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Vegetables

The dry-frying method creates crisp-tender texture in the okra. The addition of ground pork and ya cai (芽菜), a unique preserved vegetable from Sichuan, makes the dish intriguing with layers of flavors.

Meat• Vegetables• [Stir-frying]

Dry-fried okra with ground pork and ya cai

Clams and noodles make a good match in cooking. Here, the delicate medley of clams, tomatoes, and cellophane noodles creates a dish that's light and tasty.

Fish and shelfish• Rice, noodles, and grains• Vegetables• [Stir-frying]

Clams with cellophane noodles and cherry tomatoes

Steaming gives the eggplant a delicate and silky texture, and creates a light and easy dish that’s suitable for many occasions. Toasted almonds add a wonderful textural contrast to the eggplant.

Cold dishes and salads• Vegetables• [Steaming]

Steamed Chinese eggplant with almonds

One of my favorite ways of cooking winter melon is to make a braise with ham. In this dish, I use a melon baller to create winter melon balls instead of cutting the melon into slices as traditionally done.

Vegetables• [Simmering]

Braised winter melon with ham

Fresh fava beans are great on their own when simply blanched or sautéed; they’re even better when stir-fried with Chinese bacon (la rou in Mandarin or lap yuk in Cantonese).

Meat• Vegetables• [Stir-frying]

Stir-fried fava beans with Chinese bacon

The juicy, tender stem of celtuce has a beautiful jade-green color, mild and nutty flavor with a hint of lettuce, and crisp texture. This celtuce salad with rice vinegar and sesame oil is light and refreshing.

Cold dishes and salads• Vegetables• [Pickling/Raw]

Celtuce ribbon salad

Tatsoi is a fantastic vegetable. The leaves of tatsoi are tender and sweet, and the stalks are creamy with a nutty undertone. Compared with bok choy, a close relative, its flavor is more robust and complex.

Vegetables• [Stir-frying]

Stir-fried tatsoi with shiitake mushrooms

Fresh green soybeans taste wonderfully sweet and tender, with a lovely snap when you bit into them. A quick stir-fry with chicken and tomatoes creates a bright and clean dish with savory (umami), sweet, and sour flavors.

Soybeans and tofu• Vegetables• [Stir-frying]

Stir-fried green soybeans with heirloom tomatoes and chicken