The Dim Sum Field Guide A Taxonomy of Dumplings, Buns, Meats, Sweets, and Other Specialties of the Chinese Teahouse

A whimsically illustrated yet authoritative guide to the "taxonomy" of dim sum, based on a popular Lucky Peach story.


Author and illustrator Carolyn Phillips demystifies the rich, nuanced culinary institution of teahouse snacks in The Dim Sum Field Guide, a pocket-size, definitive resource featuring 80 hand-drawn illustrations. With entries for all the dim sum classics--including siu mai, xiaolongbao, char siu, roast duck, and even sweets like milk tarts and black sesame rolls--this handy reference is perfect for bringing on-the-go to your next dim sum outing. Armchair travelers and Asian food enthusiasts alike will be delighted by this detailed yet accessible look at the distinctly Chinese art of eating well.

— NPR's Best Books of 2016

CAROLYN PHILLIPS is a scholar, author, and artist whose work has appeared in Lucky Peach, Huffington Post, Alimentum, and Gastronomica. She is the author of All Under Heaven, the first comprehensive cookbook on the 35 cuisines of China (with more than 300 recipes), which will be co-published by Ten Speed Press and McSweeney's in April 2015. Visit her at MadameHuang.com.

SAVORY DIM SUM 

STEAMED WRAPPERS 
Steamed Jiaozi • 14
Pot Stickers • 16
Siu Mai • 18
Char Siu Buns • 20 
Chicken Buns • 22
Vegetarian Buns • 24
Chaozhou Rice Rolls • 26 
Xiaolongbao • 28
Cheong Fun • 30 
Fun Gor • 32
Har Gow • 34
Pork and Mung Bean Tamales • 36
Sticky Rice Chicken in Lotus Leaves • 38 

UNWRAPPED PROTEINS 
Roast Suckling Pig • 40 
Crackly Skinned Pork Belly • 42 
Char Siu • 44 
Black Bean Spareribs • 46 
Steamed Meatballs • 48
Stuffed Bean Curd • 50 
Braised Brisket with Radishes • 52 
Roast Chicken • 54
Braised Chicken • 56 
Black Bean Chicken Feet • 58 
Roast Duck • 60
Braised Duck Chins • 62 
Blanched Goose Intestines • 64 
Braised Cuttlefish • 66 
Cold Tossed Jellyfish • 68

BAKED DIM SUM 
Radish Puffs • 70 
Baked Char Siu Buns • 72 
Curry Beef Turnovers • 74 
Creamy Cabbage Casserole • 76 

PAN- AND DEEP-FRIED DIM SUM 
Radish Cakes • 78
Shredded Lotus Fritters • 80 
Garlic Chive Packets • 82
Honeycomb Taro-Wrapped Pork • 84 
Coffee Pork Ribs • 86
Fried Rice-Dough Packets • 88 
Soy Skin Rolls • 90
Spring Rolls • 92
Paper-Wrapped Chicken • 94 
Wrapped Crab Claws • 96
Deep-Fried Shrimp Pouches • 98
Crouton Shrimp Balls • 100

DELICIOUS EXTRAS 
Singapore Rice Noodles • 102 
Chow Fun • 104
Fried Rice • 106
Congee • 108
Lo Mein • 110
Crispy Noodle Pillow • 112
Gai Lan With Oyster Sauce • 114 
Stir-Fried Water Spinach with Bean Curd Cheese • 116 

SWEET DIM SUM

HOT AND WARM SWEETS 
Fried Sesame Balls • 120 
Sandy Filled Mochi • 122 
Chinese Beignets • 124 
Sweet Potato Pockets • 126 
Fried Water Chestnut Gelée • 128 
Durian Puffs • 130 
Deep-Fried Milk • 132 
Tapioca Pudding • 134

SWEET BUNS 
Lotus Seed Paste Buns • 136 
Custard Buns • 138
Snow-Topped Buns • 140 
Figurative Buns • 142 

CHILLED SWEETS 
Mango Pudding • 144
Soy Pudding • 146
Guiling Jelly • 148
Date Paste Jellies • 150 
Red Bean Tapioca Balls • 152 
Sesame Rollups • 154

CAKES AND TARTS 
Raised Fermented Rice Cake • 156 
Malay Cake • 158
Custard Tarts • 160