Been looking for a couple of the bamboo steamers like the Chinese use in a wok with water for steaming Chinese dumplings etc. I thought they'd be everywhere but no luck. Even Makro doesn't sell them. Anyone seen them around? I'm in Khon kaen

I would not be looking in Makro - how about Chinese merchant? Expect they are available in most market areas but normally only one or two places selling them. Expect any group of MC drivers would find one that could take you so such a shop with a photo.

For photo or order from overseas you could check http://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?q=bamboo+steamers

Have had a good look around all those areas. I saw them on Lazada but like most stuff on their comes from overseas and normally 6-8 weeks. Thanks anyway

Really think you should be able to find - they make them here in Thailand - Ebay is normally only 2-3 weeks from China/Hong Kong for my recent orders (and normally cheaper than Lazada overseas shipments).

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=steamer&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xbamboo+steamer.TRS0&_nkw=bamboo+steamer&_sacat=0

a collapsible stainless steamer will also serve OK for most purposes...usually available in most big supermarkets...

not as esthetically pleasing perhaps...

that being said, I was lookin' around for a steamer to make cous cous recently in saudi and couldn't find one anywhere...I probably needed to go down to the local souk but was intimidated by the prospect of the associated chaos (driving, parking, looking around, etc)

I too have been looking with no joy (Pattaya), at present I use the steaming basket in my rice cooker but its not really big enough.

Most Thai can afford to use dedicated SS steamers these days so Bamboo is not normally bought for home use.

http://www.lazada.co.th/shop-kitchen-and-dining/?q=steamer&searchclickposition=cat2

I ended up using an 8" round cane basket. About 3" sides. Fitted into the rim of my pot perfectly. Did the job a treat for 45 baht :-)

I got desperate once and considered using a plastic colander...and then I considered the inappropriate materials issue ('hmmm, mebbe if I turned the heat way down...') and decided that I could manage without...

(coulda stole a hubcap offa a car somewhere an' punched holes in it maybe as a suitable engineering solution...)

Probably a dumby post here but what about the baskets used for sticky rice.

All you need is a little water in a wok or deep pan and a top that covers it.

^^actually, that's the way me mum prepared veges back in the 50s...not a steamer in sight, just a little water in the bottom of the pot...which is what I resorted to when I couldn't find a steamer recently and it worked perfectly...

and I usually finish off a stir fry with tossing the leafy veges on top of the already stir fried other ingredients, cover and let steam...just had some tonite, broccoli and chicken breast with chinese cabbage on top (dose with some kikkoman before adding the cabbage)...

however, dumplings, cous cous and etc will require another arrangement it must be said...