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Liangban zhusun
Cold bamboo shoots
涼拌竹筍 (liangban zhusun): Taiwanese chilled summer bamboo shoots with a little mayonnaise or soy-sesame dip
From May to August, sweet green bamboo shoots arrive in Taiwanese markets from the hills around Taipei and Tainan, and families boil them whole and chill them as a cool summer starter or side. The ivory shoots are crisp, juicy and almost sweet, cut into wedges and eaten plain, with a little mayonnaise in the Taiwanese way, or with soy sauce and sesame oil. Suitable as part of a balanced diet. About 70 kcal and 6 g carbohydrate per portion with a little mayonnaise. Fresh bamboo shoots must always be fully cooked: raw shoots contain natural compounds that are unsafe until boiled. The usual mistake is peeling them before boiling, which makes them bitter; boil them in their husks. Chef's tip: start them in cold water and let them cool completely in their cooking water, which keeps them sweet and tender.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp uncooked riceor a little rice-rinsing water
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
Optional soy dip
- 1 tbsp tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) (optional)
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse 1 ¾ lb fresh green bamboo shoots in their husks (or 500 g vacuum-packed cooked shoots) and put them, still in their husks, in a large pan with 1 tbsp uncooked rice. Cover with plenty of cold water.
3 minStep 2: Bring to the boil and simmer for 40 minutes, until a skewer slides easily into the thickest part. Turn off the heat and leave them to cool completely in the water.
40 minStep 3: Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
2 minStep 4: Peel off the husks and trim the tough base. Cut the pale shoots into bite-size wedges. (Vacuum-packed shoots: rinse, slice and serve chilled.)
5 minStep 5: Serve cold with a small dish of 2 tbsp mayonnaise, or with 1 tbsp tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) mixed with 1 tsp toasted sesame oil for dipping.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 70 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does liangban zhusun take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 45 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 vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of uncooked rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
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