Compare and Contrast: Bao vs. Dim Sum.
Dim sum is a type of Chinese cuisine consisting of small dishes served in baskets or on plates. It includes a wide variety of foods such as steamed, fried, and baked dumplings, buns, and other items traditionally served as street food.
Baozi are a traditional type of filled bun from China. In comparison to dim sum, baozi is more round and thicker as well as larger than dim sum. This post will compare the similarities and differences between these two types of food, the history behind them, and how they are different.
What is Bao?
Bao is a traditional type of filled bun from China that originated in the Northern Chinese city of Xi’an. The filling can be anything, but it usually consists of pork, cilantro, scallions, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil wrapped in a thin dough.
What is Dim Sum?
Dim sum is a type of Chinese cuisine consisting of small dishes served in baskets or on plates. The dishes typically include a wide variety of foods such as steamed, fried, and baked dumplings, buns, and other items traditionally served as street food.
Dim sum originated from the Cantonese people who always had tea breakfasts with dim sum. This type of cuisine eventually became popular all over China and has spread to other parts of the world such as North America and Southeast Asia.
Dim sum is usually eaten for lunch or brunch at restaurants or hotels. Some people also enjoy having it for breakfast.
Similarities and Differences
Dim sum and baozi are two types of Asian food. They are both traditional dishes from China and share many similarities to each other. Both consist of small dishes served in baskets or on plates, and they both come with a wide variety of foods such as steamed, fried, and baked dumplings, buns, and other items traditionally served as street food.
However, there are also many differences between the two dishes. The dishes that we typically associate with dim sum are smaller than the dishes that we would associate with baozi. Dim sum is typically steamed or fried, while baozi consists of cooked meats inside the bun.
Furthermore, there is a difference in the consistency of the main dish itself. Dim sum is usually softer than baozi because it is steamed or deep-fried whereas baozi consists of bread dough which is boiled or baked instead. This week for lunch I had some shrimp dumplings called har gow which are typical to eat at dim sum restaurants. I found myself comparing them to my favorite type of Chinese street food 三丁炸饼 that my family always gets when they visit Chinatown since they have a lot in common but are still different in their own ways.
History
Baozi and dim sum are both traditional types of Chinese food. Baozi originated from China and is a popular street food. It is a dough filled with meat, vegetables, or another type of filling that has been steamed or baked until it can be eaten. Dim sum was introduced to China in the 8th century and includes a wide variety of dishes such as dumplings and buns that are typically served as street food.
Dim sum originates from China and is typically served as street food. It includes things like dumplings and buns which are served in small plates or baskets. The difference between dim sum and baozi is mainly what they consist of as well as their look. Dim sum typically consists of things such as dumplings, buns, and other delicacies that are small in size while baozi is larger than dim sum and more round in shape. Between the two types of food, baozi originated from China while dim sum originated in the 8th century and came to China from the west coast provinces during trading with mainland Asia countries.
Size
One of the most obvious differences is that baozi are much larger than dim sum. The shape of baozi is round and thicker than dim sum, which are usually in the form of a small dumpling.
Baozi are similar to dim sum because they both represent Chinese cuisine, but the difference in size makes them distinctly different.
Variety of dishes
Not only is dim sum a popular type of Chinese food, but it also has a wide variety of dishes. With so many different types, the options are endless and there is something for everyone. Compared to baozi which can either be steamed or fried, dim sum dishes come in many different flavors and consist of dumplings, buns, and other items. When you eat dim sum, the selection is even bigger as it includes more than just dumplings. This gives you more options of what to order.
Conclusion
Bao and Dim Sum are both types of steamed dumplings commonly eaten in East Asian cuisine. However, they are prepared differently. Bao is often stuffed with pork belly, while Dim Sum usually contains shrimp or beef. Bao is also much larger than Dim Sum, typically measuring about 6 inches in diameter. There are also many variations of both dishes, with some containing only one type of meat while others contain multiple. Both dishes are served with a variety of sauces, though the sauces for Bao are typically sweeter than the sauces for Dim Sum.
