In Cantonese, “dim sum” means “touch the heart,” and Ellen Blonder’s charming celebration of China’s famed tea lunch does just that. More than sixty carefully crafted, authentic recipes, each illustrated with Ellen’s exquisite watercolor paintings, put the key to re-creating these delectable morsels in every cook’s hand.
Anyone who has enjoyed the pleasures of a dim sum meal has inevitably wondered what it would be like to create these treats at home. The answer, surprisingly, is that most are quite simple to make. From dumplings to pastries, Dim Sum is filled with simple, foolproof recipes, complete with clear step-by-step illustrations to explain the art of forming, filling, and folding dumpling wrappers and more. Ellen Blonder offers her favorite versions of traditional Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai, Turnip Cake, and Shrimp Ha Gow, each bite vibrantly flavored, plus recipes for hearty sticky rice dishes, refreshing sautéed greens, tender baked or steamed buns, and a variety of pastries and desserts—all the ingredients required for an authentic, restaurant-style dim sum feast. Practical advice on designing a tea lunch menu and making dim sum ahead of time round out this irresistible collection.

Lovingly created from years of tasting, refining, and seeking out the best dim sum recipes from San Francisco to Hong Kong, Dim Sum is a gem that any student of Chinese cooking will treasure.

Praise for Every Grain of Rice

“Part family chronicle, part cookbook, and all heart, this is a really wonderful book.” —Ruth Reichl

“Enchanting watercolors are among the book’s pleasures. . . . These dishes are a joy to cook, not only for their ultimate goodness but also because the authors and their families are so much a part of each dish.” —New York Times

“Graceful recollections of family and food are scattered among the recipes, along with Blonder’s harmonious, informative drawings.” —Gourmet magazine

“Charming watercolor illustrations . . . Learning new techniques was a bonus to this lovely book full of good food.” —Fine Cooking magazine

“A book filled with personality, warm stories, and recipes that reflect the Chinese table in America.”
—Chicago Tribune

“Certain to charm and delight readers, even noncooks, this is highly recommended.”
—Library Journal

“Every Grain of Rice mixes a variety of recipes with lovely reminiscences of family lore. Combined with the beautiful (and helpful) illustrations by Blonder and the high quality of production, the cookbook is a small gem.” —San Francisco Chronicle