White Rose Dumplings Hoi An: A Delicate Taste of Tradition

By huynhtuyen | Posted in Hoi An | June 11, 2024

White rose dumplings are a special and famous dish in Hoi An. This wonderful city is not only famous for its historical attractions and architecture but also delicious cuisine. White rose dumplings are one of the must-try local foods for tourists.

The origin of white rose dumplings

This dish was created about 130 years ago by a Chinese family. It has become a local specialty. After that, it was preserved, developed, and continued until now. This type of dish is one kind of dimsum, so if you are a dimsum lover, this dish is always a must-try for you. Dimsum is available everywhere, but this unique dish can only be enjoyed in Hoi An.

According to long-standing artisans, in the past, based on the shape of the cake, people used to call this cake Hoi An’s cauldron dumplings. One day, a foreign guest came to Hoi An and enjoyed this dish. As soon as he saw the plate of cakes, the guest exclaimed, “The white roses are so beautiful”. Then, local people started calling this dish with a name that is extremely pretty, cheeky, but no less beautiful and elegant—White Rose Dumplings.

How to make white rose dumplings

Hoi An’s white rose dumplings are made very simply with extremely familiar ingredients. However, the important thing for you to make this dish successfully is perseverance, ingenuity, and meticulous attention to every smallest detail. So let’s explore how to make this dish with us now.

Make white rose dumplings crust

The crust of dumplings and cauliflower cakes is made from rice flour. However, if you want to make these white rose dumplings delicious, you need to use fragrant rice and firm grains. Then you should soak and wash thoroughly so that there are no husks or grit left. After that, you can grind the rice into flour.

Then, you need to let the powder settle to the bottom of the water, filtering out the water above. This step will take a bit of time. To make the dough delicious, you have to do it over and over again, about 15–20 times, until the dough settles and the remaining water is clear. Then this step is completed. You drain the water, knead the dough, and put it in a clean bowl.

Make filling of this unique dish

The fillings for Banh Bao and Banh Vac are completely different. Banh Bao is filled with crushed shrimp as the main ingredient, then formed into patties. It is seasoned with onions, pepper, and salt for a rich taste.

Banh Vac usually needs more filling; besides shrimp, there is also pork, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onions, pepper, and spices. After that, putting these ingredients in the same bowl, mixing well, and stir-frying in a pan, you will have the complete Banh Vac filling.

How to shape white rose dumplings

When shaping this dish, if you don’t want to stick to the dough when making it, you can use cooking oil to spread it evenly on both hands. Then, you pick off each small piece of dough, use your fingers to shape the dough to form a very thin and even crust, and press with your thumb in the middle of the crust to get space for filling. After that, you can stuff the filling in and gently press the edges of the crust to cover the filling.

After you have finished shaping, you can take the cake in a basket and steam it on the stove for about 10 to 15 minutes. When white rose dumplings are cooked, you can present them on a plate and enjoy them.

How to present white rose dumplings

To make it easier for diners to pick up the cake, you can put a piece of banana leaf on a plate first and then put the cake on it. Banh Bao will be arranged in the center and then spread out around, and Banh Vac will be arranged alternately with the Banh Bao. Finally, spread a layer of crispy fried onions on the surface. This dish will be delicious if you enjoy it while it’s still hot and eat it with sweet and sour fish sauce.

When enjoying this dish, you will feel the softness of the crust, followed by the softness and rich sweetness of the shrimp and meat mixed with the extremely harmonious and delicious dipping sauce.

Where to eat white rose dumplings

There are several restaurants that serve this dish, and each restaurant will have their own recipe and way to cook it. The list we mention below that tourists can choose from to try these tasty white rose dumplings.

White Rose Restaurant

Address: 533 Hai Ba Trung Street, Cam Pho Ward, Hoi An City

Opening Hours: 7:00 a.m – 08:30 p.m

Trung Bac Restaurant

Address: 87 Tran Phu Street, Cam Pho Ward, Hoi An City

Opening Hours: 8:30 a.m – 10:30 p.m

Trong Com Restaurant

Address: 92 Bach Dang Street, Hoi An City

Opening Hours: 8:30 a.m – 10:30 p.m

Conclusion

White rose dumplings are unique and tasty in Hoi An. The softness of the crust, followed by the softness and sweetness of the shrimp and meat, will satisfy your taste right from the first bite. Therefore, let’s add this dish to the list of must-try dishes when you come to Hoi An right away.

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