Welcome to Asia, where dumplings have as much variety as the people on the streets (lol, I’m kidding). Because I am diabetic, I understand the importance of checking everything we eat.
Over time, I have developed a love for numerous Filipino dishes like lumpia, pancit, and siomai. On my last visit to the Philippines, I made sure to eat these foods from the locals to get the traditional tastes, and I haven’t stopped dancing since then.
A common hurdle comes when we navigate menus different from what our dieticians may have crafted for us as diabetics, which is why I have put together this article with everything you need to know about siomai for diabetics.
What is Siomai?
Siomai is another variety of dumplings like wonton soups, typically containing meat and vegetables, wrapped in a dough. This dumpling originated in China as a traditional dim sum dish and can be dated back to the Yuan Dynasty in 1271–1368.
There are several varieties of this dim sum dish; for example, the Cantonese siumaai is the most popular one outside China, and its filling consists of ground pork, chopped/whole shrimp, Chinese black mushroom, green onion, some ginger, and seasonings of Chinese rice wine, soy sauce, sesame oil, and chicken stock, Water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and pepper can also be added based on your preference.
The outer part of the dumpling is made of a thin sheet of lye water dough. It can be decorated with an orange or green dot using a crab roe, carrot, or just green peas in the center.
Regardless of the region, some of the main components or ingredients in the siomai dumping are pork (some variants use fish), shrimp, soy sauce, ginger, carrots, green peas, and some tomatoes, and they can be steamed or deep-fried too.
Is Siomai healthy?
How healthy your siomai is may depend on the ingredients and whether it is steamed or deep-fried. Based on the main ingredients like ground pork, mushrooms, lye water dough, shrimp, soy sauce, and sesame oil, siomai is healthy, but in some cases, it may have a high sodium content, which is not good for the heart.
A good serving of fish/beef siomai dish can be a great option—offering a much-needed macronutrient (protein) in a diabetic diet. Also, the veggies included can provide you with good dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins needed for your overall well-being.
Is Siomai good for diabetics?
Diabetics can have 1 to 3 siomai dumplings without having postprandial hyperglycemia (an undesirable increase and sustained blood glucose levels). Each siomail contains 7 grams of fat, 3 grams of fat, and 4 grams of protein, which is a healthy ratio of carbs to protein and fats. However, if you stray beyond 3 pieces, you may have an undesirable aftereffect.
Dumplings usually have a high glycemic index; however, using almond flour instead of processed wonton wrappers significantly reduces this threat. Alternatively, vegetable siamai made with carrots, onions, squash, garlic, cilantro, and potatoes is the best choice for diabetics as it is equipped with complex carbs (fiber that breaks down slowly—leading to sustained and regulated absorption of glucose into the bloodstream).
Conclusion
If done with moderation, having a few siomai can be a great way to sort out your dumpling craving. However, to make the meal even safer for you, you can opt for almond flour-derived wrappers over the typical overly processed wheat wrappers like the wonton wrapper, which can quickly be digested and absorbed into the body.
The best choice is to opt for a hybrid of vegetables and pork (or your favorite protein). This will ensure you get all the needed nutrients from one treat.
