Siew mai

Makes about 20 - 25

13 medium - large prawns, shelled
About the same amount of minced pork (it should have a little fat. Lean pork is just not nice!)
1 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 inch knob of ginger, finely minced
3-4 stalks of spring onions, chopped
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Splash of tsao tsing wine
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon fried shallot oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cornflour
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
pinch of salt
Wonton skins

Dipping sauce:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, cut into matchsticks
1 inch knob ginger,  cut into matchsticks
2 stalks spring onions, chopped
2-3 stalks coriander (including the stems), chopped
2-3 chili padi, chopped
Few drops of sesame oil
Few drops of fried shallot oil
1 teaspoon sugar
3-5 tablespoons water

Equipment:
Dim sum steamer
Wok

1. Chop the prawns coarsely, slightly minced but still maintain their texture.

2. Mix all the rest of the ingredients into a mixing bowl. I usually smell the mixture to see what else it needs (e.g more soy, more sesame etc) but if you really want you can boil a little piece and have a taste to see what it's like.

3. Wrap them in the wonton skins.

4. Line a dim sum steamer with greased baking paper (don't use olive oil to grease!! Please don't ever use olive oil in Chinese cooking). Alternatively if you have some on hand, use a whole big leaf or two of softened/boiled napa cabbage/Chinese cabbage to line your steamer. Both prevents sticking.

5. Place the the siew mai in the steamer, making sure to leave a little space in between them. Fill a wok with boiling water and place the steamer on top, steam on high for about 10 minutes or until each siew mai is slightly firm to touch and the wonton skins have turned soft and almost melted into the meat.

6. Mix everything for your dipping sauce and serve hot.

* I like to serve this dipping sauce because the ingredients are almost the same as what's in the siew mai. But it's just as good with bottle chili sauce! 

This dinner was inspired by the SortedFood guys. Watch their video for siew mai here.