Shu mai is a type of steamed Chinese dumpling with many different regional variations. This is our version of the pork and shrimp shu mai served at Cantonese dim sum restaurants. For moist and tender meat in our Shu Mai recipe, we used our food processor to grind boneless country-style ribs in two batches: one chunky and one fine. Once combined in the steamed dumplings’ filling, the smaller pieces helped hold the larger bits together and added a pleasant textural contrast. We used a mixture of powdered gelatin and cornstarch to keep our shu mai’s filling moist and tender, and we flavored it with cilantro, ginger, and Shaoxing wine. For wrappers, we used square egg roll skins, which we cut into rounds with a biscuit cutter. Finally, we garnished each dumpling’s center with finely grated carrot and served our shu mai with a quick dash of chili oil.
