at any dim sum venue. They are also a great snack to munch on while you’re out and about (your kids will agree) and are ridiculously cheap!

 

llee_wu / Flickr

 

 

 

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Clare Cassidy

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