Kanom jeeb Thai dumplings are traditional delights that can be found at luxury Thai restaurants but also at charming dim sum food carts. They’re the Thai version of the lovely Chinese dim sum pork siu mai. Enjoy them as a flavorful snack or as a starter for your next Thai food feast.

What is kanom jeeb

Kanom jeeb, also pronounced as khanom jeeb and kanom jeep, is a delicious Thai delight that’s inspired by the classic Chinese dim sum.

These bite-sized snacks are wrapped in a thin dough skin (dumpling wrappers), with a delicious filling of traditional flavoring ingredients, vegetables, and protein. They can be steamed, boiled, or deep-fried. After trying all three cooking methods, I can’t tell you which is the best one because I love them all equally! However, I’m certain of one thing, and that is that they taste so much better with a dipping companion such as sweet chili sauce or this spicy soy-based sauce.

In Thailand, they’re typically filled with minced pork and shrimp, but there are variations with only shrimp or pork as well. They’re delicious either way, trust me, I’m speaking from experience here!

Dumplings in Thailand

In my small rural town, we have a lovely person who drives a dim sum food cart. He makes the best dumplings from scratch, all by himself. His wonton wrappers are homemade, the sweet and spicy dipping sauce is one of the best I’ve ever had, and the filling is just so good. I recently had a small chat with him about his Thai steamed dumplings, and he told me only uses minced pork in his recipe, because a combination of shrimp and pork would be too costly to maintain profit.

So, inspired by his story, I decided to try and recreate the best Thai dumplings using just minced pork. Low budget but still delicious! But you can use both minced shrimp and pork if you prefer. For a recipe using whole shrimp with minced pork, take a look at my shrimp wonton recipe.

Filling variations

The filling possibilities aren’t limited to shrimp and pork alone. You can get creative and experiment with different proteins such as minced chicken or beef, or even a version with only vegetables for vegan dumplings. Add your favorite greens and herbs, the filling is what makes up most of the flavor, so make sure you use your favorite ingredients.

In this Thai steamed pork dumplings recipe, I used carrots, onions, and dried shiitake mushrooms. There are many more vegetables that pair well with dumplings, such as shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, spinach, chives, and green onions.

Dipping sauces

My Thai food blog is filled with traditional dipping sauces that come in all sorts of flavors. Spicy, sweet, sour, salty, you name it. Most of them can be used in combination with this kanom jeeb recipe, and here are some of my favorites:

• Thai sweet chili sauce
• Spicy vinegar dipping sauce
• Nam jim seafood – green chili dipping sauce
• Spicy Thai tamarind sauce
• Authentic Thai peanut sauce

Ingredients

Most ingredients can be found at Asian supermarkets.

• Pork – Pork is a classic choice in the filling of khanom jeeb, it adds a meaty flavor and minced pork has a great texture and juicy bite. The meat is infused with spices and seasonings, and during the cooking process it gives flavor to the dough as well. Besides pork, you can use chicken, shrimp, beef, or a combination of those as well.
• Wonton wrappers – Wonton wrappers are very thin sheets of dough that are used to make Thai-style wontons. They’re easy to fold in the palm of your hand, and the most common shapes are square and round. In Thailand, they’re sold fresh at food markets, but outside Asia you can find them frozen in Asian grocery stores.
• Coriander root, black peppercorns -Coriander root and black peppercorns bring a peppery flavor and refreshing taste to these snacks. If you’re not so fond of them, you can omit them. You’re free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste and create khanom jeeb that the whole family can enjoy.
• Garlic, carrots, green onions, dried shiitake mushrooms – These ingredients create flavor and texture. They’re my favorite choice of vegetables in this snack recipe. The garlic add a depth of flavor, the carrots add a nice crunch, the green onions are refreshing, and the mushrooms add a earthy touch.
• Golden mountain sauce, oyster sauce, white sugar – My choice of ingredients for adding an umami and sweet and salty flavor. These are popular ingredients of Thai cuisine and a common choice to enhance the flavor of our dishes.
• Sesame oil – This oil is made from roasted sesame seeds, and it adds a rich flavor and pleasant aroma.
• Cornstarch – Cornstarch acts as a binding agent, and it helps to bind the ingredients together, so they don’t fall apart during the cooking process.
• Garlic oil – Before cooking them, applying a small layer of garlic oil to the dumplings greatly enhances their taste and makes them more visually appealing. Garlic oil is made by deep-frying chopped garlic, and the fried garlic can be used as garnishing when serving.

Step-by-step instructions

Total Time: 50 minutes

Crush the garlic, black peppercorns, and coriander root using a mortar and pestle.

Combine the prepared mixture, minced pork, egg, golden mountain sauce, white sugar, oyster sauce, and cornstarch in a blender.

Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add the vegetables: carrots, green onions, and dried shiitake mushrooms. Mix thoroughly.

Place a dumpling wrapper in the palm of your hand and moisten the edges with water. Add the filling to the center and close the wrapper. Meanwhile, you can heat water for steaming.

Use a brush to apply a thin layer of garlic oil to each kanom jeeb.

Prep the steamer by lining it with baking paper or banana leaves, steam for 10 minutes once the water comes to a boil. Serve immediately when cooked. While waiting, you can prepare the dipping sauce.

How to serve

Serve as a tasty snack or appetizer with a dip. Arrange on a serving platter and serve with a dipping sauce such as sweet chili sauce, a simple light soy sauce, or a wonton dipping sauce. Provide chopsticks for your guests, or simply use toothpicks. Garnish with crispy fried garlic.

For a larger meal, serve with other Thai appetizers, such as:

• Tod mun pla (Thai fish cakes)
• Spicy fried chicken
• Shrimp summer rolls
• Moo ping (grilled pork skewers)
• Authentic Thai chicken wings

How to store

You can keep them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 2 days.

You can also freeze them by placing them in your freezer without them touching each other. Once they’re frozen, you can then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. This method will prevent them from sticking to each other when freezing them.

Frequently asked questions

More Thai appetizer recipes you’ll love

• Fried chicken drumsticks with fish sauce – Quick and easy recipe for fried chicken with just 4 ingredients.
• Kai look keuy (Thai son-in-law eggs) – A unique recipe for deep-fried eggs.
• Khao jee (Grilled sticky rice with egg) – Traditionally grilled over charcoal, but you can use a grilling pan as well.

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Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Kanom Jeeb (Thai Dumplings)

Author: Praew Cooking Method: Steaming Cuisine: Asian cuisines Courses: Appetizer, Side Dish Recipe Keys: High Protein Low Carb Low Fat Nut Free

Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time 30 min Cook Time 20 min Total Time 50 mins

Servings: 40 Calories: 66

Description

Learn how to make kanom jeeb, Thai-style dumplings, and pair them with a dipping sauce of your choice.

Ingredients

Servings

• 14 ounces pork (minced)
• 1 egg
• 0.35 ounces coriander root
• 0.18 ounces black peppercorns
• 0.35 ounces garlic
• 1.8 ounce carrots (chopped)
• 1 ounce green onions (chopped)
• 0.35 ounces dried shiitake mushroom (chopped)
• 3 tablespoons golden mountain sauce
• 1.5 tablespoon white sugar
• 2.5 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 package of dumpling wrappers
• garlic oil (to apply a small layer of oil to the wontons)
• crispy fried garlic (to taste, for garnishing)

Instructions

1. Crush the garlic, black peppercorns, and coriander root using a mortar and pestle.

2. Combine the prepared mixture, minced pork, egg, golden mountain sauce, white sugar, oyster sauce, and cornstarch in a blender.

3. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add the vegetables: carrots, green onions, and dried shiitake mushrooms. Mix thoroughly.

4. Place a dumpling wrapper in the palm of your hand and moisten the edges with water. Add the filling to the center and close the wrapper. Meanwhile, you can heat water for steaming.

5. Use a brush to apply a small layer of garlic oil to each kanom jeeb.

6. Prep the steamer by lining it with baking paper or banana leaves, steam for 10 minutes once the water comes to a boil. Serve immediately when cooked. While waiting, you can prepare the dipping sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 40

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 66kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.7g2%

Saturated Fat 0.2g1%

Total Carbohydrate 10.3g4%

Dietary Fiber 0.4g2%

Sugars 0.5g

Protein 4.4g9%

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* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

• Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
• Serve as an appetizer, as a snack, or as a light meal with a dipping sauce such as soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, or a homemade wonton dipping sauce.
• Experiment with different fillings such as pork, shrimp, chicken, beef, or only vegetables.

Keywords: kanom jeeb, Thai dumplings

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