Chayote Mushrooms King Trumpet - auspicious vegetarian

While most dinner tables will be laid with fish, shrimps (prawns), many other seafood and meat dishes (all "lucky foods") for Chinese New Year - vegetables should not be forgotten. This recipe is suitable if you want to whip up more vegetarian dishes this Chinese New Year. Chayote is also 寿瓜 (Shou Gua), literally meaning Longevity Gourd. Good symbolics for the Lunar New Year. Checked. And, that huge variety of mushrooms you can find in the market these days - vegetarians are in for a treat. A variety such as King Trumpet Mushrooms in which you can thinly slice the stems of the trumpet mushrooms and easily pass them off as baby abalone (鲍贝, Bao Bei) are great in stir-frys.

鲍贝 sound alike to 宝贝 meaning Precious. And Abalone is 鲍鱼 (Bao Yu in Mandarin) and translates to "Sure Surplus" or "A Guaranteed Abundance".  Good symbolics for the Lunar New Year. Checked. Checked. Checked. This Stir-Fry Chayote with King Trumpet Mushrooms, albeit simple, can be made into such an auspicious dish for vegetarians out there. I can call it 万寿包余 - "Longevity in Sure Abundance"! and hope everyone keeps their good health.

Stir-Fry Chayote with King Trumpet Mushrooms
Ingredients: Chayote, peeled and sliced into thin strips; trumpet mushrooms, cleaned and sliced stems and caps; 2 cloves garlic, minced; salt and white pepper to taste; drizzle of sesame oil.

Directions: Heat some sesame oil in a wok. Add garlic, then chayote and mushrooms and fry briskly. Add some water to allow mixture to simmer till chayote turns slightly tender. Add salt and white pepper to taste. Pairs well with steamed rice or a bowl of plain congee.

This dish featuring Chayote is good to go to Simona of Briciole, the host for Weekend Herb Blogging this week.

Another vegetarian keeper if you want a sexy and luxurious-looking dish is this Braised Spinach Tofu with Mushrooms Medley - restaurant inspiration yet homemade!



Tag: chayote, mushrooms