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Qingchao jiaobai
Stir-fried water bamboo
清炒茭白 (qingchao jiaobai): Jiangnan water bamboo shoots stir-fried with garlic and a little soy
Jiaobai (water bamboo, Manchurian wild rice stem) is a summer and early-autumn vegetable of the lakes around Suzhou, Wuxi and Hangzhou, and 'clear-fried' jiaobai is how Jiangnan home cooks show off its sweet, juicy crunch. The pale stems are cut into thin slices or strips and stir-fried briefly with garlic, a splash of soy and a pinch of salt, so they stay crisp and taste faintly like bamboo shoot and corn. Serve with tofu, fish or eggs and a little rice. It is suitable as part of a balanced diet. About 60 kcal and 6 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is overcooking, which makes it soft and loses the crunch; two or three minutes is enough. Asian grocers sell it fresh or vacuum-packed. Chef's tip: choose plump, white stems with no black specks inside, which show an older stem.
- Total time
- 13 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb water bamboo (jiaobai)outer leaves peeled, sliced 3 mm thick on the angle
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlicsliced
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 spring onion (optional)sliced
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What you'll need
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a medium heat and fry 3 cloves garlic for 20 seconds until fragrant.
1 minStep 2: Turn the heat to high, add 1 ⅛ lb water bamboo (jiaobai) and stir-fry for 2 minutes, splashing in 2 tbsp water so it steams slightly.
2 minStep 3: Add 1 tbsp light soy sauce and 1 pinch salt and toss for 1 minute until the slices are glossy, hot through and still crunchy. Scatter with 1 spring onion and serve.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does qingchao jiaobai take?
- About 13 minutes in total: 8 minutes to prepare and 5 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 vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of light soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
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