If ever you go for dim sum on a weekend late morning or early afternoon, you might come across these tiny, ruffled dumplings. At first glance they look like every other dumpling, but when you bite into them, you know that there's something special going on inside. Xiao long bao are "juicy dumplings," which are filled with not only a regular meat and vegetable stuffing, but with broth. How does the both get inside the dumpling?!?!
Kuidaore enlightens us by trying her hand at xiao long bao at home. The key is a broth made with pork rind, which "is a miraculous thing extremely rich in albumen and collagen." When the pork rind is simmered in water, it converts into a gelatine that can be cut and added to the dumpling filling. When the dumplings are steamed, they "melt" back into broth.
