Dim sum isn’t just a tasty dish, but a social experience. The small bite-size morsels of food can be enjoyed together, as a meal to share, and there are many different delicious fillings and variations of dim sum to try. As a consequence, whilst dim sum is clearly exceptionally popular in Asia, it’s rapidly gaining a global fan base as well, with more and more people consuming this in the UK when going out for a meal with family or friends. Here’s our ultimate guide to the famous dish…

Dim sum etiquette – what you need to know before going to a dim sum restaurant

If you’ve never experienced dim sum before, you may be at a loss when it comes to the proper etiquette. These handy tips will ensure you appear to be a dim sum pro…

• Begin with tea – When you walk into a truly traditional dim sum restaurant, you’ll certainly be given a pot of tea as soon as you sit down. House tea will always be served, however some restaurants will have a variation of different flavours for you to try. Once the pot is empty, you should leave the lid ajar or turn it upside down in order to let the waiter know that you want a refill. If someone fills your glass, you should tap the table to say thank you.
• Share – As mentioned, dim sum is also a social experience, which is why it’s advisable to share. You can order a selection of small plates and enjoy them all together.
• How to order – Ordering has never been easier, as the server with the dim sum cart will come to you. The server will have a few different dishes for you to try. If you don’t see the dim sum dish you were hoping for, don’t be afraid to ask. The majority of restaurants will bring you a fresh one from the kitchen.
• Utensils – Most people use chopsticks to eat their dim sum – this is the traditional option. You should follow basic chopstick etiquette; i.e. never leave them sticking straight up from the bowl when not in use and don’t spear your food with them. However, if you’re not comfortable with using chopsticks, you certainly don’t have to sit there and struggle. Ask for a knife & fork if you need them.

Different dim sum dishes

Let’s take a look at the general options you can choose from when ordering dim sum dishes from any establishment…

• Fung Zao – Fried steamed chicken feet
• Pei Guen – Tofu skin roll, fried
• Cheong Fan – Rolled rice noodles
• Cha Siu Bao – Buns stuffed with barbecue pork, steamed
• Siu Mai – Open-topped teamed shrimp or pork dumplings
• Zhaliang – Fried noodle wrapped crullers
• Pai Gwut – Steamed ribs
• Chiu-Chao Fan Guo – Dumpling with shrimp, pork and peanuts – steamed
• Har Gau – Steamed shrimp dumplings
• Haam Siu Gau – Deep-fried glutinous rice dumplings with pork
• Wu Gok – Purple taro dumplings with a savoury pork filling

Chicken feet, a dim sum classic

If you’re new to dim sum, eating chicken feet may not sound an appetising prospect. However, it’s one of the most traditional Chinese dishes. You’ll find it served in almost all Chinese restaurants. It’s actually one of the tastiest dim sum dishes around. Plus, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as turning an ingredient that doesn’t appear appetising into a dish that many coo over.

Are there any benefits in eating chicken feet?

• Good joint health – Chicken feet promote good joint movement, whilst helping to minimise joint pain and arthritis. This is because they contain essential nutrients such as cartilage, collagen, calcium and protein.
• Source of collagen – There are many benefits to be gained from collagen. Not only will your skin look younger and healthier, but it can assist the body to metabolise fats, which is why it’s good for weight loss. It also improves the blood supply by strengthening blood vessels.

How to cook chicken feet

There are lots of ways to prepare chicken feet, including healthy options like using an air fryer. Now we’ll talk you through a classic dim sum dish – braised chicken feet. Begin by preparing the chicken feet. Get rid of any blemishes and remove the claws using a sharp knife. Ensure the feet are thoroughly clean by rubbing them with a substantial amount of kosher salt. This will remove any loose skin or surface impurities. Simply rinse in water afterwards to get rid of any excess salt.

Next, deep fry the chicken feet in batches. Once submerged in hot oil, they can spit quite a lot, which is why you need to dry the chicken thoroughly beforehand. In addition, it’s always a good idea to keep the lid on the cooking pot. Fry the feet until they’re brown. Once removed, you’ll need to make a brine for the feet to go in. There are different methods to making brine – the easiest is to pour hot water over the aromatics you’ve used; anything such as chillis, ginger, peppercorns and bay leaves. Once you’ve put the chicken into the brine, immediately add some cold water to cool it down. A splash of wine is never a bad addition either.

Leave the chicken feet to marinate for a few hours or overnight. After this, braise the feet until they’re tender. You can actually use the brine to form the base of your braise. After around two hours, the chicken should be tender and ready to enjoy. Why not make a sauce to accompany it?

All in all, there’s no denying that dim sum offers a great taste experience!

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