Xiao Long Bao Recipe (Soup Dumplings)

Prepare the Aspic

1. Gather the ingredients.
   

2. Bruise the scallion stalk by pounding it with the flat side of your knife. 
   

3. In a small pot over medium-high heat, bring 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth, dried shiitake mushroom, ginger slice, and scallion to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, submerging the mushroom occasionally.
   

4. Mix 3 packets of plain gelatin with the remaining 3/4 cup chicken stock in a heat-safe bowl.
   

5. Remove solids from simmering broth and pour it into the bloomed gelatin, whisking to incorporate thoroughly. Pour into a sheet tray and refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes. While setting, prepare the dough and mince.
   

Make Dough

1. Gather the ingredients.
   

2. Heat 1/2 cup of water to 195 F in a small saucepan. If you don’t have a thermometer, it should be steaming and on the verge of simmering with small bubbles rising to the top.
   

3. Meanwhile, place the 3 1/2 cups of flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Add the 1/2 cup of 195 F water and stir with a wooden spoon.
   

4. Once the initial portion of water has been absorbed, add the room temperature water. Knead until all the flour has been incorporated. If the dough is too dry, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time.
   

5. Add oil and knead again until a smooth dough ball has formed, 3 to 5 minutes. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
   

6. Cover bowl of dough with plastic wrap and rest for 30 minutes.
   

Prepare the Mince

1. Gather the ingredients.
   

2. While the dough is resting, prepare the mince. Place the meat in a large bowl and add the scallion, garlic, ginger, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, and dark soy sauce. Mix until uniformly combined.
   

3. Add the salt, sugar, and white pepper, and mix vigorously, kneading and crushing the mince through your fingers.
   

4. Your mince will be ready when the texture is paste-like, and it leaves a film on the walls of the bowl. Set aside and retrieve the aspic.
   

Prepare the Filling

1. Take your jellied aspic and cut it into about 4 sections. Julienne the sections, and then brunoise the julienne to achieve small cubes. A rough chop followed by a mince is acceptable as well.
   

2. Add your aspic to the mince in 3 to 4 portions, mixing to incorporate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until dough is ready for use.
   

Prepare Dumpling Dough

1. Using a bench scraper or knife, divide the dough ball into 4 even pieces. Take one quarter section (cover the remaining sections with a kitchen towel), and using both hands, grasp it by its midsection. Gently massage it with an outward motion to elongate the section into a cylinder.
   

2. Place the cylinder of dough on your work surface. Starting from the midsection and working your way outwards, roll the cylinder into a uniform, 1-inch-diameter rope.
   

3. Prepare your dumpling skin by cutting 3/4-inch portions off of the rope using your first piece as a guide for the remaining ones. Each piece should weigh about 15 grams.
   

4. Flatten each piece by applying firm pressure with the palm of your hand.
   

5. Use your rolling pin to roll each piece into a 3 1/2-inch diameter disc, aiming for a thinner edge and thicker center. Lightly dust the work surface with flour if the dough starts to stick.

   Proceed to fill and fold the dumpling skins as described below and then repeat cutting/rolling out the dumpling skins and filling/folding them, one section of dough at a time.
   

Fold Dumplings

1. Place a dumpling skin in the palm of your hand and add a tablespoon of the filling into the skin. Depress the filling into the skin with your spoon, cupping your hand so that the filling is married to the dumpling skin. Repeat with remaining dumpling skins.
   

2. To form the Xiao Long Bao, place your prepared dumpling skin in the palm of your left hand. With your right thumb and middle finger, grasp the edge of the dumpling skin at about 2 o’clock (if it were a clock).

3. With your left thumb gently depressing the filling, twist your left wrist in a clockwise motion. This will create a pleat for your right hand to seal. Continue pleating all the way around the top of the dumpling.
   

4. As you reach the end of the pleating, you can release the grasp of your left thumb, while continuing to twist and seal the pleats with your right hand. It won’t be pretty at first, but as you practice the concept described above, it will become natural.
   

5. Don’t worry about the look—the important part is the seal, so just be sure to pinch any gaps shut. At this point, you can freeze your dumplings on a parchment-lined sheet tray if not cooking right away.
   

Cook Dumplings

1. Bring your steamer to a full boil. Place dumplings in your steamer basket. To prevent your dumplings from sticking to your steamer, cut a piece of parchment paper to size and perforate with a fork. You can also use a leaf of napa cabbage, or a light coating of oil.
   

2. Cook for 6 minutes at a full steam (8 minutes if steaming from frozen). Rest for 2 minutes before consuming. Serve steamed Xiao Long Bao with a dipping sauce of Chinkiang vinegar (Chinese black vinegar) and a pinch of raw ginger julienne.