These exquisite snacks not only intoxicated the taste buds, but also expressed their love for food and life.
Among the thousands of Cantonese dishes in Qian Qian, shrimp dumplings are always the first. Next, I will introduce the making process of Cantonese dim sum-shrimp dumplings in detail.
1. Choose ingredients:
I once tried to make shrimp dumplings at home, but at first I didn't pay special attention to the quality of shrimp. Once, I bought a bag of cheap shrimp, thinking that as long as it was shrimp.
However, when I made shrimp dumplings, I found that the quality of shrimp was not as good as I expected. The meat of shrimp feels loose and the taste is not delicious enough. This failure made me realize that choosing the quality of shrimp is an important part of making delicious shrimp dumplings.
Since that failure, I began to pay more attention to the quality of shrimp selection. When buying shrimp in the market, I will use the following methods to judge the quality of shrimp:
Appearance:
I will choose shrimps with complete appearance and bright shells. Shrimp shells should be shiny and bright in color, and avoid choosing shrimp shells that are discolored or obviously damaged.
Texture:
Gently press the shrimp's body with your hands. If you feel that the meat is elastic and firm, it means that the shrimp has a good texture.
Smell:
Smell the shrimp. Fresh shrimp should have no pungent smell, but a faint ocean smell.
Shrimp head:
If I buy whole shrimp, I will pay attention to the state of the shrimp head. The color of the shrimp head should be bright, and the eyes should be convex, not concave.
Through these methods, I gradually improved my ability to choose shrimps. I remember once, I specially went to a seafood market and spent some time selecting fresh prawns to make shrimp dumplings.
When the shrimp dumplings I finally made were delicious and tender, I felt very satisfied and gratified. That shrimp dumpling from the selection of ingredients to the completion of production made me realize more deeply that good ingredients are the basis for making delicious dishes.
2. Preparation:
When I tried to make shrimp dumplings, a classic Cantonese dim sum, I found that the exact proportion of seasonings had a crucial influence on the taste and mouthfeel of the dishes. Next, I will explain in detail how to prepare seasonings based on my own experience to ensure that shrimp dumplings can bring delicious enjoyment in afternoon tea.
Before making shrimp dumplings, I will prepare the necessary seasonings in advance, including salt, sugar, chicken essence and so on. For these seasonings, I will use them as accurately as possible in proportion to ensure that the taste of the dishes is balanced. The following are the proportions of seasonings I usually use:
Salt:? For about 500 grams of shrimp meat, I will use about 5 grams of salt. This ratio is enough to improve the taste, but it will not make the shrimp dumplings too salty.
Sugar:? I will use a small amount of sugar to increase the sweetness of shrimp dumplings, about 2.5g.
Chicken essence:? In order to enhance the flavor of shrimp dumplings, I will add a small amount of chicken essence, about 2.5g.
I summed up these proportions according to my own taste and experience, and of course I can fine-tune them according to my personal preferences. The accurate use of seasonings can make the taste of shrimp dumplings more balanced, and each bite can feel the fragrance of different seasonings.
I still remember one time, I accurately mixed seasonings according to the above ratio and made a batch of shrimp dumplings. When I tasted these shrimp dumplings, I found that they tasted excellent. The perfect combination of the delicacy of shrimp and the balance of seasonings made me feel the pleasure of making delicious Cantonese cuisine.
In a word, by accurately weighing and using seasonings, I found that shrimp dumplings taste better and can bring me delicious enjoyment in afternoon tea. This experience also made me understand the importance of the proportion of seasonings in cooking. I will also pay attention to the accurate use of seasonings when making other dishes to ensure that each dish can present the best taste.
3. Making stuffing:
When making stuffing for shrimp dumplings, I always adhere to the principle of "Excellence". First of all, I will choose fresh prawns as the main ingredients to ensure the delicious texture of prawns. In order to make delicate shrimp dumpling stuffing, I will shell and head the shrimp, and then carefully remove the shrimp line so as not to affect the taste.
Next, I will pat the shrimp meat slightly loose with the back of a knife, and then cut it into tiny minced shrimp meat. This can make the shrimp meat more tender and smooth, and also help to mix the stuffing evenly. At the same time, I will also add some seasonings, such as salt, pepper and soy sauce, to add the flavor of shrimp dumplings.
In addition to shrimp, I usually add some ingredients to enrich the taste and layer of the filling. For example, I will chop up some fresh leeks and add a little carved wine to give shrimp dumplings more aroma and flavor.
I prepared shrimp dumplings for my family. I specially chose fresh prawns and chopped the shrimp meat into delicate shrimp minced meat. I also chopped up some leeks, patted the shrimp meat lightly with the back of a knife, and then added some salt (1.5g), pepper (2g) and soy sauce (2g). Finally, I added a little bit of Huadiao wine (5g) to make the filling more fragrant. These steps are to ensure that the filling tastes delicate and delicious.
4. Filling process:
Filling is one of the most important steps in making classic Cantonese dim sum shrimp dumplings. I am very happy to share my experience and practice.
First of all, I will prepare the shrimp dumpling stuffing made in advance to ensure that the shrimp meat and seasoning are fully mixed.
Then, I will prepare a dumpling skin, put it in the palm of my hand, and put a small amount of stuffing in the center of the dumpling skin with a spoon.
Then, I will pick up one side of the dumpling skin with my thumb and forefinger, and then gradually fold it in half to wrap the stuffing inside.
In the process of stuffing, I will pay attention to gently pressing the dumpling skin with my fingertips to make the edge of jiaozi smoother and ensure that the stuffing will not leak out.
After wrapping the dumpling skin, I will pinch jiaozi slightly, and then pinch a wrinkle with my thumb and forefinger to make the shape of jiaozi more beautiful.
This step requires some skill and practice, but with the accumulation of time, I find myself more and more proficient.
5. Cooking snacks:
At first, I will prepare a steamer and add some water, and then heat the steamer until the water begins to boil.
When the steamer starts to steam, I will carefully put the wrapped shrimp dumplings on the steamer rack to ensure that there is enough space between jiaozi to avoid sticking together.
Then, I will cover the lid of the steamer and adjust it to a moderate heat to let the shrimp dumplings start cooking.
This process requires some patience. I usually adjust the cooking time according to the size and thickness of jiaozi, which is usually about 8 to 10 minutes.
In the process of cooking, I will open the lid of the steamer from time to time and gently touch the surface of the shrimp dumplings with my hands to check whether they are ripe.
When the skin of shrimp dumplings becomes slightly transparent and the stuffing becomes tender and delicious, you can turn off the heat.
In the process of steaming shrimp dumplings, I found some small bubbles on the surface of shrimp dumplings, which may be because the stuffing released gas during cooking.
I immediately tapped the steamer to help the bubbles drain smoothly and ensure the appearance of shrimp dumplings is more beautiful.
Beibei has something to say:
In the process of making Cantonese dim sum, I not only satisfied my taste buds, but also realized the blending of traditional food and family feelings.
Every afternoon tea is a delicious exploration and emotional transmission, which makes me feel the warmth and beauty in my life.
I deeply realize that making classic Cantonese dim sum with heart is not only to enjoy delicious food, but also to create a happy time.