Japanese shumai, or steamed dumplings, is a well-liked snack or appetizer loved in lots of nations. It’s usually discovered as a avenue meals favourite, cherished for its tender wrapper and flavorful filling. In case you are one of many many who love this meals, making shumai at residence permits you to get pleasure from its genuine flavors anytime.
Up to date: 4/4/25
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Japanese shumai stands out from different siomai varieties, akin to Hen Siomai and Pork Siomai, resulting from its nori wrap. The nori, or seaweed, brings a refined umami style with a touch of saltiness, harking back to the ocean. The nori provides a barely chewy texture when steamed, which contrasts properly with the softness and savor of the filling.

In contrast to the Chinese language shumai, which regularly combines pork and shrimp in wonton wrappers, Japanese shumai sometimes makes use of floor pork as its important ingredient wrapped in nori sheets. On this recipe, we are going to make an genuine Japanese shumai with a twist by including crab sticks and shrimp. They bring about a briny and savory taste that enhances the general style of the dumplings. Except for the dumplings, we will even whip up a sauce that pairs completely with Japanese shumai.
The right way to Make Japanese Shumai (Siomai Filling and Sauce)
- Mixing the Filling for Japanese Shumai – Mix 1 pound of floor pork, 12 minced shrimp, 1 minced carrot, 2 teaspoons of sesame oil, 2 ½ tablespoons of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 ½ teaspoons of salt in a big bowl. Combine every thing completely till the components are evenly mixed.
- Making ready the Nori Sheets for Wrapping – Take a complete sushi nori sheet and reduce it into 4 equal squares. Repeat this course of for all 10 nori sheets to create wrappers to your shumai. Reducing the sheets beforehand saves time and makes them simpler to deal with when wrapping.
- Wrapping the Shumai with Filling and Kani – Scoop about 1 ½ tablespoons of the ready filling and place it within the middle of a nori sq.. Wrap the nori across the filling as you’d for normal siomai, ensuring the perimeters are comfortable. Place a chunk of sliced kani (crab stick) on prime of the filling for added taste and an ornamental contact.
- Steaming the Shumai to Perfection – Prepare the wrapped shumai neatly in a steamer, making certain they don’t seem to be overcrowded. Steam them over medium warmth for 20 to 25 minutes, permitting the filling to cook dinner by whereas the nori softens and adheres to the dumplings.
- Making the Savory Dipping Sauce – To arrange the sauce, combine 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, ¼ cup of cane vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, 2 teaspoons of minced toasted garlic, and ¼ teaspoon of chili flakes in a bowl. Stir nicely to mix the flavors. Serve the new Japanese shumai with this savory dipping sauce for the proper crowning glory.
Suggestions & Methods
- Chill the Filling – Earlier than wrapping, refrigerate the filling for about 15–20 minutes. This makes it firmer and simpler to deal with, making certain the shumai holds its form throughout steaming.
- Forestall Sticking – Line your steamer with parchment paper or cabbage leaves to stop the shumai from sticking to the floor. This additionally makes cleanup simpler.


Sauces for Japanese Shumai
The sauce we ready is already an ideal complement to our Japanese shumai. It has a contact of spiciness, and its umami taste is balanced by the acidity of the vinegar and the nuttiness of sesame oil, making it an excellent match for the shumai. Nevertheless, in case you are curious to attempt different sauces that pair nicely with Japanese shumai, you would possibly contemplate the next.
- Ponzu Sauce – A tangy and citrusy Japanese sauce is made with a mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and both yuzu or lemon juice. Whereas it’s much like the sauce we ready, this model has a brighter, extra citrus-forward taste. The refreshing acidity enhances the savory and umami-rich style of the shumai.
- Candy Soy Glaze – In case you are on the lookout for one thing candy, then a Candy Soy Glaze is a superb choice. Simmer soy sauce with sugar and a little bit of water till it thickens right into a glaze.
- Sesame Sauce (Goma Dare) – The sauce included on this recipe already has a nutty taste, due to the sesame oil. Nevertheless, if you’d like the sauce with out the spiciness, this sauce is a superb choice. It’s a creamy mix of toasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, and rice vinegar.


Crab and Pork Shumai: This can be a number of shumai with floor pork and crabmeat. It’s a kind of delectable variations that I’ve tried.
Pork Dumplings: I made this dumpling for Lunar New 12 months. It was successful!
Tuna Sushi Roll: Tekkamaki or “tuna sushi,” is a kind of sushi with uncooked tuna and shari (rice seasoned with vinegar).
Did you make this? In the event you snap a photograph, please ensure tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we will see your creations!


Japanese Shumai
Shumai recipe with floor pork, shrimp and crab sticks, wrapped in nori
Directions
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Mix the filling components in a bowl. Combine nicely.
1 lb floor pork, 1 carrot, 12 items shrimp, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
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Minimize 1 complete nori sheet into 4 equal items. Do that step on all of your nori sheets.
10 items Nori
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Scoop 1 ½ tablespoon of the filling ingredient. Place it on a chunk of nori, wrap it identical to how you’ll do with common siomai. High with a sliced piece of kani within the center.
8 items Kani
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Prepare the wrapped Japanese siomai in a steamer. Steam for 20 to 25 minutes.
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Make the sauce by combining all of the sauce components in a bowl. Combine nicely.
2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1/4 cup cane vinegar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 2 teaspoons toasted garlic, 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
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Serve the Japanese Siomai with the dipping sauce.
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Share and luxuriate in!
Notes
1. Use a Nonstick Pan with a Lid
Prepare the shumai in a nonstick pan, leaving sufficient area between them. Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water into the pan, ensuring the shumai don’t get submerged. Cowl the pan with a lid and cook dinner over medium warmth. As soon as the water evaporates, the shumai ought to be absolutely cooked.
Be aware: One draw back to this technique is that the shumai would possibly find yourself barely drier in comparison with steaming, because the water evaporates through the cooking course of. With out the constant steam, the feel of the nori wrapper may also grow to be much less tender. Moreover, this technique requires cautious consideration to make sure the shumai doesn’t follow the pan because the water reduces.
2. Create a Makeshift Steamer
In a big pot, place a metallic rack or a heatproof plate on the backside. Add simply sufficient water so it doesn’t contact the rack or plate. Place the shumai on the rack or plate, cowl the pot, and steam simply as you’d in a conventional steamer.
Be aware: One potential draw back is that the shumai may grow to be inconsistently cooked if the water degree is simply too low or if the steam doesn’t flow into nicely contained in the pot. It’s also important to watch the water degree all through the cooking course of to stop it from evaporating totally
Diet Info
Energy: 364kcal (18%) Carbohydrates: 7g (2%) Protein: 21g (42%) Fats: 27g (42%) Saturated Fats: 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g Monounsaturated Fats: 12g Ldl cholesterol: 82mg (27%) Sodium: 1470mg (61%) Potassium: 429mg (12%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 2723IU (54%) Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) Calcium: 31mg (3%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
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