Chinese Preserved Vegetables
I received a box full of food from my BF's friend who is moving (they know I'm the one who cooks).
There are two ingredients I'm not familiar with-
One says "preserved turnip" and the Chinese characters look like these, and the other is "dried radish" (these are the Chinese characters).
Do you know how to use them? Any recommended recipes?
Thanks in advance!!
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5 Comments:
My family uses preserved turnips to add almost as aromatics to our vegetables and fish. You can also use in soup. They are also pretty salty, just be warned. I would cut them up into thin strips, about one inch long, and add to your vegetable stir fry. It goes well with bok choy and over steamed fish.
Just be warned - the taste is not for everyone!
toastykitten at 12:38AM on 06/22/09
The preserved turnips we use to add salty umami oomph to certain dishes. They are quite strong, so a little goes a long way.
Typically, when the family uses them, the turnips are minced fine and added to the pan first with things like ground pork, garlic, scallions, etc. When they become fragrant, other ingredients are added.
Stir fried green beans are fantastic with them, btw.
A lazy dish is to make an omelet with some minced preserved turnip and have it as a side with other Chinese-style dishes. Once again, its very salty so only use a little!
Also great to flavor a sauce for pan-fried or steamed fish.
As for the dried radish...is it completely dried and flaked or is it somewhat moist? I'm having trouble pinpointing what it actually is from the picture.
If its what I think it is, it's typically used as a condiment in soups, to top rice porridge. Its really great pinched over noodle soups, too!
fuuchan at 2:54AM on 06/22/09
Thanks! you guys are great :-)
@fuuchan, the radish is somewhat moist.
I'll try a small amount of them in easy dishes to start with!
hmw0029 at 11:12AM on 06/22/09
hot pots! or i love greens (mustard or chinese broccoli) with pork and preserved radish.
dmarina at 2:31PM on 06/22/09
@dmarina- greens with pork and preserved radish sounds fantastic!
I love hot pot, but I can't even think about it now that our heat index is 3 digits. have to wait till late fall...
hmw0029 at 4:22PM on 06/22/09