AI-generated image
Di san xian
Potato, aubergine and pepper stir-fry
Dongbei "three treasures of the earth": potato, aubergine and green pepper in a glossy garlic sauce
Di san xian means 'three fresh things from the earth', and it is the best-known home dish of Dongbei, China's cold north-east, where potatoes, aubergines and peppers are the summer harvest. Each vegetable is fried until golden, then tossed in a sticky, garlicky soy glaze. It's rich and filling, and goes with rice or steamed buns. Chef's tip: fry the potato first and longest; it needs to be golden and fully tender before it meets the sauce, because it won't soften further in the wok.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 potatoabout 250 g, peeled and cut into thin wedges
- 1 aubergineabout 300 g, cut into chunks
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 1 green peppercut into pieces
- 6 tbsp vegetable oil
Sauce
- 4 cloves garlicfinely chopped
- 1 spring onionchopped
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp cornflour
- ¼ tsp salt
Shop this recipe on Amazon
What you'll need
Fresh ingredients (4)
Links open Amazon in a new tab. As an Amazon Associate, WhatToEat.Today earns from qualifying purchases.
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Toss 1 aubergine with 2 tbsp cornflour so every piece is coated. Mix 2 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tsp dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar, ½ cup water, 1 tsp cornflour and ¼ tsp salt in a jug.
Step 2: Heat 6 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a medium-high heat. Fry 1 potato for 6–7 minutes, turning, until golden at the edges and tender when pierced. Lift out.
7 minStep 3: Fry the aubergine in the same oil for 5–6 minutes until golden and soft. Add 1 green pepper for the last 30 seconds, just until it brightens. Lift out and pour off all but 1 tbsp of oil.
6 minStep 4: Common mistake: frying everything together. The potato stays hard and the aubergine turns to mush; cook them separately.
Step 5: Fry 4 cloves garlic and 1 spring onion for 20 seconds, then pour in the sauce. When it bubbles and turns glossy, return all the vegetables and toss for 1 minute to coat.
2 minStep 6: Serve hot with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does di san xian take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of potato?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of cornflour?
- Arrowroot or potato starch, same amount.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Black bean tacos with lime slaw
Proof that a meat-free taco night can be the best one. The beans are mashed with chipotle and cumin so they hold together in the tortilla, and a quick lime slaw adds crunch.
Mexican
Caramelised clay-pot tofu and mushroomsBraised tofu and mushrooms
Kho is the slow braise of the Mekong Delta: food simmered in a little clay pot (nồi đất) with dark caramel and seasoning until the sauce is sticky and the flavours go deep. This vegetarian cousin of cá kho tộ (braised fish) uses golden tofu and meaty mushrooms in place of fish, cooked in coconut water, as cooks do in the south, and finished with plenty of black pepper. Serve it bubbling in its pot with steamed rice and a sour soup or plain boiled vegetables. Chef's tip: take the caramel (nước màu) to a deep mahogany, darker than you think, just before it smokes; pale caramel only tastes sweet, while dark caramel gives the bittersweet, smoky flavour of a real kho.
Vietnamese
Cheese charlotte
Rounds of bread spread with cream cheese, soaked in egg custard and baked gently in a water bath until just set. Soft and mild, it suits babies of 8–18 months and makes a good light lunch for toddlers too. Serve warm.