Shrimp and Mushroom Sui Mei

Makes 8 servings (3 dumplings)

These open-faced dumplings are a staple of Hong Kong dim sum. Round gyoza skins work best here. If you can’t find them, cut square wonton wrappers into circles using a three-inch biscuit cutter. Lining the bamboo steamer with cabbage leaves ensures the dumplings won’t stick. To vary the texture and taste, top each dumpling with lump crabmeat or a small piece of scallop instead of shrimp, and dot with hoisin sauce instead of hot sauce.

ingredients

Cooking spray
3 1/2 cups thinly sliced cremini mushrooms (about 6 ounces)
1 3/4 cups thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps (about 4 ounces)
1 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon dry sherry
2 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled ginger
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
4 ounces peeled and deveined medium shrimp
24 gyoza skins (round wonton wrappers)
6 peeled and deveined medium shrimp, each cut crosswise into 4 pieces
4 large napa (Chinese) cabbage leaves
1 tablespoon sambal oelek (ground fresh chile paste) or Sriracha (hot chile sauce)

directions

1
1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add mushrooms to pan; sauté 8 minutes or until liquid evaporates. Spoon mushrooms into a food processor. Add onions and next 5 ingredients (through 4 ounces shrimp); process 10 seconds or until finely chopped.
2
2. Working with 1 gyoza skin at a time (cover remaining skins to prevent drying), spoon about 1 tablespoon shrimp mixture into center of each skin. Moisten edges of skin with water. Gather up and crimp edges of skin around filling; lightly squeeze skin to adhere to filling, leaving top of dumpling open. Place 1 shrimp piece on top of filling, pressing gently into filling. Place dumpling on a baking sheet; cover loosely with a damp towel to prevent drying. Repeat procedure with remaining skins and filling.
3
3. Line each tier of a 2-tiered bamboo steamer with 2 cabbage leaves. Arrange 12 dumplings, 1 inch apart, over cabbage in each steamer basket. Stack tiers, and cover with steamer lid.
4
4. Add water to skillet to a depth of 1 inch, and bring to a boil. Place steamer in pan, and steam dumplings for 15 minutes or until done. Remove dumplings from steamer, and spoon 1/8 teaspoon sambal oelek onto each dumpling. Discard cabbage.