Watch How To Make Different Types of Dim Sum

There are hundreds of types of dim sum, a veritable feast of bite-size flavours, textures, cooking styles and ingredients. Traditionally enjoyed for breakfast and lunch in China, they are now popular around the world at any time of day. Think steamed buns, shrimp dumplings, spring rolls, barbecued pork buns and so much more.

With that in mind, we've come across a great new video from the team at Bon Appetit, where Chris Cheung - chef and owner of East Wind Snack Shop in Brooklyn and author of Damn Good Chinese Food - gives a fascinating whistle-stop demonstration of how to make eight types of sweet and savoury dim sum.

From perfecting the 'holy trinity' - including the open-faced siu mai pork dumpling, steamed shrimp dumpling har gow and roast pork bun - to chicken feet, spring rolls and potstickers, and dessert dim sum like dan tat custard, Cheung makes for an expert guide,

Whether you've tried making your own dim sum at home, you enjoy ordering out, or are new to these bite-size treats, this is great introduction to the delicious and varied world of dim sum, with plenty of top tips thrown in for good measure.

How to make dim sum

Take a look and learn how to make dim sum from a master:

What is dim sum?

Dim sum or yum cha (drinking tea), refers to a vast array of bite-size dishes typically eaten over a long brunch and served with tea. They can be both savoury or sweet, and prepared in a number of ways, including steaming, frying and baking.

Popular types of dim sum include savoury dumplings, buns, wraps and noodle rolls, through to sweet puffs, tarts and puddings.

See a selection of dim sum below:

Types of dim sum

Har gow

These popular Cantonese prawn dumplings are soft and slightly sticky steamed parcels. Usually they have a prawn and finely-miced bamboo filling, with a thin translucent skin made from wheat starch and tapioca flour.

Siu mai

These steamed pork, prawn and black mushroom dumplings come wrapped in a thin sheet of lye water dough and are commonly found on dim sum menus.

Cha siu bao/ roast pork bun

These delicate white Chinese pork roast buns can be steamed or baked, and are filled with a sweet and spicy roast pork filling and lots of juicy barbecue sauce.

More types of dim sum: