Dried shrimp — xia mi — is the smallest ingredient in the Chinese pantry and one of the most powerful. A tablespoon of it will do more for a pot of soup than an hour of simmering.
What dried shrimp actually is
It is tiny shrimp, salted and sun-dried until the moisture is gone and the flavour concentrates. That drying is the whole point: you are buying intensity, not texture. The shrimp will never be the star of a dish; it is the reason the dish tastes like something.
Why it works as an umami booster
Dried shrimp is high in inosinate, the same compound that gives bonito and dried anchovies their savoury depth. Inosinate multiplies the effect of glutamates from soy sauce, mushrooms or tomato — which is why a spoonful of dried shrimp can make a dish taste like it simmered for hours.
How to use it
- **Rinse first**: dried shrimp are salted and dusty. A quick rinse, or a 10-minute soak in warm water, removes the grit.
- **Bloom in oil**: fry them briefly with aromatics before adding liquid. This is where the flavour opens up.
- **Soak water is stock**: if you soak them, keep the water. It is already umami.
- **Grind for sauces**: for XO-style sauces, grind soaked shrimp with a little oil.
What to make with it
- Winter melon soup — the classic pairing, and the clearest demonstration of what dried shrimp does
- Steamed egg with minced pork — a spoonful turns a plain dish into a savoury one
- Fried rice — fry with the aromatics at the start
- Stir-fried greens — with garlic, for a fast weeknight side
Buying and storing
Look for shrimp that are pale pink-orange, not grey. They should smell of the sea, not of ammonia. Store them in an airtight jar in the fridge; they keep for months, but the flavour fades after about six.
FAQ
- Can I substitute fresh shrimp? No — fresh shrimp has water and a completely different flavour profile. Use fish sauce or a little oyster sauce instead.
- Are dried shrimp very salty? Yes, so taste before adding salt.
- Is it the same as shrimp paste? No. Shrimp paste is fermented and much stronger; dried shrimp is simply dried.
Once you keep a jar of dried shrimp in the fridge, a lot of dishes stop needing help.
