Stir-fried Kai Lan

Kai Lan which is also known as Chinese broccoli or Chinese kale is eaten widely in Chinese cuisine.  It is popularly stir-fried with garlic or ginger; can also be cooked as soup; boiled and mixed with oyster sauce, fried onion and garlic; and as an ingredient to compliment other dishes.

Here's two simple stir-fried Kai Lan dishes to share....

(1)  Stir-fried Kai Lan with prawns

Ingredients:

1/2 kg kai lan

1/4 cup red carrot (peeled and sliced)

1/3 cup prawns (peeled and deveined)

2 shallots (sliced)

3 pip garlic (chopped)

1 1/2 tsp chicken stock granules

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp cooking oil

Methods:

1. To prepare kai lan, separate the leaves from the stems, peel the hard part of the stem, wash and soak in water for one hour.  Drain, cut into pieces and for the stems cut it slanting for easy cooking.  Separate the leaves from the stems and set aside.
2. Heat oil in wok, saute shallots and garlic until fragrant, add in the stems, stir-fry for 1 minute, then add in carrot and prawns and mix well.
3. Add in kai lan leaves and chicken stock granules, give it a quick stir and add in 2 tbsp of water.
4. Fry for a further half minute, off the heat, dish and serve.

(2)  Stir-fried kai lan with meat

Ingredients:
1 bunch kai lan
1/4 cup chicken breast meat (sliced)
1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp corn flour
some red carrot (sliced)
6 slices ginger
1/2 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp water


Seasoning:
1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
1/2 tbsp shao hsing wine
1/2 tsp chicken stock granules

Methods:

1. Use the same method to prepare kai lan as the dish above, but cut the leaves and stems into bigger pieces and separate them.
2. Marinate the chicken breast meat with 1/2 tbsp of light soy sauce and corn flour to get that smooth and soft texture after cooked.
3. In a wok, heat both the oil using medium heat, saute the ginger slices till fragrant, then add the chicken meat and stir well.
4. Add in the stems of the kai lan and red carrot, stir for 1 minute, then add the leaves.
5. After few quick stir, add the seasonings and stir till well combined and add in water.
6. When the vegetables are cooked through, off the heat, dish and serve.