Ingredients

  • 4 egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon wheat starch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/16 teaspoon white pepper
  • Vegetable oil
  • 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped fine
  • 6 (31 to 35 shrimp per pound size) shrimp, peeled, chopped fine
  • 4 pieces black mushroom, chopped fine
  • 1 ounce back fat, chopped fine
  • 1/3 piece scallions, chopped fine
  • 2 pieces cilantro, minced
  • 8 pieces water chestnut, chopped fine
  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 to 1/2 teaspoon oyster sauce
  • Cilantro sprigs
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • Pinch salt
  • Virginia ham slice, dried and ground into a powder or crumbled hard boiled egg yolk mixed with kosher salt, for decoration

Method

  • To make egg white pancakes: Lightly beat egg whites with wheat starch, salt, and pepper until well combined.
  • Heat a nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add some oil and heat.
  • Pour 2 teaspoons of the mixture into the pan, spreading it out into a shape of a circle, while making sure it is as thin as a piece of paper.
  • Repeat with all of the batter.
  • In the bowl of a food processor, combine chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, fat, scallions, cilantro, water chestnut, white pepper, salt, sesame oil, and oyster sauce.
  • Pulse until all the ingredients are chopped.
  • Remove the leaves from several cilantro sprigs.
  • Blanch sprigs in boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds to soften enough to be able to tie into a knot.
  • To make dim sum: Lay out an egg white pancake.
  • Add some of the chicken meatball filling.
  • Fold the pancake around the filling and tie the opening with the softened cilantro.
  • Trim the top of the dumpling.
  • Put the dumplings into a steamer, and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Egg white sauce: heat the water and add the egg white, stirring vigorously, add 1 tablespoon flour and season with salt.
  • Garnish the dumplings with ground dried Virginia ham or crumbled hard-boiled egg yolk mixed with kosher salt and some egg white sauce.