Roy Yamaguchis Shui Mai Recipes

SIU MAI

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the mushrooms, turn off the heat, cover and soak until rehydrated, about 30 minutes.
• Drain the mushrooms and remove and discard the stems. Finely dice the mushrooms; set aside.
• Whisk 4 cups of cold water and 1 tablespoon of the baking soda in a large bowl until the baking soda is dissolved. Lightly massage the shrimp in the baking soda water and let soak for 30 minutes.
• Drain the shrimp, rinse under cold running water, drain again and pat dry with paper towels. Roughly chop the shrimp into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside.
• Coarsely chop the pork belly into approximately 1/2-inch pieces (they don't have to be perfect). Continue to chop until it resembles coarsely ground pork (but don't chop it so finely that it becomes smooth). Transfer the pork to a large bowl and fill with enough cold water to cover. Let soak until the water turns pink, about 5 minutes. Drain the water and repeat the soaking process once more until the pork is a bit opaque. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Reserve the bowl.
• Transfer the pork back to the bowl, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon cold water and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and mix until the baking soda is absorbed. Mix in the reserved shrimp until combined. Add 1 tablespoon salt to the pork and shrimp filling and mix in one direction until the mixture is sticky and leaves streaks along the sides of the bowl, about 3 minutes. Gather the filling in one hand, lift it up and away from the bowl and throw it back into the bowl. Repeat 9 additional times to help bring the filling together and produce the desired texture.
• Add the sugar, chicken powder, soy sauce and white pepper to the filling and stir until combined. Add the reserved mushrooms and lard and mix until combined. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Cover the wonton wrappers with a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out. Using your nondominant hand, put your index finger and thumb together to form a circle and place 1 wonton wrapper on top of the circle. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the filling into the center of the wrapper and use the spoon to pack in the filling while gently squeezing on the sides to form the wrapper around the filling. Add a little more filling if it doesn't reach the top of the dumpling (see Cook's Note). Place the siu mai on a parchment-lined plate or tray. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
• If desired, top each siu mai with a pea-size scoop of flying fish roe or minced carrot (a little less than 1/8 teaspoon) or 1 frozen pea.
• Fill a 12-inch skillet or wok with about 2 inches of water and place a 10-inch bamboo or metal steamer basket in the skillet. Make sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the insert. If it does, remove some of it. Bring the water to a rolling boil, line the steamer basket with a perforated parchment circle and place 10 siu mai on the parchment, leaving an inch between each. Cover and steam until the filling is opaque and the wrapper is translucent, about 10 minutes. Enjoy while hot. Continue with the remaining siu mai.

ROY YAMAGUCHI'S HAUPIA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 inch square cake pan or 9 inch round pan.
• To prepare the sponge cake, sift the flour and baking powder into a small mixing bowl.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and yolks at high speed for about 4 minutes, or until thick.
• Gradually add the sugar to the eggs and beat at medium speed for 4 or 5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
• Add the flour mixture to the eggs and beat at medium-low speed until just combined.
• Put the water and butter in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until the butter melts. Add to the batter and beat until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the over for 20 to 25 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick come out clean.
• Let the cake cool in the pan briefly, then remove and cool on a wire rack. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and place in the freezer, preferably overnight.
• To prepare the haupia, place the coconut milk, 1 cup of the water and the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Mix the cornstarch and the remaining 1 cup of water together in a bowl, add to the pan, and stir until the mixture returns to a boil and thickens. Remove from the heat and keep warm in a double boiler.
• Remove the sponge cake from the freezer and cut a thin slice off the top to level off the cake. Slice the cake in half horizontally to make two even layers. Pour the haupia over the bottom layer, to a thickness of about ½ inch.
• Place the top layer of cake over the haupia, gently pressing down. Pour more of the haupia over the top of the cake, using a spatula (or chill it in a small shallow pan, cut it into squares, and serve with the cake - or eat it before your company arrives!).
• Refrigerate the cake for 3 to 4 hours. When ready to serve, sprinkle the shredded coconut on top the cake.

ROY YAMAGUCHI'S SHUI MAI

Steps:

• Grind the pork through a meat grinder or in a food processor; or have the butcher grind it for you.
• Place in a bowl and add soy sauce, ginger, sugar and garlic; and mix.
• Place 1 teaspoon of mixture in center of each won ton skin.
• Bring the edges together and twist to seal mixture inside, using water to make skin adhere.
• Bring enough water to a boil to cover shui mai. Drop shui mai into boiling water and cook about 5 minutes; remove from the pan.
• To make the mustard-soy vinaigrette, place the mustard in a bowl, dilute with a small amount of red wine vinegar to form a paste.
• Add remaining rice wine vinegar and soy sauce.
• Let stand 1 hour to blend flavors before using.
• Cover bottom of a platter with mustard-soy vinaigrette.
• Arrange dumplings over the sauce.
• Sprinkle with chives and garnish with watercress.
• Ready to serve.