818 Dim Sum (2024)

FAQs

Is dimsum healthy? ›

Nutrient-Rich Ingredients in Dim Sum

Steamed Dim Sum: Dishes like har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork dumplings) are not only rich in protein but also low in calories. Steaming ensures that the nutrients, especially from seafood and vegetables, are preserved, providing essential vitamins and minerals.

The word dim sum comes from the Cantonese tim sam, "appetizer," or literally, "touch the heart." Definitions of dim sum. noun. traditional Chinese cuisine; a variety of foods (including several kinds of steamed or fried dumplings) are served successively in small portions.

Nowadays, dim sum is eaten all over China and the world, but the dishes are believed to have originated in the southern China's Guangdong region before eventually making their way to Hong Kong.

Dumplings are balls of flour filled with a stuffing. Momos are also dumplings that contain some form of filling, be it vegetarian or meat. Dim sums are small snacks in Chinese cuisine that are eaten for lunch. They too have fillings covered with dough, but the dough is semi- or completely transparent.

Many dim sum dishes are calorie dense, and high in fat and sodium, which could be contributors to increased risk of heart disease.

Yes, steamed Dim Sims are considered a healthy snack option. They contain fewer calories than their fried counterparts and are also low in fat and high in protein.

Dim sum is so unique because there are many varieties of special Chinese dishes, served in small portions for all to share. The best part is that I don't have to order from the menu because carts full of cooked, ready to eat dishes will be pushed right to my table. I can pick whatever I like from the cart.

Dim sum is part of the Chinese tradition of snacks originating from the Song dynasty (960–1279), when royal chefs created various dishes such as minced pheasant, lark tongue, and desserts made from steamed milk and bean paste.

Start with Tea: Tea is the heart of the Dim Sum experience. Select a tea that suits your palate; common choices include Jasmine (for a floral note), Pu-erh (for a rich, earthy flavor), and Oolong (for a balance between the two). The tea not only complements the food but aids in digestion.

A lot of dim sum kitchens overload dishes with monosodium glutamate in order to mask the lack of freshness and poor quality of their ingredients.

Why is dim sum served in threes? ›

The reason restaurants don't serve most dim sum dishes in sets of fours is simply to avoid any associations with bad luck. In Chinese culture, the number four is considered unlucky because it is nearly hom*ophonous to the word "death," while the number three is associated with life and new beginnings.

Tea is at the heart of dim sum. You're usually given three choices: pu'er (superstrong fermented black tea from Yunnan province), jasmine (hua cha in Mandarin), and chrysanthemum flower (ju hua in Mandarin), which is lightly sweetened and believed to help digestion.

What's the difference between dim sum and yum cha? Yum cha (飲茶) literally means 'to drink tea', whilst dim sum (點心) refers to the small plates of food. In English, if you are to have dim sum or go to yum cha, they are understood to be the same thing.

Potstickers, dumplings, and wontons are among the most ordered dim sum dishes in Cantonese or Asian restaurants around the world. These three favorite foods are dough-wrapped dishes with a sweet or savory filling.

The entire 10-pack of dumplings clocks in at only 320 calories, which is low for a main meal – though you could pack it out with some steamed greens or gyozas if you need a little more. You'll also hit 2.8 grams of protein per serve, or 28g per pack, which is great if you struggle to pack enough sodium into your diet.

However, they are usually fried in palm oil, which is high in saturated fat, so limit if you have high blood cholesterol.

Calories in Dim Sum

The USDA lists nutrition for dumplings and buns filled with meat, poultry or seafood together; a single small dumpling contains 23.7 calories, 1.4 grams protein, just under 1 gram fat, 2.3 grams carbohydrate, 0.25 gram fiber, 0.5 gram sugar and 77.3 grams sodium.