Stir-Fried Garlic Chinese Lettuce
This Stir-Fried Garlic Chinese Lettuce is bursting with aromatic garlic fragrance, and the Chinese lettuce is crisp and delicious. It’s simple and quick to make, not only tasty but also packed with nutrients.
Why is this recipe so popular?
This recipe is loved primarily because it’s simple and quick to prepare, making it a great choice for busy days. The Chinese lettuce offers a crisp and refreshing texture, and when stir-fried, it retains its natural flavor.
The addition of garlic further enhances the dish, infusing it with a rich aroma that complements the lettuce's sweetness. The garlic bursts in hot oil, creating a savory depth that elevates the dish's flavor profile.
Overall, this dish satisfies the taste buds while being easy to prepare, making it a convenient yet delicious choice for everyday meals.
Ingredients and Substitutes
Main Ingredient
Chinese lettuce (oil lettuce): Provides a refreshing texture and serves as the base of the dish.
Secondary Ingredients
Garlic: Enhances aroma and flavor, adding depth to the overall dish.
Seasoning
Salt: Used for basic seasoning to enhance flavor.
Oil: Used for stir-frying Chinese lettuce, preventing sticking and adding fragrance.
Substitutes
Chinese lettuce (oil lettuce): Can be replaced with other leafy greens such as bok choy or spinach, which have a similar flavor.
Garlic: Can be substituted with garlic paste, yielding a similar result.
Oil: Other vegetable oils or olive oil can be used as a substitute, maintaining the fragrance.
What’s the difference between Chinese lettuce and lettuce?
Appearance:
Chinese lettuce has longer, thinner leaves, usually light green or yellow-green in color. The leaves are soft, slightly wavy on the edges, and the overall shape is more compact, resembling the look of romaine lettuce.
Lettuce leaves are typically broader, ranging from light to dark green, with deeper folds that open like a flower, making them more loosely arranged.
Texture:
Chinese lettuce has a crunchy texture with slightly tougher stems and thicker leaves, making it ideal for stir-frying, boiling, or stewing, while maintaining a crisp bite. On the other hand, lettuce leaves are tender and watery, with a sweet flavor that’s perfect for salads or as a wrap, but it becomes soft and yellowish if cooked for too long.
Usage:
Chinese lettuce is perfect for stir-fries, soups, or stews, as it maintains its crisp texture. Lettuce is best eaten raw, in salads, or used to wrap other ingredients for a refreshing bite.
Delicious Tips
Though this stir-fried Chinese lettuce with garlic is simple, a few tricks can enhance its flavor:
Garlic Frying Tips:
When frying garlic, avoid using too high heat. Let the oil heat slightly before adding the garlic, ensuring it doesn't burn. Frying it until golden and slightly crispy will intensify its fragrance.
Stir-Frying Time:
Don’t stir-fry the lettuce for too long. Just a few seconds are enough to preserve its crisp texture. Overcooking can result in a soft and limp dish, losing its refreshing bite.
Add White Pepper:
If you enjoy a little heat, add a pinch of white pepper during the stir-frying process. It will enhance the dish’s complexity, adding a subtle spicy kick.
Try Oyster Sauce:
For a richer flavor, add a small amount of oyster sauce along with the salt. It adds a deeper savory note, making the dish even more delicious.
Pair with Other Ingredients:
To add more texture and flavor, try adding mushrooms, carrots, or small scallops during the stir-frying process. These ingredients not only enrich the taste but also add layers to the overall dish.
INGREDIENTS
Main Ingredients
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·280g chinese lettuce (oil lettuce)
Additional Ingredients
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·20g garlic
Seasonings
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·6g salt
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·15ml oil
COOKING STEP
Step 1
Cut 280g of Chinese lettuce into several pieces; crush and chop 20g of garlic into garlic bits.
Step 2
Heat 15ml of oil in a pan, then add the garlic bits and sauté until fragrant.
Step 3
Add the Chinese lettuce to the pan and stir-fry for a few seconds until it softens and releases its fragrance.
Step 4
Add 6g of salt and continue to stir-fry evenly.
Step 5
Once the lettuce softens and the fragrance spreads, remove from the pan and plate.
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Uncomplicated Dish: Stir-fried Chinese Yam
Recipe Variations
This stir-fried Chinese lettuce with garlic can be customized based on personal taste or available ingredients to add more layers of flavor:
Add Spice:
If you like spice, add dried chili peppers or fresh red chilies while stir-frying the garlic. This adds a spicier depth to the dish, perfect for those who enjoy bold flavors.
Add Mushrooms:
Adding mushrooms like shiitake or oyster mushrooms can complement the refreshing Chinese lettuce. The earthy flavor of mushrooms enhances the dish, making it richer and more complex.
Ginger and Garlic Combo:
For a twist, try replacing some of the garlic with minced ginger. This gives the dish a more unique flavor, especially warming for colder months.
Add Tofu:
For a heartier version, add some soft tofu, cut into small cubes, and stir-fry with the lettuce. The creamy tofu contrasts nicely with the crisp lettuce, adding variety to the texture.
Soy Sauce or Oyster Sauce:
For a richer taste, a small amount of soy sauce or oyster sauce can be added. These ingredients bring an extra depth to the dish, making the overall flavor more savory.
Serving Suggestions
This stir-fried Chinese lettuce with garlic is versatile and can be paired with various main dishes. Here are a few serving suggestions:
Pair with Rice:
This dish is an excellent side for rice, as the crisp lettuce and garlic aroma balance out the richness of the rice, making each bite appetizing.
Hot Pot Side Dish:
Chinese lettuce is a great hot pot vegetable. After stir-frying, it soaks up the broth’s flavors, adding complexity to the hot pot experience.
As a Cold Dish:
For a lighter option, this dish can be served cold. Let the stir-fried lettuce cool, then mix with some vinegar and sesame oil for a refreshing cold dish, especially perfect for summer.
Pair with Protein:
Its crisp taste pairs wonderfully with high-protein foods like chicken breast, tofu, or fish, creating a well-balanced meal.
FAQs:
The reason for using a wok is that it helps maintain the crispness of the vegetables, and stir-frying ensures even heating. While the microwave is convenient, it can cause the vegetables to become soft and lose their texture.
For soup, cook the Chinese lettuce with shredded meat, adding ginger and salt for seasoning to create a delicious broth. For hot pot, simply drop the Chinese lettuce into the pot and blanch it, then dip it in your favorite sauce.
For cold dressing, blanch the Chinese lettuce, let it cool, and then toss it with minced garlic, light soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil. This method keeps the lettuce crisp and is especially refreshing in summer.
When cutting, focus on the root and stem. Trim off any older root parts, and if the stems are too thick, cut them in half. The leaves don't need to be chopped, keeping their original shape is fine.
This length ensures even cooking, so that some pieces don't end up undercooked while others are overcooked.
Adding more garlic will definitely boost the dish's flavor, especially for mild dishes like stir-fried vegetables. However, be careful not to go over 35g, as too much garlic can overpower the natural sweetness of the lettuce.
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