Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

Collagen-rich cuts of chicken ensure the stock will gel properly.
Homemade dumpling wrappers are perfect for stretching around the filling and crimping into the traditional purse shape that keeps the juicy soup filling from leaking out.
Whisking the jellied stock with the filling simplifies the dumpling-making process.

Ok, so we've been throughguo tie(fried dumplings), the thick-skinned, crisp-on-the-bottom potstickers from Beijing, but what about their Shanghai counterparts? I'm talking the delicatexiao long baoof Shanghai;the ones that appear to be your standard dumplings, butmiraculously burst open in a mouthful of savory brothwith a tender meatball floating inside as you bite into them.

They're not extremely tough to make, but theyaretime-consuming, and here's why: In order to get the broth inside the filling, it must first be solidified, and that means making arealchicken and/or pork broth—no cheating by using the canned stuff.

When you cook down real chicken or pork bones, the connective tissuecollagen(mainly from in and around the ligaments where the muscles connect to the bones and the joints) slowly breaks down into threegelatinmolecules. It's these long, string-like proteins that form a connective matrix that adds viscosity to a well-made stock.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (1)

A slow-cooked broth made with plenty of bones and reduced a bit should gel into afirm, Jell-O-like texturewhen it's chilled, like the stock above. Here, I used chicken wings and backs for body and flavored the stock with Chinese ham, ginger, white pepper, and scallions.

Of course, if you're really desperate for a fix, you could always use packaged commercial gelatin (or even agar agar) to set canned chicken broth into a gel, but where's the fun in that?

After making your broth, the rest of the process is simple—no different from any other dumpling. Blend together your filling ingredients (I like to use a mix of pork and shrimp flavored simply with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, salt, sugar, and a few scallions), add your gelled broth, fold them into dumpling wrappers, and steam them.*

*I must acknowledge that hardcore soup-dumpling makerswill add filling and gelled broth separately. I find this very difficult, so I just mix the gelled broth directly into the filling. The end result: The meat forms a slightly looser meatball inside the wrapper as it cooks because of all the space left behind from the melting broth, but to my taste, this is not a bad thing.

"With soup dumplings in particular, shape is important."

This is one case whereyou must use homemade dough—store-bought dumpling wrappers are not stretchy enough, and you will not be able to fold them into the right shape. With soup dumplings in particular, shape is important: Rather than having a long seam running along one side (like with fried dumplings), soup dumplings are pleated up like a purse, so that the only place where the filling could possibly leak out is the tiny hole at the tip.

Once you have rolled out your dough into round wrappers, place a small amount of filling in the center of the wrapper and moisten very slightly with your fingertip.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (2)

You can try crimping the dumpling while holding it in your palm, but it's far easier to rest the dumpling on the board as you work. Start crimping the edges, working your way slowly around the entire circumference of the wrapper.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (3)

Keep crimping until the entire top is sealed save for a small hole in the center.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (4)

Pinch and twist the very top to form a seal.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (5)

When steaming, you must line your steamer with something to prevent sticking. Parchment paper works, but napa cabbage leaves are cheaper, tastier, and more traditional.

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe (6)

If all goes well, the dumplings should stay intact, housing a delicious, soupy secret.

April 2011

This recipe was cross-tested in 2022 and updated to add specific folding information for the dumplings, increase the amount of bone broth and salt in the filling mixture, and extend the dumpling cook time.

Recipe Details

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) Recipe

Prep60 mins

Cook3 hrs

Active60 mins

Resting Time8 hrs

Total12 hrs

Serves8 servings

Ingredients

Directions

Combine chicken bones, ham, scallion whites, half of scallion greens, ginger, and white peppercorns in a stockpot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and simmer, uncovered, for 2 1/2 hours. Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth, and set over a large heatproof bowl. Carefully pour bone broth through strainer into bowl until the liquid has been strained. Discard solids in strainer. Season to taste with salt, cover, and refrigerate until set into a semi-firm jelly, at least 8 hours. Scrape off the fat that sets on top of the chilled bone broth and discard.
Meanwhile, combine pork, shrimp, soy sauce, wine, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and remaining scallion greens in a food processor. Process until a fine paste is formed, about 12 to 15 one-second pulses. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Meanwhile, place flour in the bowl of a food processor. With machine running, slowly drizzle in water until a cohesive dough is formed (you probably won't need all the water). Allow dough to ride around processor for 30 seconds. Form into a ball using floured hands and transfer to a bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let rest for at least 30 minutes.
When broth is gelled, transfer filling mixture to a bowl along with 1 1/2 cups of jellied broth (save the rest for another use). Beat or whisk it in until hom*ogenous. Season with salt. Keep filling well chilled.
Divide dough into 4 sections. Roll each section into a 6-inch long log. Cut each section into 10 equal pieces and roll each into a 10 gram ball, making 40 balls total. On a well-floured work surface, roll each ball into a round, flat wrapper, 3 1/2- to 4-inches in diameter. Using a roller, gradually roll the edges of the wrapper towards the center to create thinner edges and a thicker center. Stack wrappers and keep under plastic until all of them are rolled out.
To form dumplings, place 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of a wrapper. Moisten the edges of the wrapper with a wet fingertip or a pastry brush. Pleat edges of the wrapper repeatedly, pinching the edge closed after each pleat until the entire dumpling is sealed in a cinched purse shape. Pinch and twist top to seal. Transfer sealed dumplings to a lightly floured wooden or parchment-lined board.
Place a bamboo steamer over a wok with 2 inches of water. Place over medium-high heat until simmering. Line steamer with napa cabbage leaves and place dumplings directly on leaves. Steam until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve immediately, being careful not to break them.