FILIPINO SHRIMP AND PORK SIOMAI

INGREDIENTS:

1 kg ground pork (suggested proportion of fat to lean meat is 1:3) or 1 kg Prawn (shrimp) peeled

1/3 cup chopped water chestnuts or turnips (singkamas)

1/3 cup chopped carrots

2 medium or 1 large minced onion(s)

bunch of spring onions or leeks

1 egg

5 tablespoons sesame oil

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon salt

50 pcs. large or 100 pcs. small wanton or siomai wrapper

soy sauce, calamansi (lemon or kumquats), sesame oil and chilli paste (for the sauce)

Wrapper:

1/4 cup water

1 egg

1 tablespoon vegetable or corn oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Chilli Paste:

1/8 kilo Chillies (Siling Labuyo)

3 tablespoons cooking oil

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

PROCEDURES:

1.   Mix all the ingredients for the filling in a bowl.

2.   Spoon 1 tablespoon of mixture into each wrapper. Fold and seal.

3.   Meanwhile, boil water and brush steamer with oil.

4.   When the water gets to a rolling boil, arrange the siomai in the steamer and let stand for 15-20 minutes, longer for larger pieces.

5.   Serve with soy sauce, calamansi and sesame oil. Chilli paste is optional.

Wrapper:

1.   Beat egg and mix with flour till free of lumps.

2.   Bring water, cooking oil and salt to a boil, then pour in flour.

3.   Remove from heat and beat until mixture forms a ball.

4.   Divide the dough into 1 1/4 -inch balls.

5.   Roll each ball on a floured board until paper thin. Set aside.

6.   Simplest version of chilli sauce would be to chop chillies well and fry them in oil, sesame or vegetable oil, never olive oil if you want it to have a Filipino taste.

Chilli Paste:

1.   Combine chopped chillies and minced garlic then simmer for around 20 minutes or till most of the water has evaporated.

2.    Add oil, simmer and stir well.