Basic Xiaolongbao 小笼包
China has a vast variety of steamed buns 包子， and some of them are called xiaolongbao 小笼包. The name translates literally as "little steamed bun." The fillings may differ from city to city. For instance, the Wuxi variety look nothing like above and taste like a slightly sweet pork soup dumpling. The most basic form of this food, from what I have seen, is what is pictured above. It's very thin dough wrapper that's been stuffed.
The filling is very sticky rice. How it's seasoned may depend on the region. I have tasted xiaolongbao that have been quite bland, and it's best to eat this fresh and warm. Something is lost once they become cold or room temperature. The one I had had a hint of spiciness and a little bit of ground pork mixed in.
Steamed buns in general are a cheap and simple form of fast food. The ones I had (pictured here) ran about 7 RMB a piece. That's a little more than 1US$ About three of them were enough to tide me over and a very quick lunch.
Love xiaolongbao and this sure doesn't look basic to me, those we get here looks closer to white in color but these still look delicious to me, especially since I'm feeling hungry now. Blessed Merry Christmas to you :)
Well, normal for these parts.
Haven't have such big ones with glutinous rice filling before. Even a smaller with these filling is quite filling.
Merry Christmas to you
Come to think about it, yes. These are the biggest ones I have had.
I love Xiaolongbao 小笼包.