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Anhui bamboo shoots with ham
火腿炖笋 huǒtuǐ dùn sǔn — fresh bamboo shoots braised with cured ham, Huizhou style
When the spring bamboo shoots push up through the hillsides of Huizhou, farmhouse kitchens braise them with chunks of the region's cured ham. The salty, deep-flavoured ham seasons the broth, and the shoots soak it up while keeping their crunch and gentle sweetness. Serve it as a side dish with rice and other plates, or as a light lunch by itself. Fresh bamboo shoots must be peeled and boiled before use, because raw shoots contain natural toxins; canned shoots are already cooked and only need rinsing. Chef's tip: taste the broth before adding any salt, as the ham often brings all the salt the dish needs.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb fresh bamboo shootsor 400 g canned bamboo shoots, rinsed
- 8 ¼ cups waterfor boiling the fresh shoots
- 5 ½ oz cured hamsuch as Jinhua ham or a piece of prosciutto or serrano, cut into 1 cm slices
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 4 slices fresh ginger
- 2 spring onionscut into 5 cm lengths
- 3 ¼ cups gluten-free chicken stock
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 pinch saltonly if needed
- 1 pinch ground white pepper (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: If using fresh 1 ⅓ lb fresh bamboo shoots, cut off the hard base, slit the shoot down one side and peel away all the tough outer sheaths until you reach the pale, tender core.
Step 2: Cut the cores in half lengthways and put them in a pan with 8 ¼ cups water. Boil uncovered for 20 minutes, then drain and rinse. Boiling removes natural toxins in raw shoots; never eat them raw or skip this step. If a piece still tastes bitter, boil again in fresh water for 10 minutes. (Canned shoots only need rinsing.)
20 minStep 3: Cut the bamboo into wedges or 1 cm slices.
Step 4: Heat 1 tbsp neutral oil in a clay pot or saucepan over a medium heat. Fry 5 ½ oz cured ham, 4 slices fresh ginger and 2 spring onions for 2 minutes, until the ham fat turns translucent and smells sweet.
2 minStep 5: Add the bamboo and 3 ¼ cups gluten-free chicken stock and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer over a low heat for 30 minutes, until the shoots are tender but still have a little crunch and the broth tastes of ham.
30 minStep 6: Stir in ½ tsp sugar, taste, and add 1 pinch salt only if it needs it, plus 1 pinch ground white pepper. Serve in bowls with plenty of broth.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does anhui bamboo shoots with ham take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
- What can I use instead of spring onions?
- Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.
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