How to Eat Xiao Long Bao Correctly

Xiao Long Bao, are a type of steamed bun that originates from Shanghai. Also known as dumplings, they are filled with pork and hot soup, meaning that they need to be handled and eaten carefully. The dumplings are served up in a bamboo steaming basket, known as a Xiaolong, as with many other dim sum dishes. We take a look at how these are best eaten.

How Are Xiao Long Bao Eaten?

While in the comfort of your own home you can technically eat xiao long bao however you see fit, dipping it into ten different sauces before biting into it, if that’s what you want to do. When eating out in a Chinese restaurant, however, the etiquette is a little stricter, and you should attempt to adhere to the correct ways of eating a xiao long bao. The guidelines are also in place to ensure that you get the best experience and full flavour of the dumpling.

When the dumplings arrive, they will be presented in a bamboo steamer and will be incredibly hot. Popping them into your mouth straight away will likely leave you with a burnt mouth as the hot soup bursts out. However, leaving them to cool down for too long can cause the dumpling to become too gooey and sticking to the basket, which can lead to the dough tearing when it is picked up, spilling out its contents. Both of these options want to be avoided as much as possible, so handling the dumplings correctly takes some tricks.

The best way to eat a dumpling, therefore, is to remove the one you are about to eat and place it on your soup spoon to cool. Each dish of xiao long bao should come accompanied by a small bowl of dark vinegar. Instead of using this as a dipping bowl, scoop up around ¼ teaspoon worth of the vinegar onto your soup spoon, before carefully placing a dumpling on top. The dumpling should be moved using chopsticks, and only the top part, where the dough is gathered in a knot, should be held, as this will be the strongest point. The vinegar is used to keep the dumpling from sticking to the spoon, as well as to add flavour.

It will likely take a few minutes to let the dumplings cool down enough to be eaten. Although, if you are too impatient to wait for this, some xiao long bao eaters like to pierce a small hole in the top of the dough, either with their teeth or with a chopstick, to allow some of the heat to vent out. If you are doing this, then be careful not to lose any of the broth within it. Some believe piercing it will take away some of the great experience that comes from having the broth exploding out of the dumpling in your mouth, so it’s up to you whether you risk losing some of the excitement of the xiao long bao bursting, or risk burning your mouth a little! When it is ready to be eaten, do not bite into it or nibble it; instead the dumpling should be slurped off the spoon in one go, allowing the fillings to burst out in your mouth.

If you want to have a go at making your own dumplings, then ensure you have the perfect steamer basket from our oriental cookware range!

Image Credit: Charles Haynes