This Chinese detox stir fry was a dish I learned from my confinement nanny during my 60-day postpartum period. She cooks great Cantonese food and took care of me while I was recovering. And this was one of the dishes I enjoyed a lot and would love to share with you. I was in pretty bad shape the month after giving birth (more stories will come later). With no family and friends around, our nanny was a godsend. One thing that I found my confinement nanny was really good at, was that she could whip up a few colorful dishes no matter what I had in the fridge. And this Chinese detox stir fry is a great example of how you can make a dish that is full of texture and flavor if you keep a few pantry ingredients at home.
Chinese detox stir fry ingredients
Dried lily flower
Dried lily flower, or Huang Hua Cai (黄花菜), are dried unopened flowers of the daylily plant. They have an earthy, woody and smoky aroma. Once rehydrated, they become tender and have a slightly crunchy texture. It’s a key ingredient for making hot and sour soup, and we like to use them in stew, sauce, soup and stir fry to add umami and texture.
Dried wood ear mushrooms
Dried wood ear mushrooms, or Mu Er (木耳) is a type of fungus that’s commonly used in Chinese cooking. It has a crunchy texture once rehydrated and a very mild taste. It’s often used to add texture to a dish because it doesn’t have much in the way of flavor.
Tofu puffs (deep fried tofu)
Tofu puffs (豆泡, or deep fried tofu) are fried tofu pieces that have a spongy texture and golden surface. In Chinese Buddist cooking, fried tofu is usually used as a meat alternative to make a dish vegetarian. Because of its porous texture, it will absorb tons of flavor from the sauce or broth it’s cooked in. It works like magic with veggies, both in stir fried dishes and in stews. You can usually find tofu puffs at Asian markets. They are either in the refrigerated section near the other tofu products or in the freezer. You can store them in the fridge for a week or two, but they’ll stay good for months in the freezer.
Mise en place
When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:
Rehydrated and cut wood ear mushrooms Rehydrated lily flowers Soaked mung bean noodles Sliced carrot and celery Sliced tofu puffs Mixed sauce Sliced ginger
Most of the ingredients, including the dried goods and the sauces, are pantry staples. And you only need very few fresh ingredients for a plate of hearty stir fry. Ingredients such as lily flowers, wood ear mushrooms, celery and carrots are considered highly nutritious and rich in fiber, which is important for detoxing. They are also popular ingredients in postpartum care to help the body recover and get rid of impurities.
How to make Chinese detox stir fry
To make the Chinese detox stir fry: That’s all! The crisp veggies, crunchy mushrooms, chewy tofu puffs and tender noodles work together to create this very satisfying meal that is so nutritious. I like to serve it over steamed rice for a vegetarian meal.
Other delicious vegetarian recipes
Cabbage Glass Noodles Stir Fry Mushroom Fried Rice (蘑菇炒饭) Vegetarian Chow Mein Pan Fried Tofu (脆皮豆腐) Vegetable Fried Rice (蔬菜炒饭)
