Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe – A Chinese Delicacy

Soup dumplings or Xiao Long Bao is a delicious dish, popular in Taiwanese and Chinese cuisines. They are known for their rich and steamy broth hidden inside beautiful delicate dumpling skin along with juicy, flavorful meat. Today, we’re going to guide you through the process of making your own homemade Xiao Long Bao.

Ingredients:

For the broth:

• 2 pounds of pork bones
• 2 skinless chicken thighs
• 1 piece of ginger
• 2 green onions
• 4 cups of water

For the filling:

• 1 pound of ground pork
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons of finely chopped ginger
• 2 teaspoons of Chinese rice wine
• 1/2 teaspoon of sugar

For the skin:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of warm water

Instructions:

1. Prepare the broth:

1. Place the pork bones and chicken thighs in a large pot. Add a piece of ginger, onions, and water.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for at least 8 hours, or overnight for a richer flavor.
3. Strain the soup and remove any solid parts. Let it cool. Once cooled, the soup will become a jelly-like consistency.

2. Prepare the filling:

1. In a large bowl, mix the ground pork, soy sauce, ginger, Chinese rice wine, and sugar.
2. Add in the cooled jelly soup and mix until your filling is well combined.

3. Prepare the skin:

1. Make a well in the middle of the flour. Gradually add warm water in the mid. Mix it with the flour until it forms a dough.
2. Cover the dough with a wet cloth and let it rest for around 1 hour.

4. Assemble the soup dumplings:

1. Divide your dough into small pieces and roll it out into a thin circle using a rolling pin.
2. Spoon a small amount of filling into your skin. Make pleats all around the filling and pinch it closed at the top.
3. Do the same for the rest of your dough and filling.

5. Cook the Xiao Long Bao:

1. Steam your soup dumplings in a bamboo steamer over boiling water for 10 minutes, or until the dough has become translucent.
2. Enjoy your Xiao Long Bao hot, but be careful, the broth inside could be hot!

Making homemade Xiao Long Bao might be time-consuming, but it’s surely rewarding. Now that you know a perfect soup dumplings recipe, invite your family and friends for a dumpling party and let them experience a piece of Taiwan and China in your home.