Chinese language braised pea shoots, or 上汤碗豆尖 (Shàng Tāng Wǎn Dòu Jiān), might be instantly translated to snow pea shoots braised in superior broth. It’s a comforting vegetable facet dish that showcases the pure sweetness and tenderness of contemporary pea shoots. Gentle but flavorful, the greens are braised in a savory broth enriched with garlic, and a contact of umami from century eggs, dried shrimp and scallops. It’s a traditional Cantonese restaurant favourite that’s straightforward sufficient to make for a weeknight dinner, and incredible sufficient to serve for a celebratory event. 

On this recipe, I wish to introduce the model I take pleasure in essentially the most. It makes use of shimeji mushrooms so as to add texture and coloration. I like to make use of each dried shrimp and dried scallops for umami, and century eggs for texture. I skipped the ham (additionally utilized in many conventional recipes) for a clear and delicate taste. 

Substances

How to buy pea shoots

You possibly can usually discover snow pea shoots in massive Asian markets and Chinese language markets, offered by the bag. Notice, these shoots are fairly massive and have thicker stems, making them totally different from the small and skinny pea sprouts generally offered at farmer’s markets and Japanese markets. 

Pea shoots are a chilly climate crop and their peak season goes from fall, by means of winter and early spring. It’s best to all the time purchase pea shoots throughout peak season, in any other case they are typically very fibrous and hard. Since they’re usually offered in open luggage, you must verify a pea shoot by snapping off the top of the stem. If it’s straightforward to snap off, the pea shoots are tender. If the stem is tough to interrupt, the pea shoots could be too mature and could have a troublesome texture.

Dried scallops

Dried scallops, (干贝, gān bèi), or Conpoy, is a kind of dried seafood product that’s generally utilized in Chinese language cooking comparable to seafood congee and xo sauce. It’s made out of the adductor muscle mass of scallops and tastes seafoody and tender as soon as rehydrated. I all the time like to make use of dried scallops to infuse the broth with a wealthy umami. And the scallop itself is tasty, too

You possibly can normally discover this ingredient within the refrigerated part of Chinese language and Asian markets.

Dried shrimp

Dried shrimp, (海米, hǎi mǐ), means headless small dried shrimp that is available in totally different sizes. There are the shell-on and shell-less varieties, and I all the time use the shell-less sort in my recipes for a greater texture. Just like dried scallops, it has a seafoody style and a touch of sweetness. I like to make use of dried shrimp together with dried scallops to additional add umami to the pea shoot broth.

You possibly can normally discover this ingredient within the refrigerated part of Chinese language and Asian markets.

Century eggs

Century eggs (皮蛋, pí dàn) have a creamy yolk and a savory earthy taste that infuses into the broth because it simmers. This deepens the style of the “superior inventory,” making it richer and extra complicated with no need further seasoning. Century egg itself additionally provides texture to the dish. 

You possibly can normally discover this ingredient within the refrigerated part of Chinese language and Asian markets.

Hen inventory

When Chinese language eating places make braised pea shoots, the bottom broth is a wealthy inventory made out of a mixture of rooster, pork, and dried ham. In an ideal world, you must make the broth utilizing home made rooster inventory. However since I needed to make this recipe extra approachable, storeought rooster inventory plus further rooster bouillon powder will do the trick. I additionally used further dried components in my recipe so as to add umami and compensate for the boxed inventory. 

Different frequent components in braised pea shoots

There are lots of alternative ways to place collectively braised pea shoots and each chef has their very own method and preferences with regards to making the superior broth. Among the most often used components consists of:

• Ham (both common ham or dried ham), diced small – It’s a preferred ingredient that many cooks like.
• Salted duck egg, diced – This can be utilized together with century egg so as to add one other layer of umami and saltiness to the broth.
• Goji berries – It provides coloration and a lightweight tanginess.
• Several types of mushrooms – Enoki and oyster mushrooms are each fashionable on this dish.

What pan to make use of?

I used a wok to prepare dinner this dish, as a result of the form could be very straightforward for braising. However a deep medium pot or dutch oven works nicely too. 

Find out how to make

It’d appear to be braised pea shoots want a number of specialty components, however the dish is tremendous straightforward to make.

Soak the dried scallops and shrimp. It’s greatest to make use of chilly water for this course of, so the components protect essentially the most taste. If you happen to’re quick on time, heat water (NOT boiling water) works too. The method rehydrates them and eliminates some salt, so your dish received’t find yourself overly salty. 

To start out cooking, saute the garlic till golden. 

Then add the ginger, rehydrated dried scallop and rehydrated dried shrimp to infuse the oil.

Subsequent, prepare dinner the mushrooms till they simply flip golden. 

Add the broth and let it simmer. It’s vital to let the broth boil for no less than two minutes, to infuse the flavour of the dried components and aromatics. It additionally helps to scale back the liquid a bit to get a extra intense tasting broth.

Add the pea shoots and canopy to braise. It’d appear to be a LOT of pea pictures and most of them won’t be within the broth at first. However that’s completely high quality. They shrink rather a lot throughout braising. 

After two minutes, you will note many of the pea shoots lined within the broth. Stir to combine nicely and canopy to braise for one more 1 to 2 minutes. Pea shoots can stand some cooking. So style a pea shoot and see if it’s tender sufficient to your liking.

As soon as cooked, instantly switch every thing to a deep plate or a big bowl, so the pea shoots don’t overcook within the residual warmth. I prefer to switch the pea shoots first, then pour within the broth together with the remainder of the components. The dried components and mushrooms will probably be totally on the highest, similar to the way in which eating places serve it. 

Completely different variations

The “braised in superior broth” methodology might be utilized to many greens. In China, one of many different favourite variations is braised spinach (上汤菠菜). The opposite choices are broccoli and child napa cabbage.

Find out how to serve

Serve braised pea shoots as a facet dish together with different foremost dishes, appetizers, and a soup. The dish itself has a fragile taste, but could be very satisfying as a result of wealthy broth. 

In a Cantonese meal setting, it’s usually served with dishes comparable to fried noodles and fried rice and richer foremost dishes comparable to beef and Chinese language broccoli. It’s a lighter dish that balances out the heavier dishes.

In a Sichuan meal setting, braised pea shoots are served with spicy dishes comparable to Dan Dan noodles, Sichuan mala rooster (La Zi Ji), and Mouth Watering Hen (Kou Shui Ji) as a palette cleanser. 

Whenever you take pleasure in Chinese language braised pea shoots, ensure to have a spoon alongside along with your chopsticks, so you may drink a few of the broth as you eat the pea shoots. 

Often requested questions

Chinese language braised pea shoots is one in every of my favourite facet dishes. Snow pea shoots and shimeji mushrooms are simmered in rooster inventory infused with ginger, garlic, dried seafood and century egg, making a vibrant vegetable dish that is stuffed with texture and taste. It is vitally straightforward to place collectively and lets you take pleasure in a considerable amount of greens.

Prepare dinner ModeForestall your display from going darkish

• Add the dried scallop and dried shrimp into chilly water and soak for half-hour. Then drain the soaking water. If quick on time, you too can soak them in heat water for 10 minutes.

• Add the pea shoots into an enormous colander and canopy with chilly faucet water. Soak for five minutes, rub gently along with your fingers, then drain. Examine the ends of the pea shoot by feeling the lower facet of the stem along with your fingers with a snapping movement. If the ends are robust to snap, transfer up the stem till you may simply snap them off. Discard the fibrous robust stem ends. (*Footnote 2)

• Warmth oil in a wok or a 4” dutch oven over medium warmth till shimmering. Add the garlic. Prepare dinner till the floor turns gentle golden.

• Add the ginger, rehydrated scallops, and rehydrated shrimp. Prepare dinner and stir for 30 seconds to launch perfume. Add the mushrooms. Prepare dinner over excessive warmth till calmly browned.

• Pour within the rooster inventory alongside the sting of the new wok, to let it evaporate as a lot as you may. Prepare dinner over excessive warmth till bringing to a boil. Let boil for two minutes, to infuse taste and barely cut back the broth.

• Add the century egg and the pea shoots. Prepare dinner lined for two minutes, till the pea shoots are wilted. Uncover, then stir to submerge the pea shoots within the broth. Cowl to braise till the pea shoots are tender, or cooked to your most popular texture, 1 to 2 extra minutes. Instantly switch every thing to a deep plate, so the pea shoots received’t overcook within the residual warmth. Function a facet dish.

Ingredient Substitution Information

1. When purchasing for snow pea shoots, attempt to snap the top of a pea shoot stem. Whether it is crisp and simple to snap, the pea shoots are tender and can style a lot better when cooked. If it’s onerous to snap, it means the pea shoots have grown for too lengthy and will probably be fairly robust and chewy. If you happen to purchase pea shoots throughout peak season and if most of them are tender, likelihood is, you may skip this “snapping” step to save lots of time and your dish will nonetheless have a fairly good texture.
2. Soaking the pea shoots eliminates the floor mud. If you happen to’re quick on time, it’s not essential to snap off the robust ends. However the pea shoots could have a a lot nicer texture should you do that step.

Serving: 1serving, Energy: 156kcal, Carbohydrates: 14.4g, Protein: 12.1g, Fats: 6.7g, Saturated Fats: 1.5g, Ldl cholesterol: 107mg, Sodium: 525mg, Potassium: 379mg, Fiber: 4.1g, Sugar: 5.2g, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 5mg

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to listen to the way it turned out for you! Please take a second to go away a 5-star score ⭐️ and share your ideas within the feedback additional down the web page. It actually helps others uncover the recipe too.

And should you snapped a photograph, don’t neglect to tag @omnivorescookbook on Instagram. I can’t wait to see your creations!