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Qing chao wosun
Stir-fried celtuce
Qing chao wosun: crisp celtuce slivers stir-fried with garlic
Wosun, celtuce or stem lettuce, is a fat, pale-green stalk loved across Sichuan and Chongqing, where it is slivered and flash-fried for weeknight dinners and spring banquets alike. It tastes somewhere between cucumber, courgette and mild celery, with a satisfying crunch that survives the wok. Look for it in Chinese groceries in spring; the leaves can be cooked like lettuce. The common mistake is peeling too thinly: the outer layer is fibrous, so peel until you reach the translucent jade-green core. Chef's tip: salt the slivers for five minutes and squeeze them lightly before cooking, so they stay snappy and season right through.
- Total time
- 11 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb celtuce stem (wosun)1 large stem, peeled to the green core and cut into thin matchsticks
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 garlic clovesfinely chopped
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 dried red chilli (optional)snipped, optional
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Toss 1 ⅛ lb celtuce stem (wosun) with ⅜ tsp salt in a bowl and leave for 5 minutes while you prepare the garlic, then squeeze gently and drain off the liquid.
5 minStep 2: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a medium-high heat, add 2 garlic cloves and 1 dried red chilli if using, and stir for 20 seconds until fragrant.
1 minStep 3: Add the celtuce and toss on a high heat for 1½–2 minutes, until the slivers turn glossy and bright jade but still snap when bitten.
2 minStep 4: Taste, add the rest of ⅜ tsp salt only if needed, and serve straight away.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 70 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does qing chao wosun take?
- About 11 minutes in total: 8 minutes to prepare and 3 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 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.
- 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 garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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