“Simply great vegetable dish”
This dish is very common and well known in Asia countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. You may easily get the dish at our hawker centre, coffee shop (煮炒摊 – “Zhu Chao Tan”) and even Chinese restaurant. Singapore normally uses Kailan for this dish, while Malaysia and Hong Kong use lettuce. I personally prefer the lettuce as it yields more crispy texture and the greeny taste is milder.
It is very simple dish to cook at home, in fact.
I used the same recipe for fried fish dish. Its taste is fantastic, even on vegetables. For those kids who do not take vegetables, this recipe makes it great to eat, both adult and child will sure like it!
Serve 4
Ingredients
1 small lettuce, leaves separated
A pot of water (for blanching purposes)
Sauce:
1 small shallot, thinly slices (best to remain in rings)
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon of light soy sauce
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Sprinkles of sesame oil
1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
Method
1) Boil a pot of water over high heat. When water boiled, blanch washed lettuce leaves till 80% cooked to retain its fresh green colour. Drain, and reserve for later.
2) Clean the wok. Add vegetable oil into wok, fry ginger strips over medium heat, until crisp and golden brown. Remove from wok, and set aside.
5) Using the same wok, add shallot. Fry shallot till lightly browned over medium heat. Then, turn fire to low heat.
6) When shallot turns brown, quickly add in light soy sauce. Add in sesame oil after the “sizzling effect” created by the mixture of hot oil and soy sauce. Heat off. Pour the sauce over lettuce. Add oyster sauce on top of the vegetables. Serve.
This vegetables dish counts 220kcal per portion.
Tips: Add some sugar in the boiling water for blanching, it helps to enhance its bright green colour.
* Change type of vegetables to Kailan or “Xiao Bai Cai”, as desired.
Anonymous February 24, 2009
Patrica,
I love yr blog, cos i also a vege lover.
There is another method to cook the Lettuce….
U can try to use the Szechuan Beancurd (white type) + small chilli padi (optional) to fry the lettuce.. it also very delicious.
Cheena Bukit March 2, 2009
Hello from the US!:)
I wanted to shout a big “HOWDY” to you! ehehe…I stumbled upon your blog by chance..I must say you are a great cook!:)I do like your version of Pineapple cookies, its unique.
I hope you would consider adding the Imperial Measurements for the benefit of US readers, including me, of your blog.
Thank so much! God bless you and your loved ones!
Sincerely,
Pauline Pogue aka Cheena Bukit
chumpman March 2, 2009
Believe or not ? I had lettuce during last 2 days, lol. I suddenly had a craving of ‘sheng cai bao’ so I bought 2 lettuce home. I used one to make lettuce wrapped with minced pork and chilli. The other one I just simply blanch wash and dip with soy sauce and sesame oil. Simple, right ? But good enough, hehe
PatriCa BB March 3, 2009
Hi Cheena Bukit,
Thanks for your support!
I wish you could visit my blog more and try my recipes.
And.. I would very much love to add on Imperial Measurement if it is easier for you and the rest. However, it is something I am not familiar with at all.. Sad to say that :(.. Sob sob… I hope you can undertand that I am a ‘lazy’ cook, and like to go with ‘heart’ and ‘sense’ when cooking.. Exact measurement or specific unit does not work on me… :( So sorry…
I dare not promise, but will try to work on it, ok? :)
PatriCa BB March 3, 2009
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for leaving me your comment and idea.
Yes, I love the preserved beancurd with lettuce! I I used to cook it and have not cooked for long time, but I just had it 2 days ago when i was in Hong Kong. Soooooo deliciuous… You reminded me to cook it again.. Thanks!
PatriCa BB March 3, 2009
Hi Chupman,
Thanks for your idea!
It should be nice, and I will try it when I have the time…
Btw, there is a dish in Singapore, in one of the Chinese restaurant, selling chicken with garlic sauce wrapped in lettuce.. Very delicious, too. Just FYI. :)