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Xiqin chao baihe
Celery and lily bulb stir-fry
Xiqin chao baihe (西芹炒百合): Cantonese stir-fry of crisp celery and fresh lily bulb petals
In Guangdong homes and dim sum restaurants this pale green and ivory stir-fry is served as a cooling dish in the dry autumn months, when lily bulb is said to soothe the lungs. Celery is cut on the slant and stir-fried hot with garlic, then the sweet, starchy petals of fresh lily bulb go in for the last minute, with a glossy thin sauce. It is vegan and light, with about 3 g of protein per portion. The common mistake is cooking the lily bulb too long: it turns floury and falls apart, so add it last. If you can't get fresh lily bulb, use soaked dried lily bulb or water chestnuts for crunch. Chef's tip: blanch the celery for 30 seconds first; it keeps its jade colour and only needs a quick toss in the wok.
- Total time
- 16 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz celery sticksstrings peeled, cut on the slant into 4 cm pieces
- 2 fresh lily bulbsabout 150 g, separated into petals, brown edges trimmed
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlicsliced
- 2 slices fresh ginger
- ½ carrot (optional)thinly sliced, for colour
For the sauce
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 tsp cornflour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp sugar
- ½ tsp toasted sesame oil
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What you'll need
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Method
0/6 doneStep 2: Blanch 10 ½ oz celery sticks and ½ carrot, if using, in boiling water for 30 seconds, drain and shake dry.
1 minStep 3: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a high heat until shimmering. Add 2 cloves garlic and 2 slices fresh ginger and stir for 20 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4: Add the celery and stir-fry until glossy and hot through but still crunchy.
2 minStep 5: Add 2 fresh lily bulbs and stir-fry until the petals turn translucent at the edges but keep their shape.
1 minStep 6: Stir the slurry and pour it in, tossing until it thickens into a clear glaze. Drizzle with ½ tsp toasted sesame oil and serve at once.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 75 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does xiqin chao baihe take?
- About 16 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 6 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.
- 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 celery sticks?
- Fennel, same weight.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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