Savory Stir-Fried Chives: A Simple, Season-Round Vegetable Side Dish
Recipe for Stir-Fried Chives: A Healthy Vegetable Side Dish Made with Fresh Chives
Home-cooked meals are often perfected with vegetable side dishes! Do you find them too time-consuming to prepare? Don’t worry! With chives, which require minimal preparation, you can easily make a delicious side dish: ‘Stir-Fried Chives.’ If you found some fresh chives at the market, don’t let the leftovers go to waste. Turn them into a healthy and flavorful chive salad that will invigorate your appetite and benefit your family’s health. Its refreshing, slightly pungent flavor is a perfect complement to any meal.
Main Ingredients
- 1 bunch of chives (approx. 100g)
- 1 Tbsp anchovy sauce (fish sauce)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce for soup
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds, crushed
- Pinch of sugar (optional)
For Blanching Chives
- 0.5 Tbsp coarse salt
- 0.5 Tbsp coarse salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, carefully examine the root ends of the chives and thoroughly clean away any soil or debris. At this stage, remove any yellow or wilted leaves for a cleaner result.
Step 2
After brushing off any dirt from the roots, trim off the dirty ends with a knife.
Step 3
Place the prepared chives in a bowl of water for a moment. Then, gently swish them with your hands to wash. Rinse them thoroughly multiple times until no dirt is visible in the water.
Step 4
Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water boils, add half a tablespoon of coarse salt. The salt helps to maintain the chives’ vibrant green color. As soon as the water is boiling vigorously, carefully add the root ends of the chives first.
Step 5
Blanch the chives for about 30 to 60 seconds. Overcooking will make them mushy and diminish their crisp texture, so be mindful of the time. Blanching them briefly preserves their freshness.
Step 6
Immediately after blanching, transfer the chives to cold water to stop the cooking process and cool them down. Rinsing in cold water helps to keep their color bright and their texture crisp. Gently squeeze out excess water with your hands; avoid squeezing too hard, as this can crush the chives. You can either use them as is for the salad or cut them into 3-4 cm lengths, depending on your preference.
Step 7
Adding a tiny pinch of sugar to the chive salad can help neutralize any slight bitterness or astringency, making the dish more palatable. You can omit this if you prefer. If using sugar, only add a very small amount. Next, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce for soup and 1 tablespoon of anchovy sauce to the blanched chives for seasoning.
Step 8
Finally, add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of crushed sesame seeds for a nutty aroma and flavor.
Step 9
Now, gently toss and mix the chives with your hands to ensure all the seasonings are evenly distributed. If you haven’t cut the chives, they might be intertwined, so gently separate them while mixing to coat them well with the dressing. Be careful not to mix too vigorously, as this can bruise the chives. Your delicious and fragrant Stir-Fried Chives are ready!
