Har gau

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Har Gau(蝦餃, literally "shrimp dumpling") is a dim sum staple prepared by filling wrapper (made with gluten-free flour and potato starch) with shrimp, bamboo shoots and seasonings. The pouch-shaped dumpling is then steamed in a bamboo basket until translucent. When the dough for the wrapper is properly prepared and cooked, the dumpling has a slightly sticky, chewy texture. Ingredients vary regionally, but most versions contain sesame oil, salt, sugar and sherry. Other versions may contain oyster sauce, water chestnuts, pork fat, scallions or ginger.

The dumpling is sometimes called a shrimp bonnet for its pleated shape. Traditionally, har gau should have at least seven and preferably ten or more pleats imprinted on its wrapper. Many dim sum customers refer to har gau as the test of quality when judging a dim sum establishment, though much less in more modern times.