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Chive and egg stir-fry

Jiucai chao jidan 韭菜炒鸡蛋: garlic chives and soft scrambled egg, the ten-minute family favourite

From Shandong farmhouses to student kitchens in Guangzhou, garlic chives fried with egg is one of the first dishes a Chinese child learns to cook and one of the last things a busy parent forgets how to make. The flat chives turn sweet and garlicky in the hot oil and the egg stays in soft, golden curds. It is on the table at ordinary weeknight dinners with rice and a soup, and is also the filling of many chive pockets and dumplings. The most common mistake is cooking the chives and egg together from the start, so the eggs go rubbery while the chives are still raw; cook them separately and bring them together at the end. Chef's tip: dry the chives well after washing, because water in the wok makes them limp and grey.
Total time
10 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
3
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Ingredients

Serves3
  • 7 oz garlic chiveswashed, dried and cut into 3 cm lengths
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 3 tbsp neutral oil

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What you'll need

Spices & pantry

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Beat 4 eggs with ¼ tsp salt and 1 tbsp water until no streaks of white remain.

  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil in a wok over a medium-high heat until shimmering. Pour in the egg: it should puff at the edges at once. Let it set for a few seconds, then push it gently into large, soft curds and tip it onto a plate while still slightly wet.

    1 min
  3. Step 3: Add the rest of 1 tbsp neutral oil and turn the heat to high. Add 7 oz garlic chives with the rest of ¼ tsp salt and toss quickly until they turn bright green and just wilt.

    1 min
  4. Step 4: Return the egg, break it into bite-sized pieces and toss for 30 seconds, until hot and fully set. Serve at once.

    1 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
200 kcal
Protein
9 g
Carbs
2 g
Fat
17 g
Fibre
1 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does chive and egg stir-fry take?
About 10 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of eggs?
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).

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