Originally, this shao mai (or shu mai, in Cantonese) is made with sticky rice that's soaked for hours and steamed before being stir-fried with other ingredients for the filling. With brown rice, there's no soaking involved and it adds more nutrition. Just ensure that you don't use too much water when cooking the rice. You want to keep the grains chewy because you'll be cooking it more in the pan before stuffing it into the bite-sized dumplings to be steamed. If you have any unflavoured cooked brown rice leftover from another meal, it's great for this.
We've made this a vegetarian dish but you can go ahead and add minced pork, dried shrimp, or other firm crunchy vegetables.
The dish is especially good for dumpling beginners because you don't have to worry about danty pleats or overfilling the wrapper.
![Image for Shanghai-style shao mai with brown rice](/sites/default/files/styles/article_freeheight/public/ingredients_for_shao_mai.jpg?itok=wspW33iq)
![](https://eatnorth.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_freeheight/public/shao_mai_finished_overhead.jpg?itok=8RDkJA9O)
In a wok over medium high heat, add oil and let it heat up until it glistens. Add ginger and garlic, and fry until fragrant.
Add mushrooms and water chestnuts (and meat, if using). Stir fry until mixture is heated through (or cooked through, if using ground meat, about 3 mins).
Mix in cooked rice and cook for 2 mins. Stir in cooking wine, light and dark soy sauce, oyster sauce and white pepper.
Fold in scallions and cilantro and mix well. Adjust for seasoning and remove from heat to cool.
![Image for Shanghai-style shao mai with brown rice](/sites/default/files/styles/article_freeheight/public/filling.jpg?itok=3FwaNeUS)
While filling is cooling, prepare steamer basket or plate by lining it with a sheet of parchment paper to keep the shao mai from sticking to the bottom. Heat a pan or wok with just enough water so that the bottom of the plate or steamer won't be touching the water directly when steaming.
To wrap the shao mai, lay a sheet of wonton wrapper in your hand, and put a big spoonful of filling in the middle.
![Image for [node:title]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_freeheight/public/wrapping.jpg?itok=3yLeNfSG)
Gather the sides of the wrapper and pleat the wrapper as you wrap your fingers around the bottom firmly to create a well.
![Image for [node:title]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_freeheight/public/wrapping_2.jpg?itok=k54D0YGO)
Arrange filled dumplings in the steamer basket or on the plate with some room between them.
![Image for Shanghai-style shao mai with brown rice](/sites/default/files/styles/article_freeheight/public/shao_mai_before_steamer_overhead.jpg?itok=6Qmzn-wy)
- Yield:
- About 15 large dumplings