Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • Collagen-rich cuts of chicken ensure the stock will gel properly.
  • Homemade dumpling wrappers are perfect for stretching around the filling and crimping into the traditional purse shape that keeps the juicy soup filling from leaking out.
  • Whisking the jellied stock with the filling simplifies the dumpling-making process.

Ok, so we've been throughguo tie(fried dumplings), the thick-skinned, crisp-on-the-bottom potstickers from Beijing, but what about their Shanghai counterparts? I'm talking the delicatexiao long baoof Shanghai;the ones that appear to be your standard dumplings, butmiraculously burst open in a mouthful of savory brothwith a tender meatball floating inside as you bite into them.

They're not extremely tough to make, but theyaretime-consuming, and here's why: In order to get the broth inside the filling, it must first be solidified, and that means making arealchicken and/or pork broth—no cheating by using the canned stuff.

When you cook down real chicken or pork bones, the connective tissuecollagen(mainly from in and around the ligaments where the muscles connect to the bones and the joints) slowly breaks down into threegelatinmolecules. It's these long, string-like proteins that form a connective matrix that adds viscosity to a well-made stock.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (1)

A slow-cooked broth made with plenty of bones and reduced a bit should gel into afirm, Jell-O-like texturewhen it's chilled, like the stock above. Here, I used chicken wings and backs for body and flavored the stock with Chinese ham, ginger, white pepper, and scallions.

Of course, if you're really desperate for a fix, you could always use packaged commercial gelatin (or even agar agar) to set canned chicken broth into a gel, but where's the fun in that?

After making your broth, the rest of the process is simple—no different from any other dumpling. Blend together your filling ingredients (I like to use a mix of pork and shrimp flavored simply with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, salt, sugar, and a few scallions), add your gelled broth, fold them into dumpling wrappers, and steam them.*

*I must acknowledge that hardcore soup-dumpling makerswill add filling and gelled broth separately. I find this very difficult, so I just mix the gelled broth directly into the filling. The end result: The meat forms a slightly looser meatball inside the wrapper as it cooks because of all the space left behind from the melting broth, but to my taste, this is not a bad thing.

"With soup dumplings in particular, shape is important."

This is one case whereyou must use homemade dough—store-bought dumpling wrappers are not stretchy enough, and you will not be able to fold them into the right shape. With soup dumplings in particular, shape is important: Rather than having a long seam running along one side (like with fried dumplings), soup dumplings are pleated up like a purse, so that the only place where the filling could possibly leak out is the tiny hole at the tip.

Once you have rolled out your dough into round wrappers, place a small amount of filling in the center of the wrapper and moisten very slightly with your fingertip.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (2)

You can try crimping the dumpling while holding it in your palm, but it's far easier to rest the dumpling on the board as you work. Start crimping the edges, working your way slowly around the entire circumference of the wrapper.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (3)

Keep crimping until the entire top is sealed save for a small hole in the center.

Pinch and twist the very top to form a seal.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (5)

When steaming, you must line your steamer with something to prevent sticking. Parchment paper works, but napa cabbage leaves are cheaper, tastier, and more traditional.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (6)

If all goes well, the dumplings should stay intact, housing a delicious, soupy secret.

April 2011

This recipe was cross-tested in 2022 and updated to add specific folding information for the dumplings, increase the amount of bone broth and salt in the filling mixture, and extend the dumpling cook time.

Recipe Details

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe

Prep60 mins

Cook3 hrs

Active60 mins

Resting Time8 hrs

Total12 hrs

Serves8 servings

For the Broth:

  • 3 pounds (1.4kg) chicken backs or wings

  • 1/2 pound (8 ounces; 225g) Chinese ham or slab bacon

  • 6 scallions (4 ounces; 115g), whites separated, greens roughly chopped

  • One 1-inch knobfresh ginger (1/2 ounce; 15g)

  • 1 tablespoon whitepeppercorns

  • 10 cups (2.4L) water

  • Kosher salt

For the Filling:

  • 1/3 pound (150g) ground pork

  • 1/4 pound (115g) raw shrimp, peeled

  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxingwine

  • 2 teaspoons sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt, plus more as needed; for table salt, use half as much by volume

For the Dough:

  • 2 cups (9 ounces; 255g) all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup (235ml) boilingwater

For Cooking:

  • Napa cabbage leaves

Directions

  1. Combine chicken bones, ham, scallion whites, half of scallion greens, ginger, and white peppercorns in a stockpot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and simmer, uncovered, for 2 1/2 hours. Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth, and set over a large heatproof bowl. Carefully pour bone broth through strainer into bowl until the liquid has been strained. Discard solids in strainer. Season to taste with salt, cover, and refrigerate until set into a semi-firm jelly, at least 8 hours. Scrape off the fat that sets on top of the chilled bone broth and discard.

    Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (7)

  2. Meanwhile, combine pork, shrimp, soy sauce, wine, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and remaining scallion greens in a food processor. Process until a fine paste is formed, about 12 to 15 one-second pulses. Refrigerate until ready to use.

    Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (8)

  3. Meanwhile, place flour in the bowl of a food processor. With machine running, slowly drizzle in water until a cohesive dough is formed (you probably won't need all the water). Allow dough to ride around processor for 30 seconds. Form into a ball using floured hands and transfer to a bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let rest for at least 30 minutes.

    Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (9)

  4. When broth is gelled, transfer filling mixture to a bowl along with 1 1/2 cups of jellied broth (save the rest for another use). Beat or whisk it in until hom*ogenous. Season with salt. Keep filling well chilled.

    Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (10)

  5. Divide dough into 4 sections. Roll each section into a 6-inch long log. Cut each section into 10 equal pieces and roll each into a 10 gram ball, making 40 balls total. On a well-floured work surface, roll each ball into a round, flat wrapper, 3 1/2- to 4-inches in diameter. Using a roller, gradually roll the edges of the wrapper towards the center to create thinner edges and a thicker center. Stack wrappers and keep under plastic until all of them are rolled out.

    Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (11)

  6. To form dumplings, place 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of a wrapper. Moisten the edges of the wrapper with a wet fingertip or a pastry brush. Pleat edges of the wrapper repeatedly, pinching the edge closed after each pleat until the entire dumpling is sealed in a cinched purse shape. Pinch and twist top to seal. Transfer sealed dumplings to a lightly floured wooden or parchment-lined board.

    Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (12)

  7. Place a bamboo steamer over a wok with 2 inches of water. Place over medium-high heat until simmering. Line steamer with napa cabbage leaves and place dumplings directly on leaves. Steam until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve immediately, being careful not to break them.

    Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (13)

Special Equipment

Food processor, steamer insert or bamboo steamer

Read More

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Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between soup dumplings and xiao long bao? ›

Xiaolongbao are traditionally filled with pork. More modern innovations include other meats, seafood, shrimp, crab meat, and vegetarian fillings. Soup dumplings are created by wrapping solid meat aspic inside the skin alongside the meat filling. Heat from steaming then melts the gelatin-gelled aspic into soup.

How do they get the soup in soup dumplings? ›

The fillings for soup dumplings are typically made from seasoned pork, and the aspic or gelatin is made by cooking down broth and letting it cool and congeal. The dough must be kneaded to be extremely soft and smooth before it is rolled into a thin, flat circle.

How many folds should a xiao long bao have? ›

The modest dumpling that started a legacy. Each of our Xiao Long Bao is carefully weighed and folded by hand to achieve our signature Golden Ratio of 18 folds and stuffed with top-quality Kurobuta pork marinated in a blend of carefully-selected seasonings.

Why are soup dumplings so good? ›

The elegant pleated dumpling was made by adding aspic – or a jellified meat stock – to pork mince, so that once steamed the aspic would melt, thereby filling the inside of the dumpling with a flavoursome broth. The allure of the soup dumpling – then known as the Nanxiang da rou mantou – worked.

Is xiao long bao japanese or Chinese? ›

Xiaolongbao (小笼包) are small steamed buns, originally from the Jiangnian region in China, especially connected to Shanghai and Wuxi.

What are the 8 flavors of xiao long bao? ›

Each piece in this basket of eight treasures has its distinct color and flavor, which are extracted from natural ingredients. The enticing flavors are signature original, kimchi, crab roe, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, garlic and Szechuan.

What vinegar to use for xiao long bao? ›

Mix 1 cup black vinegar, 6 tablespoons soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons fresh ginger strips in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Are soup dumplings healthy? ›

"Steamed or boiled dumplings are a reasonably healthy option, but you need to think of things like the filling, serving size and condiments you are using," she tells Coach. "The veggie and seafood ones have the lowest energy [kilojoules]."

Why are my soup dumplings mushy? ›

Simmering broth might not be hot enough to raise the dumpling dough. Remove or tilt the lid after they've cooked so the dumplings don't over-steam and get soggy and dense.

What ethnicity makes soup dumplings? ›

Xiao Long Bao's Journey As a World-Famous Snack

The restaurant was a humble cooking oil retail business at the time, but the owner had the vision to transform it into something more. With the help of a chef from eastern China, they began to experiment with making steamed dumplings – and the rest is history.

Are soup dumplings steamed or boiled? ›

Timing varies depending on appliance, but in general, start by steaming the dumplings on low pressure for at least three minutes in an Instant Pot, or for a full 10 minutes at a rolling boil in your rice cooker.

What is the difference between xiao long bao and dumplings? ›

Xiao long bao are a type of Chinese dumpling hailing from Shanghai. Xiao long bao differ from traditional pork dumplings in one key way: the inside of the dumpling also contains a small amount of rich, delicious soup broth. For this reason, xiao long bao are also commonly referred to as soup dumplings.

What to eat with xiao long bao? ›

how to enjoy soup dumplings aka xiao long bao 🥟 best with a side of soy sauce, vinegar & ginger slices !!

Are bao buns the same as soup dumplings? ›

To Summarize. In summary, bao buns are made from fermented yeast dough, while dumplings are only made from wheat flour without the yeast. Since bao dough contains yeast, it needs more time to rise and results in thinner skin than dumplings. In terms of cooking, baos are usually steamed, baked, and sometimes pan-fried.

What's the difference between wonton soup and dumpling soup? ›

When comparing Chinese dumplings vs wontons, some key differences are: Wrappers: Wonton wrappers are thinner, are usually square, and may contain egg. Dumpling wrappers are thicker, are usually round, and don't require egg. Filling: Dumplings can be filled or unfilled.

What is the difference between soup dumplings and momo dumplings? ›

Dumplings generally have a thinner and more delicate dough wrapping, allowing for a lighter texture. In contrast, momos feature a thicker and chewier dough, providing a heartier bite.

What is special about xiao long bao? ›

Xiaolongbao are delicate parcels served piping hot in a small bamboo steamer. Within a wheat flour wrapper is a portion of fatty minced pork that, when steamed, releases a fragrant soup that pools within the dumpling, ready to explode in the mouth when bitten into.

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