The Japanese version of steamed dumpling, shumai (シュウマイor 焼売), also called shao mai, is quite easy to make. See the video below the recipe to believe it. It tastes like the ones you get at restaurants and is certainly much better than the frozen shumai you can buy at Asian grocery stores. It only contains pork mince, onion and few typical Japanese seasonings, but it tastes so good.
Japanese took on quite few Chinese dishes and converted them to Japanese tastes. Some dishes transformed so much that they became the Japanese dishes with very little resemblance to the original Chinese dishes. The most iconic dish of those is “ramen” (ラーメン), I must say. It originated from Chinese noodles but now ramen = Japan.
Nagi posted Gyoza last year in January. Gyoza was also from China. It was my recipe and I wanted to include it on this blog site, RecipeTin Japan, but Nagi simply could not wait for me to launch my blog.
Well, Nagi has been impatient since she was a little kid. She was always the one who asked me, “Are we there yet?”, 10 minutes after we left home to go on a couple of hours’ road trip to the north coast of NSW. She was right this time, though. My blog was launched 7 months after her gyoza post and there is no way Nagi could wait for so long.
Shumai (シュウマイor 焼売) is also a dish that came from China and was modified to suit the Japanese palate. It still looks like the Chinese shumai you get at restaurants but the flavour is somewhat different. Japanese shumai is made with just pork mince (ground pork), unlike Chinese shumai which is usually made with mixture of prawns (shrimps) and pork.
Shumai is equally as simple as gyoza to make in my repertoire and my family love it. Like gyoza, it looks fiddly but once you know how to wrap the meat and shape it, it’s quite simple to make. So, I am posting my shumai recipe today with a video!
My shumai uses pork mince (ground pork) and finely chopped onion, which is typical of the Japanese shumai. Sometimes, I add finely chopped rehydrated shiitake mushrooms for an extra texture and flavour. At the centre of each shumai, I place a green pea for a colour but this is optional.
SHUMAI SHEETS
Shumai wrapping sheets are different from those used in gyoza and you can buy them from Japanese and Asian grocery stores. They are much thinner and usually square. There are white wrapping sheets and yellowish wrapping sheets but the Japanese version of shumai always uses very thin white sheets (top left photo below) and sold as “shumai sheets”.
I once made shumai using the thinest yellowish Chinese wonton sheets (top right and bottom left photos below). The thickness of the skin was similar to the Japanese shumai sheets but they were larger squares. They came out alright but just looked different because of the colour of the skin and the texture was slightly different, too.
In Sydney, you can also find white Chinese wonton sheets (bottom right photo below) at Asian grocery stores and perhaps even at super markets. They are also larger square than Japanese sheets and much thicker. You can compare the number of sheets and weight in a pack to work out how thick the white sheets are. If you could find thinner one like those yellowish sheets in the photo below, that would be the best. But even if you made it with the thicker sheets, it wills till tastes great.
The size of Japanese shumai sheet is 6.5cm (2½”) square while the Chinese wonton sheet is 9cm (3½”) square. So, when you use Chinese shumai sheets to make shumai, you will need about 50% more meat to fill each shumai sheet. And of course the size of each shumai is quite large compared to the Japanese version.
From top left clockwise: Japanese shumai sheets, Chinese thin egg wonton sheets, Chinese egg wonton sheets, Cheese white wonton sheets.
USING UP MEAT MIXTURE AND SHUMAI SHEETS
Whenever I make shumai, or gyoza for that matter, I try to use up the meat mixture and the wrapping sheets in a pack without leaving either meat or sheets. This is a kind of culinary excellence, I must say (no?). It is quite hard to just finish the meat and all the wrapping sheets. Normally, you either run out of meat with few sheets left over or have too much meat left without any more wrapping sheets.
When I made shumai for this post, I went to Nagi’s place and made them there as Nagi helped me to make a video. Nagi was ready to film the action of me wrapping a shumai. But before I started wrapping, I tried to draw a few lines crossing in the centre on the surface of the meat mixture in the bowl to divide it into 8 pieces (like a pizza) so that I could take a third of a piece to make one shumai. This would allow me to use up 24 shumai sheets in a pack without leaving any meat or sheets unused.
But alas, Nagi’s impatience surfaced and she said, “Mum, what are you doing? I am waiting for you to start wrapping.” I told her that I tried to measure 1/24 of the meat mixture to avoid any leftovers. She just rolled her eyes and hurried me to get on with the job. So, I miserably failed to use up all the meat mixture this time and I had to make two small meat balls without a wrapping.
When I perfectly use up both meat and the wrapping sheets, I feel really great and always end up whispering a big “yes!” .
STEAMING SHUMAI
I use a Chinese bamboo steamer to steam the shumai. To avoid the bottom of the shumai from sticking to the bamboo, I place baking paper cut into a circle with many holes in it so the steam can come out (see the video). You can buy steamer sheets from some Asian grocery stores but I could not find paper as large as my steamer.
Shumai should be placed in the steamer without touching each other and should be placed in the wok or a pot with no gap between the rim of the pot and bamboo steamer only when the water in the wok/pot starts boiling. It should not be placed over the wok/pot with cold water and left there while water begins to boil.
You can of course use a conventional steamer if you have one. If you don’t have a steamer, you can use a large pot and a plate which can just fit in the pot. Fill the pot with water, about 2-3cm high, and place the plate on either 3 small ramekins or 3 balls of the same size made by scrunching aluminium. You will find more details of steaming without a steamer in my post, Sakamushi Fish (Steamed Fish in Sake).
It is best to eat shumai while steam is coming out of them. My shumai photo did not show it but Japanese shumai is usually served with hot mustard. I don’t know why but mustard goes well with shumai. The typical Japanese way of eating shumai is to put a little bit of hot mustard on a shumai, then dip it in soy sauce with/without vinegar.
But the shumai itself has good flavour so I usually don’t use soy sauce. Nagi likes eating shumai just like gyoza, i.e. soy sauce + vinegar + chilli oil. It is really up to you as to what flavour to dip it in.
I hope you try shumai. You can also freeze your shumai before or after steaming them.
Yumiko
- 300 g (10.6oz) pork mince (ground pork)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp ginger juice (by squeezing grated ginger)
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- pepper
- 150 g (5.3oz) onion very finely chopped
- 2½ tbsp corn flour (cornstarch)
- 24 shumai sheets (note 1)
- 24 frozen green peas (optional)
- Soy sauce
- Vinegar (optional)
- Chilli oil or hot mustard (optional)
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Add shumai mixture, excluding onion and corn flour, to the bowl. Mix well until the mixture becomes almost like a paste.
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Then add onion and corn flour and mix well. Cover and leave for 1-2 hours in the fridge.
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Sprinkle small amount of corn flour (not in ingredients) over the tray where the shumai will be placed as you make them.
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Using your non-dominant hand, make a round hole by connecting the thumb and the index finger with the rest of fingers next each other. Place a shumai sheet onto the circle made with the thumb and the index finger.
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Scoop about a tablespoon heap of meat mixture (note 2) and place it in the centre of the shumai sheet.
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Using the back and tip of the spoon, press the meat down gently through the hole while holding the fingers firmly. Slide the meat with the sheet downwards until the surface of the meat levels with the circle of the fingers.
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Smooth out the surface of the shumai and place a green pea in the middle, if using.
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Repeat steps 4 – 7 to make 24 shumai in total or until either meat mixture or the wrapping sheets run out.
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Make a round steaming paper liner with many holes (see the video) which will just fit inside the steamer. This is to prevent the shumai skin from sticking to the bamboo.
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Place a wok with a cup of water over the high heat.
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Place the paper liner inside the bamboo steamer, then place shumai in the steamer without touching each other. If the steamer cannot take 24 shumai at once, you will need to steam them in batches.
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When the water starts boiling, place the bamboo steamer onto the wok and steam for 8-10 minutes until the meat is cooked through.
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If the shumai skin is likely to stick to the bottom, make a round steaming paper liner with many holes (see the video) which will just fit inside the steamer.
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Place the paper liner inside the steamer, if using, then place shumai in the steamer without touching each other. If the steamer cannot take 24 shumai at once, you will need to steam them in batches.
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Steam for 8-10 minutes until the meat is cooked through.
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You will need a large pot, a plate which will just fit inside the pot, and either 3 small ramekins or 3 balls of the same size made by scrunching aluminium foils (these are to lift the plate above the water level).
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Make a round steaming paper liner with many holes (see the video) which is slightly smaller in diameter than the plate (note 4).
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Place the paper liner on the plate, if using, then place shumai on the plate without touching each other.
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Add a cup of water to the pot, place the ramekins or aluminium balls in a triangle position, then heat over high heat.
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When the water starts boiling, place the plate on top of the ramekins/aluminium balls.
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Steam for 8-10 minutes until the meat is cooked through.
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If you are using a bamboo steamer, you could serve shumai in the bamboo steamer. If using a steamer pot/pan, transfer the shumai onto a plate. If steamed on a plate using a pot, serve the steaming plate with the shumai on.
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Serve with soy sauce, vinegar, chilli oil/hot mustard.
1. I used the Japanese shumai sheets which comes in a pack of 24 sheets. The size of the sheet is 6.5cm (2½") square. You could substitute it with the Chinese shumai or wonton sheets which are usually 9cm (3½") square. If the size of the sheet is larger, you will need more meat to fill up the sheet or reduce the number of sheets to make.
2. To use up the meat perfectly, I draw 4 lines on the surface of the meat crossing in the centre so that it will make 8 pieces like pizza. Then roughly divide each piece into 3 equal portions. This will make 24 lots of meat.
3. For more details on how to steam without a steamer, please visit Sakamushi Fish (Steamed Fish in Sake). You will even find out how to take the steamed hot plate out of the pot without burning your fingers.
4. It is unlikely that the shumai skin at the bottom will stick to the plate but I thought it would be pretty to have a paper liner anyway.
5. You can freeze before or after steaming them. When freezing, place each shumai without touching each other. Once frozen, you can pack them closely.
Frozen shumai can be steamed without thawing. It will take 10-12 minutes.
You will see how simple it is to make shumai in this video below. Also, see how to make steaming paper liner of any size.
Thank you for another delicious recipe. I need to practise the shaping, but they were so delicious. I got my son to help me make them and we had a great time.
Hi Claire, I can imagine how much fun you and your son had by making shumai together! I used to get all my kids to help me as well, laughing at a kid who made imperfect shapes and chit-chatting.
Hi can i omit onions for this recipe? Thanks in advance
Hi Mayasari, yes you can. You can also substitute other vegetables such as scallions, shiitake mushrooms. If you are completely omitting onions and just using pork, you would need to adjust seasoning per the total weight of the meat.
I have been using the trendy Instant Pot for over a week now and the steamer pressure option is really great (I have only done veggies as of yet). I don’t want to be one of those posters who ask for unreal things to change up YOUR recipe but it you could get a few of your recipes converted with the pressure cooker option, I KNOW many folks would love it! So I am going to try your recipe exactly as written but on the steamer in the pressure cooker. I am scared I won’t get the times exactly right at first but I will let you know how it all comes out!
Hi Tammy, thanks for your suggestion. I have a pressure cooker but it is quite old heavy conventional pressure cooker. Hence, I tend to use it only when cooking a block of meat which takes long time on the cooktop.
I would think that 5 minutes after steaming starts would be sufficient if using a pressure cooker.Pleas let me know how it goes.
Do you have a vegetarian version of this?
Hi Julian, I personally have not made vegetarian shumai but I saw many vegetarian recipes on the website. All you need to do is to replace meat with soy meat or finely chopped vegetables such as cabbage, mushrooms, bamboo shoot, lotus root. You could also add small amount of rehydrated rice vermicelli.
Do not use vegetables which contain a lot of water, like white radish, as the water comes out when cooked and the wrapping will peel off.
Thanks Yumiko – I love the pork ones but my daughter is vegetarian so I want to try making some for her.
The detailed recipe seems to have disappeared! Any chance of reposting it?
I greatly enjoy your blog
I don’t know what happened. I am trying to fix it now. Thanks for letting me know!
Hi Jim, recovered! Phew.
Tried this. Tastes amazing! But my shu mai wrap opens up a storm it steams… why is that?
The problem you experienced is usually caused by the gap between the meat and the skin. For example, if you place the meat on the skin but if there is a small amount of air between the meat and the skin a the bottom, it will cause the skin to separate from the meat. Also, excessive steam could cause the problem because the skin gets two moist and slippery.
No baby hands in sight except for the scab-grab at the end!
I did make Nagi’s gyoza’s last night but I so wish I could pleat them like you do to perfection.
It really is the Asian pantry staples that bring the menu to life; soy, ginger, sesame etc
I think it would be fair to say that when you and your family get together it would be a zoo!
Thanks for sharing Nagi’s Mum
Thanks a lot, Barb! You are right about “zoo”, I must say. Most noises come from Nagi, btw.
Just saw this video on Facebook and have subscribed to your site. Just a couple of questions – could I place cabbage or lettuce leaves in steamer instead of paper to prevent sticking? And is 10 mins enough to thoroughly cook the pork? (I find it not enough for pork dumplings which are smaller). Thanks very much
Hi Alissa, Cabbage or lettuce leaves would work OK. With regard to steaming duration, I steamed 10 minutes on high in a bamboo steamer which was placed on top of a large work. Time required to steam will depend on the strength of your steamer, how many dumplings you placed in the steamer, i.e. how much space you allowed for between shumai. So if you experienced that even smaller pork dumplings required more than 10 minute, you may need to extend the time to ay, 12 minutes.
You’re very kind and generous Yumiko. My wife says “Thank You very much.” I’m subscribing to your list.
ReyM
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for subscription!
Thanks so much wish I can make the same way with your demo
Hi Fransisca, of course you can!
Could one use Rice sheets? I am not sure what these are made of. I am gluten free and need to find recipes using rice paper. Thanks
Hi Sherry, I have never used rice sheets for this but the wrapper might become too sticky with just rice. I did google on gluten free wrappers and they seem to use mixture of rice flour and tapioca flour with water to make dough, then roll it out thin to make each sheet.
I am sorry that I couldn’t be of much help.
Corn flour – Is it the same as corn starch?
Hi Eva. Yes, it is cornstarch. I should note that in the recipe.
This is my first time making anything like this. We are having friends round for casual food on Saturday night, so I am giving these a go and making them tonight, then freezing until the day. I couldn’t find the Japanese Shumai wrappers locally today, but I did manage to get the Chinese white wonton wrappers, and, on a quick examination, I think I can successfully cut them down to the same size as the Shumai wrappers! I’ve made my mixture, so wish me luck with the assembly later on tonight. Thanks for the recipe. Anita
Good luck, Anita! Let me know how it went.
Hi Yumiko. One hundred per cent success! My shumai dumplings were gobbled up in no time. They were so cute and tasty. It was good having your video because I was able to refer back a few times for the shaping and also cutting the lining paper. I’ll definitely be keeping these in my freezer for the future. The white wonton wrappers were good once I cut them down, but I’ve now found somewhere in Melbourne to get the proper shumai wrappers – Tokyo Hometown Japanese Supermarket, 41 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne. Thanks again. Anita
Hi Anita, I am so pleased that it was a success. It would be one less effort to make shumai if you use the Japanese shumai wrappers!
Do you think freezing them would affect the density of the frozen product? Have you personally pre frozen in the past?
Thank you to you and your daughter, I have subscribed to both sites.
Hi Sharon, I did freeze the shumai in the past and I did not find any problems, although it is touch firmer than the freshly made shumai. Nothing beats fresh food!
They look yummy,😊 could you tell me is the soy sauce+ vinegar+ chilli oil mixed together as a sauce or is are all three used separately as dipping sauces? And if mixed together, how much of each?
I look forward to making these. Thanks Margy
Hi Margy, they are mixed together with chilli oil as an option since some people are sensitive to spices. When I serve them to my family, I usually provide small plates and let individual mix the dipping sauce ingredients in the small plate because some like vinegar with soy sauce but some don’t.
The quantity of each ingredient is really up to individual. People who like vinegar might add equal part soy sauce and vinegar. I normally don’t use vinegar. If you are eating for the first time, I would suggest that you try it without vinegar, then add vinegar gradually to see the right balance.
Do you have any suggestions on making these with shrimp instead of pork? We had shrimp ones at dinner tonight and they were so good!
Hi Brittany, when you make shumai with shrimp, you often mix minced shrimp with ground pork or chicken, rather than 100% shrimp so that the shumai will be more juicy. The ratio of shrimp and pork/chicken varies but you could have 2:1 or 1:1 respectively. Alternatively, you could add 2 tablespoons of pork fat to 300g (10.6oz) shrimp.
I was going to ask about shrimp, as well. So you have any other ideas what we could substitute for the pork/chicken as I don’t eat meat (I do eat fish/shrimp, though). Also, would you use any different seasonings?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Nadine, shrimp shumai is usually a mixture of shrimp and pork but you can make shumai with just shrimp.
I would suggest that you increase the amount of corn starch slightly to 3 tablespoons instead of 2.5 tablespoons. This is because shrimp is less stickier than pork mince when mixed and extra corn starch will help getting the mixture stick together.
I would also reduce soy sauce to half as shrimp has a bit of saltiness. It also makes the colour of the mixture less browny.
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to try!
Hi Nadine, I hope you like the dish.
THANK YOU YUMIKO , I AM PLANING TO HAVE A PARTY , THIS WILL MAKE A GOOD APPETIZER . I LOVE THE PAPER CUTTING TOO. ! THE VIDEO WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT SHOWS HOW EASY IT IS TO MAKE ! KEEP COOKING !
Hi, Vickie. Yep, it will be excellent as a finger food. Have a great party!
Thank you! These look delicious and I can’t wait to try them! Can you make the wrappers from scratch too?
I have never made the wrappers from scratch but I am sure you can. If you google search “shumai wrappers”, “shumai skin” or “wonton wrappers”, you will find few recipes. It consists of just flour, water and salt, with or without egg. Use cornflour to dust.
Thank you for the recipe and the video which is worth a thousand words. They look so delicious, great to serve as canapés or anytime for that matter.
Thank you. It is indeed a great finger food. When I had a small group of friends at my place for drinks and nibbles, I served shumai in the bamboo steamer just like the photo. My friends “Wow”ed and loved them.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I am going to make a large amount and freeze them for my girls when they come home to visit.
Good idea to make tons and freeze. I often take few frozen ones to add to my meal or just to nibble when I feel like it.
This looks great…Cutting the paper may be my biggest challenge…Thanks
Thank you! If the cutting paper is the biggest challenge, you are doing great with shumai. 🙂 Paper cutting is quite easy, too.