You might know that dim sum is an umbrella term for a variety of small, bite-sized snacks. But did you know that there are different kinds of dim sum? There’s steamed, baked, and fried varieties, all of which are often served alongside Chinese tea as brunch. In fact, there’s almost no limit to the ways in which you can serve dim sum. You could make them as appetizers before dinner or even as dessert after dinner. That being said, if you want to experiment with your usual take on dim sum, it might not be so easy to just make them in the oven instead of frying them or steaming them. After all, these snacks are fairly unique in their small size and simplicity. But do not fear: we’re here to help! Here are some ideas on how you can cook dim sum in the oven instead of another cooking method.
How to make steamed dim sum in the oven
The easiest way to make steamed dim sum in the oven is to use a steamer. You can use a bamboo steamer, a metal steamer, or even a colander. Either way, you’ll want to place it on a baking tray in your oven. Next, place your dim sum (we recommend using dumplings or pouches rather than buns or other types of dim sum) into the steamer without letting them touch the water in the tray or the tray itself. You’ll also want to make sure that there is room for the water to evaporate and for the steam to rise. If you want your steamed dim sum to come out a little bit more like baked dim sum, you can also use an ovenproof steamer. Pop it in the oven, and it will trap the steam inside, which will make your dim sum nice and soft and have a really nice texture.
How to bake fried dim sum
When you bake fried dim sum, they don’t come out with that nice, crispy texture that they’d come out with when they’re fried. So, it’s probably best to use baked fried dim sum as a substitute for steamed dim sum. You can make baked fried dim sum in the same way that you’d make regular baked fried dim sum: place your dim sum on a baking tray, spritz them with a little bit of water, and then pop them in the oven. If you want, you can also drizzle a little bit of oil on the tray to give your dim sum that crispy texture. However, if you want to make baked fried puffy buns, you’ll want to use a different method. Baked puffy buns are often made with yeast, so you won’t want to spritz them with water or they’ll become soggy. Instead, you’ll want to make sure that the buns have enough room on the tray and that the tray has enough space for air to circulate. This will make them rise to a nice, puffy consistency.
How to make baked puffy buns in the oven
If you want to make puffy buns that are baked instead of steamed, you’ll have to use a different technique than with steamed buns. First, you’ll want to use a baking tray as a steamer. Like with steamed dim sum, using a tray will allow the buns to trap the steam inside and have a nice, puffy texture. Next, you’ll want to make sure that the buns have enough room on the tray and that the tray has enough space for air to circulate. This will make them rise to a nice, puffy consistency. Now, you’ll want to make sure that the buns aren’t touching the tray or the oven’s racks. If they are, you’ll run the risk of them getting burnt. Once your puffy buns are done, you’ll want to let them cool before eating them because otherwise, they’ll be too hot to eat and you’ll burn your tongue!
How to make crispy spring rolls in the oven
Make sure that the vegetables you’re using to make the spring rolls are very thinly sliced and have been drained of as much moisture as possible. Once you have those things squared away, you can bake spring rolls in the oven. You can do this by placing them on a baking tray or in a baking pan and spritzing them with a little bit of water. You can also drizzle a little bit of oil on the tray to give the spring rolls a bit of a glaze. The next thing you’ll want to do is pop your spring rolls in the oven. Make sure that they’re not touching the tray or the oven’s racks, or they’ll get burnt. You’ll also want to make sure that the spring rolls have enough room on the tray so that they can expand.
How to make egg custard tarts in the oven
Egg custard tarts are baked in an oven already. However, if you’d like to make a small batch of egg custard tarts just for yourself, you can do that in a toaster oven. It’s best if you use a toaster oven that has a tray that you can pull out and put in easily. You’ll want to use that tray to steam your egg custard tarts. You’ll want to make sure that the tray is covered in water. The water will steam the egg custard tarts and give them a nice texture. You’ll also want to make sure that there is enough room in the toaster oven for the steam to rise.
Conclusion
You might not have thought of it before, but you can really make all kinds of dim sum in the oven. There are many different ways in which you can do this, too! If you’ve been wanting to try making some normally fried or steamed dim sum in the oven, now is your chance! Now that you know how to make all sorts of different kinds of dim sum in the oven, you can experiment with your favourite recipes. So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!