Dim Sum Party Recipes

These were the actual recipes used during Scamper’s recent weekend get together… you can read all about it here:

Dim Sum is a Chinese rolling buffet. Traditionally, carts of delicacies are rolled through a packed hall of hungry fans. Some are steamed. Some are fried. There are varieties that are baked and roasted too. Dumplings, pork buns and noodles are accompanied by spare ribs and roasted duck. If you like Chinese food, you’ll love dim sum. We recently discovered that a dim sum party is tremendous fun. Everyone can participate in making something wonderful.

Shrimp Chips

These are amazingly delicious. They used to bring them right to the table when we would sit down in our local Chinese restaurant and we looked forward to them every time. Most people under 35 have never even heard of them.

They’re like puffy, crunchy, pastel colored potato chips. When we made them at our dim sum party, everyone absolutely loved them.

These are best handled by a competent fryer. If you’re afraid of vats of boiling oil, give this job to someone else.

Shrimp chips can be purchased in Asian markets or on line. Unless you live in a city with an active china town area, you’ll probably have to prepare them at home. Like many items in Asian markets, the instructions are frequently not in English. Here’s what you need to do.

Ingredients

1 package of shrimp chips
1 1/2 quarts of oil to fry

Preparation

Make sure that the oil is heated to about 400 degrees.
Place the discs in the oil and get ready.
You will need to have a large bowl nearby
Within a few minutes the puffed up chips will rise to the surface of the pot
They don’t explode like popcorn but they will overflow
The oil tends to whisk off of them as they hit the air so you don’t need to put them on paper towels

That may have seemed like a lengthy description but if you were unprepared, you wouldn’t have been ready.

Green Papaya Salad

This was extraordinarily popular. It’s mildly sweet and moderately spicy.

Ingredients

3c shredded green papaya
Most Asian markets will sell it already shredded in the refrigerated section of herbs and vegetables. If you can’t find it, buy 2-4 green papayas and use a large cut grater. They should resemble coleslaw shreds
10 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
15 fresh green beans
2 Tbsp dried shrimp
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2-3 Tbsp fish sauce
3 limes juiced
3 Tbsp palm sugar
3 Tbsp roasted salted peanuts, crushed into small, uneven pieces

Preparation

Combine the tomatoes with the papaya
Roll the green beans with the palm of your hand, applying pressure
Remove the ends and cut the beans in half
Toss them into the papaya
Toss in the dried shrimp
In a separate bowl, whisk together. Fish sauce, garlic, lime juice and palm sugar
Pour the liquid over the salad and toss
Top with crushed nuts
Chill for an hour

We sent guests home with Chinese take-out containers that we found at the market. They liked it even more the next day

Marinated Cod

This is just delicious. It’s sweet and savory and the texture of the fish is superb.

Ingredients

2 cod fillets
1/3 c white or yellow miso paste
1/4 c sake
1/4 c mirin
4 Tbsp palm sugar

Preparation

Boil the sake and mirin for 30 seconds or until the alcohol smell is gone
Remove from heat
Whisk in miso and sugar until they dissolve and the marinade is smooth
Let the marinade cool
Pour the mixture over the cod fillets in a large zip lock bag
Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3 hrs. Up to 2 days. We only had time for 3 hrs and it was terrific but overnight is better
Preheat oven to 400
Pan sear the fillets to brown the outside
Roast on an oiled baking sheet for 3 min per side
The fish will easily flake when done

Banana Sea Bass

Chilean sea bass works very well with sesame/ soy based marinades. We always add a citrus fruit and we frequently add another fruit. Peaches are great. Pineapple is terrific too. This time we forgot to buy the fruit. In a pinch, we popped into the 7-11. All they had were bananas. We kept our fingers crossed and went with it. Everyone loved it.