How To Eat A Xiao Long Bao

Ever since  restaurants like Din Tai Fung, Tim Ho Wan and Crystal Jade set up shop in Manila, the Xiao Long Bao has become one of the most popular dimsums people like to get.

Xiao Long Bao (Chinese: 小籠包; literally "Small-Basket-Bun") is a small steamed that contains ground meat (usually pork), some veggies and SOUP! Yes soup! The soup is made from the broth of chicken and pork (and sometimes cured ham). So it's also called "soup dumpling" by some foreigners, since it is easier to remember that than its real name.

Xiao Long Bao; 小籠包; Little-Basket-Buns

And because of it's soup, the Xiao Long Bao can be a bit daunting to eat for some. The soup for me makes the Xiao Long Bao a Xiao Long Bao (without it it's just another dumpling). And the dumpling wrapper of a Xiao Long Bao, I have found, is a bit more delicate than most dumpling wrappers, so the slightest mistake handling the Xiao Long Bao the wrapper can break and its contents spill out.

How To Eat A Xiao Long Bao:

• Pour and put Soy Sauce, Vinegar and sliced Ginger in a saucer
• 1 part Soy Sauce and 2-3 parts Vinegar (this is so that the vinegar can "cleanse"/balance the saltiness of the soy sauce)

• Using chopsticks dip the Xiao Long Bao into the sauce
• I prefer using wooden chopsticks (non-disposable ones as much as possible); I find that metal and plastic ones affect the taste of the food

• Put the Xiao Long Bao in the spoon, and poke the Xiao Long Bao (to release the soup)

• This step is entirely optional; Take some sliced Ginger and put it in the spoon with the Xiao Long Bao

• And it's ready to eat! Be careful as it might be a little hot....

And there you have it! Simple steps to make it fun, easy and for everyone and anyone to enjoy the fullness that a Xiao Long Bao has to offer!

Enjoy the Small-Basket-Bun!