Red Diamond Hong Kong Style Dim Sum Preserved Vegetable & Bamboo Shoot Bun

These buns are from Kam Man. This is my first time buying them, though I've bought other buns in the Red Diamond Hong Kong Style series. The buns are on the smaller side, not as small as the Vegetarian Buns from my last post, but smallish. The filling is preserved vegetable and bamboo shoot, and the ingredients give no hint to what kind of vegetable that is! Probably in the Chinese list of ingredients it might specify. The vegetable has a slightly smokey taste, and is green and a little slippery. I believe it's preserved mustard greens. The flavor is good, so I wish I knew exactly! The bamboo shoot bits provide a little additional texture. The filling is a little slimy, but I would say in a good way? The dough is fine, and the ratio of dough to filling is good. I would probably get these again, even though Ross wasn't as enchanted as I was!

Score: 4/5 - Good bun, smoky preserved flavor.

Steamed Vegetarian Buns (Brilliant Co.)

These buns don't have an identifiable brand in English on the front of the package, but the back shows they are made by "Brilliant Co." I picked these up when I was taking a friend who just moved to the south part of Boston to the Kam Man for her first time. I am not sure what made me choose them, and the packaging is very unclear to what these are, other than vegetarian! No veggies are listed in the ingredients, just stuff like wheat flour and sugar. It was a pleasant surprise that these have a sweet and salty fake meat filling, with square chunks of textured vegetable protein (could be soy, or seitan? unclear, gluten and soy are both on the ingredient list). I think they are vegetarian plain pork buns? Overall, the buns are on the small side with a good ratio of filling to dough, the filling is moist and chewy with a simple sweet and savory flavor, and the dough was standard with a little chewiness to the outer skin. These were a pleasant surprise, and I would buy them again if my favorite vegetarian Char Siew buns don't reappear.

Score: 4/5 - Good small fake meat bun, good texture and simple but fulfilling flavor.

Samlip Leek Dumpling

These are from H Mart, which honestly has the widest selection of vegetarian dumplings. Most of these are Korean-branded (from North America or from South Korea), while some are Chinese-branded, a few Japanese-branded. Many of the brands have multiple flavors of vegetarian dumpling. So far, these Samlip Leek Dumplings are the best! I've fried these, I've steamed these, and both ways they were great. The filling has little green pieces of chive and leek, and little soy protein chunks, the filling is chopped fine but not mushy. The flavor is that onion/leek flavor. The skins are on the thinner side, but held up well in all the cooking. They didn't fall apart when bitten and stood up to sauce dipping. These are great. I don't have any real complaints, I could nit-pick a little I guess; the flavor could be a little more exciting, but as is it's savory and anyone would go for it... These are on the buy-again list, and I bought another flavor of the same brand to try. I have high hopes!

Score: 4.5/5 - Best all around dumplings yet. On the smaller side, with a good filling, savory oniony flavor. Delicious!