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Suan rong sheng cai
Garlic stir-fried lettuce
Suan rong sheng cai: Cantonese garlic lettuce, flash-fried and still crisp
In Guangdong, lettuce is a cooking green, not just a salad leaf: suan rong sheng cai is iceberg or romaine flash-fried with heaps of garlic and a splash of soy, and it appears beside rice at family dinners and in every Hong Kong-style café. The leaves wilt at the edges while the ribs stay juicy and crunchy. Cantonese cooks often add oyster sauce; light soy and a pinch of sugar keep this one vegan. The mistake to avoid is wet leaves: water left on the lettuce spits in the oil and stews the dish, so spin them very dry. Chef's tip: cook it in two batches if your wok is small, because a crowded pan turns lettuce limp and grey in seconds.
- Total time
- 8 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 1 romaine or iceberg lettuceabout 400 g, leaves torn into large pieces, washed and spun dry
- 5 garlic clovesfinely chopped
- 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- ½ tsp sugar
- ½ tsp toasted sesame oil (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Mix 1 tbsp light soy sauce and ½ tsp sugar with 1 tbsp water in a cup.
1 minStep 2: Heat 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a medium heat and fry 5 garlic cloves for 30–40 seconds, until pale gold and fragrant; do not let it brown.
1 minStep 3: Turn the heat to high, add 1 romaine or iceberg lettuce and toss for 60–90 seconds, until the leaves are just wilted at the edges but the ribs still look crisp.
2 minStep 4: Pour in the soy mixture, toss twice and tip onto a plate. Drizzle with ½ tsp toasted sesame oil if using and serve straight away with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 90 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 7 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does suan rong sheng cai take?
- About 8 minutes in total: 5 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.
- What can I use instead of romaine or iceberg lettuce?
- Any crisp salad leaves, same amount.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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