Chinese Buddhist Eddoes Stir-Fry

Ingredients

In this Chinese Buddhist adaptation, the traditional Trinidadian choka is transformed into a stir-fry. The original recipe typically involves roasting or grilling the eddoes and then mashing them with spices and herbs. However, in this version, the eddoes are sliced and stir-fried with a variety of vegetables, creating a lighter and more vibrant dish. The flavors are also influenced by Chinese Buddhist cuisine, incorporating umami-rich ingredients like soy sauce and mushrooms. We alse have the original recipe for Eddoes choka, so you can check it out.

• 500g (1.1 lb) eddoes, peeled and sliced 500g (1.1 lb) eddoes, peeled and sliced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, julienned 1 carrot, julienned
• 100g (3.5 oz) mushrooms, sliced 100g (3.5 oz) mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 180 kcal / 753 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 5g, 0.5g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 30g, 8g
• Protein: 5g
• Fiber: 6g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. 2.
   Add the onion and garlic, and sauté until fragrant and translucent.
3. 3.
   Add the sliced eddoes and stir-fry for 5-7 minutes, until they start to soften.
4. 4.
   Add the red bell pepper, carrot, and mushrooms, and continue stir-frying for another 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
5. 5.
   In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and Chinese five-spice powder.
6. 6.
   Pour the sauce over the stir-fried vegetables and eddoes, and toss to coat evenly.
7. 7.
   Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the flavors meld together.
8. 8.
   Season with salt and pepper to taste.
9. 9.
   Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Eddoes — Make sure to peel the eddoes thoroughly before slicing to remove any tough outer skin.
• Chinese five-spice powder — If you don't have Chinese five-spice powder, you can create your own blend using equal parts ground cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns.

Tips & Tricks

• For a spicier kick, add a dash of chili flakes or a finely chopped chili pepper.
• Feel free to add other vegetables of your choice, such as snow peas or baby corn.
• To enhance the umami flavor, you can add a handful of sliced shiitake mushrooms.
• Serve the stir-fry over steamed rice or noodles for a more substantial meal.
• Leftovers can be enjoyed cold as a refreshing salad the next day.

Serving advice

Chinese Buddhist Eddoes Stir-Fry is best served hot as a main dish. It pairs well with steamed rice or noodles. Garnish with fresh cilantro for added freshness and aroma.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, arrange the stir-fried eddoes and vegetables on a large platter, garnish with cilantro, and serve family-style. The vibrant colors of the vegetables will make the dish visually appealing.