Har Gow

Har gow is one of the most popular Cantonese dim sum.

There is nothing not to love about these translucent skin shrimp dumplings, with plump and juicy shrimp wrapped inside the clear dumpling skin.

Originated from Guangzhou, China, these dainty shrimp dumplings have won the world over and become a staple Chinese food in Chinatown.

Har gau dumpling can also be found in many Chinese-Cantonese dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong, Vancouver, Toronto, Singapore, Malaysia, Sydney, London and more!

Without har gow, a dim sum meal is incomplete, no matter how many char siu bao or shu mai you have.

Har Gow Recipe

It’s very easy to make this Cantonese delicacy at home and I have the best har gow recipe for you.

This recipe is homemade. I learn how to make har gao by watching legendary Cantonese dim sum chefs making these shrimp dumplings from scratch.

Fillings of Har Gow Shrimp Dumplings

For authentic Cantonese har gow, there are two types of shrimp fillings:

• A lump of shrimp, cut into pieces, with mince-size pieces of bamboo shoots.
• A lump of shrimp, mince-size pieces of pork fat, bamboo shoots, and sometimes with sliced gailan stems.

The first filling is the most common and the ingredients are halal, so even Muslims can enjoy them.

Cook’s Tips

For the best results, please follow the tips below:

• Use a traditional bamboo steamer to steam the har gow dumplings.
• If you don’t have a bamboo steamer, you may use a regular steamer. Just line the steamer with a plate, a piece of parchment paper, or a leave of napa cabbage.
• For the best shrimp texture that is both crunchy and crisp, check out “How to Make Shrimp Crunchy” before making the shrimp filling.
• Steam the dumplings on demand, or whenever you want to serve or eat them. These shrimp dumplings are best served hot-off-the-steamer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Har Gau Halal?

This recipe is halal but other recipes might have pork lard in it.

Can I Freeze the Dumplings?

You may make the dumplings ahead of time and freeze them in the refrigerator.

Just make sure that you place the dumplings on a single layer in a plastic bag before freezing.

To cook, just thaw the dumplings at room temperature and steam for 8 minutes before serving.

How Many Calories Per Serving?

This recipe is only 172 calories per serving.

What to Serve with this Recipe?

Serve this shrimp dim sum with other Cantonese recipes such as wonton soup or Chinese roast pork.

For an authentic Cantonese dim sum meal at home, I recommend the following recipes.

Soy Sauce Chow Mein

Char Siu

Chicken Shu Mai (Siu Mai)

Fried Shrimp Balls

Yield: 4 People

Shrimp Dumplings (Har Gow)

Print

Har Gow (虾饺 ) is a popular Cantonese dim sum. The shrimp dumpling is made of shrimp and wrapped with a translucent wrapper. This recipe is easy and the best!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Shrimp Filling:

• 1 lb. (0.4 kg) peeled and deveined shrimp, cut into big chunks
• 2 tablespoons minced bamboo shoots
• 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
• 2 teaspoons
• sesame oil
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 3 dashes ground white pepper

Dumpling Wrapper:

• 1 ½ cups wheat starch, plus extra for kneading
• 2 tablespoon tapioca starch
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tablespoon oil

Instructions

Shrimp Filling:

1. Mix the shrimp and the rest of the ingredients together. Stir to combine well or until the filling becomes sticky. Chill in the refrigerator.

Dumpling Wrapper:

1. On a clean, dry and flat working surface, combine the wheat starch and the tapioca starch together. Make a well in the center and add the hot water.
2. Add the oil and knead until you get a smooth dough. You may dust some wheat starch on the working surface while kneading.
3. Divide the dough into 3 portions and form each into a cylinder, about 1-inch diameter. Cover it with a damp towel, let it rest for 15 minutes.
4. Cut the cylinder into rounds, about a quarter inch thick each. Roll each round out using a rolling pin to form a round dumpling wrapper. (You may make the wrapper 1 hour in advance. Just remember to cover them with a damp towel.)
5. To wrap the dumplings, place 1 teaspoon of the Shrimp Filling on the center of the wrapper. Fold up to form a half moon shape and start pleating and folding the dumpling from one end. Traditionally, har gow should have at least seven pleats on each dumpling but preferably they will have ten or more pleats.
6. Press and seal tight by pinching with your fingers. You may also use a bit of water to seal the dumpling. Repeat the steps above until all dumplings are wrapped.
7. To steam the dumplings, line the bamboo steamer or regular steamer with parchment paper. Place the dumplings on the lined steamer and steam for 8 minutes.

Notes

Instead of making the dumpling wrapper from scratch, you may use Har Gow wrapper flour. You can find it at Chinese food stores.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 172Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 143mgSodium 1056mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 16g