VEGETABLE DIM SUM RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. To make the filling, peel and finely slice the garlic and ginger. Pick the coriander leaves and set aside, then finely slice the stalks. Heat a splash of groundnut oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat, then add the garlic, ginger and coriander stalks. Fry for around 3 minutes, or until golden. Slice the mushrooms, then add to the pan for around 5 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
  2. Add the vinegar, chilli sauce and soy, then cook for a further 5 minutes, or until the liquid has boiled and bubbled away and the mushrooms are golden brown and starting to caramelise. Transfer to a bowl.
  3. Trim and finely slice the spring onions, then add the white part to the bowl. Deseed and finely slice the chilli, then add half to the bowl, reserving the rest for later. Stir in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, then set aside.
  4. Add the coconut milk, 2 heaped tins’ worth of flour and a good pinch of sea salt to a food processor. Whiz to a dough, then transfer to a flour-dusted surface and roll into a thick sausage. Cut into 12 equal-sized pieces, roll into balls, then flatten into rounds, roughly ½cm thick.
  5. Equally divide the mushroom mixture between each of the 12 dough circles (you'll need roughly 1 tablespoon of filling per circle), making sure to leave a 2cm gap around the edges. Pull and fold the sides over the filling, pinching the edges together to seal. Place upside-down (so the scruffy edges are underneath) in double-layered, lightly greased muffin cases and divide between two bamboo steamer baskets.??
  6. Place a wok over a high heat, then fill with 1 litre of boiling water and pop the steamer baskets on top. Reduce the heat to medium and steam for around 12 minutes, or until piping hot through and puffed up.
  7. Meanwhile, toast the sesame seeds in a small frying pan over a medium heat. Once the buns are ready, sprinkle over the seeds and the reserved spring onions and chilli. Tear the coriander leaves on top, then serve with hoisin sauce for dipping.

Steps:

• Cut the claws off and any dirty part on the chicken feet. And then cut the main large bone off and divide the chicken palm into two parts. If you feel this part too difficult, you can skip it. But you will need more oil in the deep frying process.
• Bring enough water to a boiling in a large pot, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of sugar (to avoid breaking of the skin) and 1/2 teaspoon of rice vinegar (to avoid darkened color). Cook the chicken feet for about 2 minutes. Transfer out and drain completely.
• Add 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce and marinate for around 30 minutes.
• Fill one third of a wok or deep frier with oil and heat it over medium heat to 180 C. Add the chicken feet and fry them until golden and dry. If your chicken feet are not completely dried, the oil might sparkle. Remember to use a long chop stick to turn the chicken feet and cover the fryer with a lid. If you did not divide the chicken feet into two parts, then deep fry them in small batches and add
• slightly more oil. Just make sure that they are well deep-fried.
• Transfer the feet to a large bowl with iced water. Soak the chicken feet for 3 to 4 hours to achieve the tiger skin effect.
• To steam: transfer the chicken feet to a steamer. Prepare all the ingredients for the steaming sauce. Steam at first the chicken feet for 15 minutes and then evenly pour on them the steaming sauce. Continue to steam for another 30 to 40 minutes.
• To braise: mix all the ingredients used for steaming with another 1 cup of water. In a deep pan simmer the chicken feet with the sauce for 15 minutes and then turn up the fire to thicken the sauce.
• Serve hot or reheat it for later serving.