With a flavor similar to Swiss Chard or spinach, it’s no wonder this delightful vegetable is so beloved. One of the most famous vegetables found in Asian cuisine, bok choy is used extensively in a number of recipes. Once thought to contain medicinal qualities, in some parts of China, Bitter Melon is still used to purify the blood and cool the digestive system This bitter or quinine flavor (a bitter alkaloid) is often combined with garlic or chile. Resembling a long, bumpy cucumber, Bitter Melon can be found in Asian and East Indian cooking Grown as a fruit but used as a vegetable, the Bitter Melon is actually a member of the squash family. Sweeter and more tender than regular eggplant, Melissa’s Chinese Eggplant has fewer, smaller seeds.
Although Chinese Eggplant is botanically a fruit, it’s more commonly used as a vegetable and resembles a small zucchini. Chinese Eggplant is usually lavender or white and is even longer than the darker purple Japanese Eggplant. Sautéed with garlic, soy sauce and lemon juice, our Quick Lemony Baby Bok Choy Sauté is the perfect Chinese New Year’s side dish.Ĭhinese Eggplant can be distinguished from other popular oriental eggplant varieties by its color and size. We love baby bok choy in a number of recipes but we like it simple the best. Whether stir-fried, braised, sautéed or steamed, this vegetable becomes more mild to reveal a just hint of sweetness. Tender and leafy, baby bok choy is an incredibly versatile vegetable. In soups, the leaves and stalks should be chopped and added separately, since the stalks take longer to cook.ĭid you know The name “bok choy” originated from the Chinese word for “soup spoon” because of the shape of its leaves. The entire vegetable can be used, and is often added raw to salads for a satisfying crunch. And don’t forget about kimchi! Napa cabbage is the star of the show in the most popular kimchi, baechu kimchi.Ī deep green leafy vegetable that resembles Romaine lettuce on top and a large celery on the bottom, bok choy is a crucifer more closely related to cabbage. As a symbol of prosperity in China, what’s not to love about this exquisite vegetable during Chinese New Year? Napa cabbage is used extensively in stir-fry and hot pot and becomes wonderfully tender once cooked. Originating from Beijing, China, Napa cabbage is commonly used in Asian cuisine. For an easy yet flavorful side dish, check out our Gai Lan and Long Bean Stir Fry with Enoki Mushrooms. It pairs wonderfully with oyster sauce and garlic because the flavors complement and offset the bitterness. Gai lan has a similar flavor to regular broccoli, only slightly more bitter. Gai lan, also known as Chinese Broccoli, is a favorite in Chinese cuisine. A great recipe for getting started with this awesome vegetable is our Petite Choy Sum Stir-Fry.ģ. And because they’re so small, they can be eaten whole. How adorable does Petite Baby Choy Sum look? With a distinctly sweet but delicate mustard flavor, petite baby choy sum is popularly used in stir-fries and can withstand bold flavors such as chiles, garlic, spices and even citrus. Their delicateness allows for them to blanch beautifully in soups and make a nice crunchy addition to stir-fry. However, what they do have in common is their delicious hint of sweetness once cooked. Petite Shanghai is part of the bok choy family but are actually smaller than baby bok choy.
We also have a wide variety of essentials for Chinese New Year including vegetables, tropical fruits, noodles and other great items to make tasty dishes for the holiday.ĭon’t be confused by how similar Petite Shanghai looks as baby bok choy. Let’s take a look at some of the Asian vegetables we’re offering that would be perfect for Chinese New Year and other Chinese-inspired dishes. When it comes to popular green Asian vegetables, we at Melissa’s have the best of the best from top quality growers. People love to eat green, leafy vegetables at each meal because they’re not only incredibly healthy but also versatile in a vast number of recipes. Asian vegetables are not only fundamental to Lunar New Year but also to Asian cuisine as a whole.
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