This dish is an elegant masterpiece in which the subtle, natural flavour of fresh grouper meets the earthy luxury of black truffle paste. Wrapped in a delicate, translucent skin and enriched with nutritious kale, each bite delivers an unforgettable contrast of textures and a rich, umami-forward aroma that redefines the classic Cantonese dumpling.

Executive sous chef Tống Đăng Khoái of Mövenpick Hotel's O Macanese Restaurant. Photos courtesy of Mövenpick Hotel

INGREDIENTS

For the filling

170g grouper fillet (from a 340g whole fish)

5g salt

25g cassava starch

5g chicken powder

5g sugar

2g white pepper

50g chicken fat

5g shallots

10g onion

5g scallions

10ml sunflower oil

5g truffle paste

50g water chestnut

For the wrapper

300g cassava starch

200g wheat starch

50g Pilot butter

500ml water

Grouper dumpling

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare the filling

Finely mince the fresh grouper fillet and combine it with salt, rubbing and stirring vigorously in one direction until the fish paste becomes springy and sticky. Add the chicken powder, sugar, white pepper, and cassava starch, and mix thoroughly.

Gently fold in the finely diced water chestnuts, minced onion, shallots, spring onions, sunflower oil, melted chicken fat and the luxurious black truffle paste. Mix until fully incorporated and chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to firm up.

Make the wrapper

In a heatproof bowl, combine the wheat starch and cassava starch. Bring the water to a rolling boil and pour it immediately into the starch mixture, stirring rapidly with chopsticks.

Cover the dough and let it rest for 5 minutes. Knead the dough while it is still warm, incorporating the lard until the mixture becomes smooth, pliable and translucent.

Divide the dough into small portions (about 40g each) and roll them out into thin, circular wrappers.

Assemble and steam

Wash all the salad greens thoroughly and drain them well. Tear the larger lettuce leaves into bite-sized pieces. Blanch the snow peas in boiling water until tender, then refresh in ice water. Slice them on a diagonal or leave whole.

Peel the soy-marinated egg and dice it.

Prepare the remaining vegetables: wash the red radish thoroughly. Using a sharp knife, slice the radish into paper-thin translucent rounds. Keep it chilled in ice water to maintain crispness, then pat dry before plating.

To serve, place a crisp slice of red radish flat at the bottom of the glass to serve as a vibrant base. Gently transfer the hot, freshly steamed black grouper dumplings into the bowl, resting them gracefully on top of the radish slice.

Grouper dumpling is part of O Macanese restaurant’s Summer in Plum menu, at 83A Lý Thường Kiệt St, Hà Nội.

Available until 30 September 2026. For reservation and inquiries, please dial +84 24 3822 2800

VNS