Mani Cai In Coconut Milk

Mani Cai in Chinese; Cangkuk Manis in Malay; Sweet Leaves or Sauropus Androgynus in English, this leafy vegetables is indeed superb with so many names, which means it is widely grown and eaten.  This sweet and tasty vegetables are normally cooked with eggs; served in Pan Mian; and when cooked with coconut milk, which is known as 'Cangkuk Manis masak lemak', the taste is awesome!  Here is my own home-cooked version to share with my readers....

Ingredients: (Serves 1)
Mani Cai leaves: 1 medium bowl (washed, drain and tear the leaves into smaller pieces)
Orange sweet potato: 1 small or 1/2 medium sized (peeled and cut into chunks)
Young corns: 4 pieces (sliced thickly, diagonally)
Anchovies: a handful (washed, fried until crispy)
3 tbsp. coconut milk (amount depending on your preference)
1 bird's eye chili (split into half but not cut through)
2 tbsp. cooking oil
2 bowls water

Seasonings:
Dash of chicken stock granules (to taste)


Pounded ingredients:
1 red chili (roughly chopped)
2 shallots (peeled and roughly chopped)
3 cloves garlic (peeled and roughly chopped)
1/2 tsp. ground tumeric
1 tsp. toasted shrimp paste/belacan

Methods:

1. In a heated wok, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, saute the pounded ingredients and bird's eye chili until fragrant.  
2. Add the orange sweet potato and corn and fry for about a minute, then add in 2 bowls of water, and let it simmer until sweet potato almost soften.  
3. Then add in the Mani Cai, stir to mix; add dash of chicken stock granules and taste for correct seasoning.
4. When the dish is done, reduce the heat to low and stir in coconut milk, and once it comes to a boil, turn of heat and dish onto a serving bowl.
5. Top with crispy anchovies and serve immediately with a bowl of hot rice.

Notes:

1. This dish can also cook with pumpkin instead of sweet potato.
2. Corn can be omitted, it's optional.
3. If you don't have ground tumeric, it can also be omitted.  
4. For the anchovies, it can also be pounded together with the other ingredients; or leave as it is and fried together with the pounded ingredients.  It is to your own liking. 
5. Dried shrimps can also be use instead of anchovies

Mani Cai with pumpkin