Stir-fried Leeks with Vegetables
Vegetables stir-fry delight – leeks, mushrooms, baby corn and carrots
Chinese love to eat leeks during Chinese New Year (commonly on the eve and 7th day) because of its Chinese name – 蒜苗/大蒜 (Suan Miao/Da Suan), where “蒜” sounds like calculating (“算”) in Mandarin. Due to the similar sounds, it is believed that eating leeks is an auspicious symbol of wealth (lots of money to count) in the coming year. Although I never believe in any of the auspicious food symbolism, I think it’s fun to cook and eat festively. Here is a meatless recipe for leeks, stir-fried in taucheo (soy bean paste) with vegetables like mushrooms, baby corn and carrots. I’ve used leeks for western cooking (such as in the classic potato and leek soup and chicken pot pie) but in Chinese cooking, it’s pretty common to see them in stir fries.
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Ingredients – leeks, shiitake mushrooms, baby corn, carrots
Ingredients
(Serves 2)
- 200g leeks, sliced diagonally (separate stalks from leaves) – see cooking note 1
- 5 baby corn, sliced diagonally
- 5 fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems removed
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 tbsp taucheo (soy bean sauce)
- 1 tbsp Chinese wine
- 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 carrot, peeled and thinly slicedDirections
1. Heat oil in wok. Stir fry garlic till fragrant.
2. Add leek stalks (the white portion), mushrooms, corn and carrot. Stir fry for about 1 minute over high heat. Add tau cheo and sesame oil. Stir fry for another 1-2 minutes, or until the leek stalks are cooked.
3. Add leek leaves and stir fry briefly till the leaves are cooked and coated in the tau cheo. Drizzle Chinese wine along the sides of the wok, off the heat when you smell the aroma of the wine.
Cooking Note
1. Wash the crevices between the leaves thoroughly, as there is soil trapped in between the leaves. One way to clean them is to slice them half lengthwise, and after washing thoroughly, pat dry with kitchen paper towels and cut accordingly.
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Easy but with good meaning behind it. I love exploring the use of other veges other than bak choy or choy sum!
I love how you cut the mushroom!
A good demonstration showing a meatless dish can be full of aroma.
A very healthy dish that’s perfect for any meal.
I would love to eat leek too but the leek here is triple the size of the leek in Asia. Not sure taste the same or not.
Love this simple fish that is full of flavours and goodness!
The leeks are like spring onions! The leeks here in the UK are so huge, I only use them in stews and soups.
Hope you have lots of money to 算! : p Agree! The leeks look like scallions/spring onions. The leeks here are much bigger.
This is so fresh, light, healthy, vibrant and delicious! I love leeks and don’t cook with them often enough.
Indeed, my mum would always cook something similar to this. I think yours look more appetizing than my mother’s…
My mom always said that leeks is good to cure cold, I love to have them but my kids always say no hehehe … This dish looks so simple but very nutritious!
Healthy dish you had there :)
Yup, this is my kinda dish. I love leek in stir-fries so much! I love using it in both Eastern and Western dishes, even though the veggie is kinda Western by nature. LOL!
From the photo, it looks very appetizing!
This morning, I went to Giant and NTUC. I saw many people buying leeks. Now I know why. Thanks Wiffy, for the cultural explanation. It makes the recipes more interesting!
Growing up, I always thought leeks were too ‘grassy’ both in texture and smell but I have gradually just started appreciating this vegetable. This is def. an auspicious dish hehe Happy Chinese New Year to you and your family!
Mmm thanks for posting an Asian-style leek recipe. I usually only buy them for soup recipes.
Just what the doctor prescribed after my meat vacation…
Hi, I noticed that your leek stir fry with mushroom recipes is just cutting the leek diagonal method, so in this case how to wash the dirt that trap inside the leek ? So the method suggested to wash the leeks is not applicable here : 1. Wash the crevices between the leaves thoroughly, as there is soil trapped in between the leaves. One way to clean them is to slice them half lengthwise, and after washing thoroughly, pat dry with kitchen paper towels and cut accordingly.
Can you advise on how to wash to leeks if diagonal cut ? Thank you
Cut to half and trim the ends. You should be able to gently pry the exposed areas to wash. Then slice diagonally accordingly.