Air Fryer Frozen Siu Mai (Pork & Shrimp Dumplings)

Ingredients

• 300 g frozen siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), about 12-15 pieces, straight from the freezer
• Soy and black vinegar dipping sauce, to serve (optional)
• Chilli oil, to serve (optional)
• Sliced scallion, to finish (optional)
• Oil spray

Steps

1. Take the siu mai straight from frozen - don't thaw, or the delicate wrappers can tear and the filling can dry out before the centre cooks through.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C for 3 minutes.
3. Line the basket with parchment (siu mai are open-topped and can stick to a bare basket) and spray the dumplings lightly with oil, especially the exposed filling on top.
4. Arrange in a single layer with a little space between each, in batches if needed - crowding stops the bases crisping.
5. Air fry for 6 minutes.
6. Check one is piping hot in the centre, then air fry a further 3-4 minutes (about 10 minutes total) until the base is golden and the exposed filling looks glossy and cooked through.
7. Rest for a minute, then finish with sliced scallion.
8. Serve hot with soy-vinegar dip and chilli oil.

Tip: Siu mai are traditionally steamed, so going straight into dry air-fryer heat can dry out the tops if you skip the oil spray - a light mist of oil over the exposed filling before cooking is what keeps them glossy instead of leathery.

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Nutrition (per serving)

Estimated from standard ingredient data — actual values vary by brand and exact quantities used.

Serving & Storage