Dim sum is a traditional Chinese meal that’s made up of small dishes, usually served with a hot pot of tea and typically eaten between the late morning and lunchtime. It’s not just a meal, though – it is thought to be an experience. These bite-sized morsels served in towers of steaming bamboo baskets range from a classic plump dumpling bursting with juicy pork and cabbage to crispy spring rolls that deliver a hearty crunch with every bite.
Originating in the latter half of 19th century tearooms in the city of Guangzhou, dim sum gained popularity quickly throughout the region before eventually making its way to Hong Kong. Dim sum is a meal meant to be shared and savored with friends and family, sitting at a round table and enjoying good food and having a good conversation. Most people in the United States are very familiar with the classic items on the menu, such as shrimp dumplings, shumai, and BBQ pork buns, but how about the lesser-known yet deeply cherished dishes that don’t usually make it to the table?
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the underrated, overlooked dim sum stars that deserve much more love than they get. And maybe by the end of this read, you’ll be open to giving them a shot the next time you’re sitting down for some dim sum!
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CHICKEN FEET – WHAT ARE YOU, CHICKEN?
Before we begin, it’s important to understand that Chinese cuisine is known for using all the parts of an animal to utilize the whole animal and create delicious meals, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that chicken feet is a popular dish that’s ordered at dim sum. Of course, for those who are unfamiliar with it, the idea of eating feet is intimidating.
To regular dim sum eaters, chicken feet, or phoenix claws is a staple! The feet are deep-fried, steamed until the skin becomes puffy and tender, and then simmered in a sauce with black fermented beans, bean paste, and sugar.
The end result is a texture that’s gelatinous but still melts in your mouth with a flavor that’s deeply satisfying and savory. Although you do have to work for your bites because of all the tiny bones in the foot, the chewy texture combined with the yummy sauce is just as finger-licking good as biting into a piece of fried chicken.
Not to mention, can we just admit that ordering and eating a dish called phoenix claws sounds kind of cool?
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PIG TROTTERS – PUT THE EXPENSIVE MOISTURIZER DOWN!
Pig trotters are prized for their tender meat and rich, bouncy texture. They have a silky mouthfeel when cooked right and are considered to be a very nourishing, health-beneficial dish because of the collagen in the skin. Pig trotters are a very comforting choice for those who want to have something a little more hearty with a bowl of rice.
First, the trotters are boiled to remove the impurities, and then they’re cooked until tender in a pressure cooker, and finally, they are lovingly braised in a beautiful blend of soy sauce, ginger, star anise, and Shaoxing wine. The aromatic meat and skin become incredibly tender with a deep, savory-sweet-sticky umami taste. The connective tissue is soft, and the lean meat in between practically melts in your mouth and will leave you wanting more. Think of it as biting into a piece of fatty pork belly!
And really, who needs expensive skincare when you’ve got a plate piled high with pig trotters?
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JELLYFISH SALAD – A BOUNCY SENSATION!
That’s right, we really are talking about jellyfish – the delicate, glowy creatures you see floating around in large, circular tanks at your local aquarium actually turn out to be great in a salad.
Jellyfish salad is a refreshing dish that surprises most with its texture: it’s crunchy, bouncy, and only a little chewy with a light, zingy flavor depending on the sauce you use. As a matter of fact, it has a mild, almost neutral flavor on its own. Typically, the jellyfish is cut up into sizable, slurpable strips and tossed in a blend of smokey sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and just a little hint of sugar: this creates the perfect balance of savory and sweet, and who doesn’t love that? This is a dish that’s served chilled and garnished with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds and scallions, and is good to have as a palate cleanser in between bites of your other dishes.
(Sorry, Spongebob.)
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BEEF TRIPE – CAN YOU STOMACH IT?
Another classic dim sum dish, beef tripe is known for its tender, slightly chewy texture and its ability to absorb bolder flavors. It’s steamed or braised with an aromatic mix of ginger, garlic, scallions, and fermented black beans.
The honeycomb-like texture of the tripe makes it particularly good at soaking up thick, gravy-like sauces, which gives each bite a rich and satisfying taste. It has a mild, beefy texture, and by now, you’re probably wondering what tripe is. The idea of eating the stomach lining of a cow might be a challenge for some, but it is worth taking the risk. It’s incredibly tender, slightly chewy, and packed with that delicious umami taste.
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WHY ARE THESE DISHES NEVER ORDERED?
So, why is it that these dishes get benched, always waiting to be called by the coach to join the game, while steamed shrimp dumplings and soft BBQ pork buns continue to steal the show and please the crowd?
- Cultural Differences – Typically, in Western dining, textures play a huge part in favorite foods. Western dining favors crispy, creamy, and tender textures (think fried chicken, onion rings, and french fries), but in Chinese culture, many dim sum dishes have gelatinous, chewy, and bouncy textures, which are unfamiliar to the Western palate.
- Mental Challenges – Trust us, we get it: the idea of eating feet, internal organs, and deep-sea creatures like jellyfish can be extremely intimidating, scary, and perhaps off-putting to those who’ve never tried the dishes. It’s easy to stick in the comfort zone of what you know and love, and picking something new off the menu might not be worth the risk. It’s understandable!
- Lack of exposure – When you see dim sum in the media, most of the time, you’re seeing the classic dumplings and steamed rice rolls – dishes that are perhaps considered to be the pretty sisters. Since some dishes aren’t as popular, a lot of people who have dim sum for the first time probably don’t even know they exist!
If you’re a long-time lover of dim sum but always find yourself sticking to the same, safe choices, maybe it’s time to be a little brave and try something new! Sure, these secret superstars of dim sum might not be as Instagram-famous and aesthetically pleasing as your favorite pork dumplings, but the symphony of aromatic flavors, interesting textures, and rich culinary history behind them makes them worth trying out.
The next time you’re at a dim sum restaurant with your friends and family and looking at the expansive menu wondering what to eat, take a chance – order the chicken feet, the pig’s trotters, and slurp down some jellyfish salad. Perhaps you’ll find your new favorite dim sum dish!