Universal Chinese Greens: Part 1 - Stir-Frying (includes a basic and adaptable recipe!) (2024)

Early on when I started writing two features on Chinese vegetables it occurred to me that I'd put myself in a strange spot. I realized that, even though I loved all of these vegetables, I tended to use a few universal default preparation methods for all of them. So I decided to challenge myself and to come up with some recipes that were a little less generic; after all, I wanted to feature these amazing ingredients, not just slot them in wherever they'd fit. But as the first month neared its end, I realized that as happy as I was with these new recipes, I actually wanted to write about my 'default' methods for Chinese greens. After all, I come back to them over and over again because they stand the test of time. They're so good, and so easy - and what more could you ask for?

If you're ever at a loss for a what to do with a green vegetable, or you need a quick side to go along with a main dish, these simple, flavourful methods let you get something delicious and healthy on the table in no time at all. The thing that I initially avoided, the universality of the recipes, is precisely what makes them wonderful to learn. They're versatile, and can be applied to any number of vegetables that you might happen to have on hand.

And so with that I present Stir-Frying - the first of three "Universal" methods for cooking Chinese greens. This is possibly the most familiar of all Chinese cooking methods, though it is often done poorly. There are three basic principles to good stir-frying:

1. Be prepared
2. Get the wok as hot as you possibly can
3. Cook a small amount of food very quickly

Forgetting any of the three principles can lead to either a watery mess or a total disaster, depending on how poorly things go.

The first point is easy enough to understand - you're going to need to cook very quickly in a very hot wok, so you need to make sure that everything is ready to go. If you've just cooked your garlic and ginger only to realize that you forgot to wash or trim your green vegetable, you're basically done. I've also found that being under-prepared leads to more improvising with sauces and ingredients, which usually leads to overdoing it on the sauce (and therefore the sodium).

The second point is, in essence, what makes stir-frying unique. It's also the most challenging aspect of stir-frying in the home kitchen. I won't go into huge detail here, but cooking your food very quickly over very high heat helps to maintain texture and contributes a flavour commonly called 'wok hei.' This Cantonese term basically describes the combination of flavours imparted by Maillard reactions (non-enzymatic browning between amino acids and sugars occurring in the 140-165°C range) happeningin the wok. Without enough heat, the Maillard reactions don'toccur, and wok hei is lost. The dish still cooks, but the end result tastes more like it was steamed or sautéed.

The third principle has a lot to do with the second - if you put too much food into the wok, you can't get enough through the wok to cook it quickly or evenly. Moreover, the water the the ingredients release as they cook starts to pool in the wok, causing your ingredients to simmer or braise instead of stir-frying. With a smaller amount of food, that moisture has a chance to evaporate, meaning that the ingredients remain in contact with the very hot wok.

Honestly, this is only a very simple overview of stir-frying, but it's enough to point anyone in the right direction. A more complete guide to stir frying is in the works for a future educational installment on Diversivore, but for now I'm happy to point anyone looking for more information to Stir Frying to the Sky's Edge by the incomparable Grace Young. This book is, in my mind, the greatest book ever written on the subject of stir-frying and its place in Chinese cuisine.

If you're already a stir-frying pro, I hope you'll enjoy this basic recipe, and I hope you'll play around with it a little bit. If you're new to stir-frying, or you're looking to elevate your Chinese cooking, simple greens like these are an excellent place to start. The ingredients are easy to find and work with, the whole thing comes together quickly, and you'll know right away whether or not it's worked. Hopefully you'll end up with a vibrant, crunchy, intensely flavoured side dish. If you do end up with soft veggies in a watery sauce, you'll know that you need to try again and fortunately, the end product will still taste good. In fact, if your stir-fry does turn into a stir-stream, you'll actually be half way to learning the next Universal Chinese Green cooking method. You can read all about it here.

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Now, on to the tricks and tips specific to this particular recipe. Truth be told, I vary my stir fry ingredients a little dependingon my mood, but this is a good fundamental base upon which to build or modify flavours. The garlic and ginger are classic ingredients, and they both take on fantastic flavours when properly browned in oil. The soy sauce and sesame oil are not meant to drown the dish, but to accent the existing flavours. Too much soy sauce is probably one of the most common stir-frying mistakes (remember, you're not trying to braise the dish, so you don't want it swimming in liquid). If you're in the mood to experiment a little bit, there are some options that you can play with:

Alcohol - I left it out of this particular recipe because I wanted to pare things down to the very basics, but a little bit of Chinese wine (Shaoxing or a simple rice wine) can add punch and mellow out the soy sauce a little. Try a teaspoon added to the soy and sugar.
Spice - white pepper and Sichuan pepper are classic additions to any number of Chinese dishes. I particularly like the numbing, lemony-pine taste that Sichuan peppercorns contribute to a dish. Five-spice powder is another excellent ingredient, but use it judiciously, as a little goes a very long way.
Soy alternatives - there are several soy-based sauces that pack a lot of flavour, including oyster sauce and hoisin sauce. Both are excellent, but be especially careful with hoisin sauce as too much of it can make a dish overly sweet. Considerreplacing a portion of the soy sauce, rather than all of it.
Other vegetables - there's no reason to limit yourself to green veggies here. Carrots, bean sprouts, lotus root, peppers, and more can all make excellent additions to a vegetable stir fry. Make sure you cut any added veggies into thin slices, as large pieces won't cook evenly.

As for the green vegetable itself, I used choy sum (yu choy) for this particular version, as I love its simplicity and mildness. It's mild but still distinctive, with a relatively soft stalk. But you could easily use any number of Chinese greens including bok choy, gai lan, snow peas or pea tips, and more. Make sure you're comfortable with what makes the various vegetables different, as it may affect your cooking times or ingredients a little bit. If you're unsure, check out the Diversivore Ingredient Pages.

If you don't have a wok, you can still stir fry using a large pan that holds heat well. Cast iron is probably your best bet, but you want to make sure that you thoroughly pre-heat it before you start cooking. If you have a non-stick wok... don't use it. Non stick woks are incredibly poorly suited to stir frying, as they can't be used over high heat.

Note: nutritional information is shown for a single serving (1/4 total recipe).

Nutrition Facts

Universal Chinese Greens Part 1: Stir-fry

Amount Per Serving

Calories 58Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Sodium 159mg7%

Potassium 25mg1%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 0.1g0%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 7500IU150%

Vitamin C 132mg160%

Calcium 180mg18%

Iron 1.3mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Summary

GOOD NEWS:

Because this keeps the sauce to a minimum, the end result is low in calories and sodium. Because it uses a lot of VERY healthy green vegetables, it's also incredibly high in nutrients. A single serving contains more than your daily requirement of Vitamins A and C.

BAD NEWS:

There really isn't anything bad to say, though it is worth noting that this is generally meant as a side dish. Adding rice/noodles and other sides or mains will obviously impact the nutritional profile of your meal.

Ingredient Pages

Choy Sum
Gai Lan
Bok Choy
Snow Peas

Pantry Pages

No pantrypages have been written yet for any of the ingredients in this recipe. Like to see one? Let me know in the comments below or by email.

Universal Chinese Greens: Part 1 - Stir-Frying (includes a basic and adaptable recipe!) (2024)

FAQs

What are the 3 rules of stir-frying? ›

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

What is stir-frying including the preparation of the food and the actual cooking process? ›

Stir frying (Chinese: 炒; pinyin: chǎo; Wade–Giles: ch'ao3; Cantonese Yale: cháau) is a cooking technique in which ingredients are fried in a small amount of very hot oil while being stirred or tossed in a wok. The technique originated in China and in recent centuries has spread into other parts of Asia and the West.

Why is stir-frying a popular method of cooking in China? ›

Around 400 years ago, stir frying became especially popular in China as a way to cook up food quickly while using less fuel, which was expensive and valuable for heating.

What do you need to create a great stir-fry which of the following is typically used in stir-fry to add flavor? ›

Sesame oil is an excellent addition to flavor but should be used sparingly as part of a stir-fry sauce or drizzled at the end of cooking. Stir-fry aromatics can include garlic, ginger, and green onions, but fresh chiles, lemongrass, herbs, or preserved and pickled vegetables are also good options.

What are the basics of stir-fry? ›

A great stir-fry typically consists of four important components: protein, vegetables, aromatics, and sauce. Standard stir-fry starts with one pound of protein and two pounds of vegetables, and a basic stir-fry sauce (recipe below). You can add aromatics or herbs to change the flavor profile of your dish.

What ingredients are cooked first in stir-fry? ›

Meat first, then vegetables – If you want meat or seafood in your stir fry, cook it first then scoop it out onto a separate plate before cooking the vegetables. You'll add the meat back in at the end. 5. Don't crowd the pan – If you have too much in your pan, the vegetables will steam instead of staying crisp.

What is Chinese stir fry called? ›

Chow mein and chop suey are both Chinese stir-fry dishes often found on restaurant and take-out menus. The two may seem similar, but the ingredients, preparation, and origins are different. The 8 Best Woks, Tested and Reviewed.

What is the principle of stir-frying? ›

What is an air fryer and how does it work? An air fryer is a popular kitchen appliance used to make fried foods such as meat, pastries, and potato chips. It works by circulating hot air around the food to produce a crunchy, crispy exterior. This also results in a chemical reaction known as the Maillard reaction.

Is stir-frying unhealthy? ›

Stir-frying is a healthful cooking technique because you just add a small amount of fat. Some people skip the fat altogether and stir-fry in broth. I used canola oil because it's high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and it doesn't add a particular flavor.

What type of oil is best for stir-frying? ›

Chinese cooks normally use soybean oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil, all of which have a high smoke point. Peanut oil usually has a pleasant nutty flavor and is suitable not only for stir-frying but also for deep-frying. Canola oil, which has a high smoke point but a neutral flavor, is also a good choice.

Why should you not over crowd your vegetables when stir-frying? ›

Overcrowding the pan will kill your stir-fry. Having too many ingredients will bring down the temperature of the wok, which ultimately causes the food to steam rather than stir-fry, and results in uneven cooking.

What are the golden rules of frying? ›

Dry foods thoroughly before frying, otherwise they will splatter and cause burns. Keep your oil level at half-full - topping up with fresh, clean oil daily improves the frying life of the oil. Never overload the fryer with food as the temperature is drastically reduced and food will become soggy and greasy.

What goes first in stir-fry? ›

Sear meat first.

If the vegetables in the stir-fry cook fast, you can add the protein after cooking the aromatics (like garlic and ginger) and add the vegetables right after.

What are the principles of stir-frying? ›

Woks are best used over high heat. The whole idea of a stir-fry is that it is done very quickly, in a very hot wok. This high-heat is what keeps vegetables crisp. This is also why we should add your ingredients in stages.

References

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