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Jicai doufu geng
荠菜豆腐羹 (jicai doufu geng): light Shanghai soup of shepherd's purse and diced tofu
In Shanghai and Jiangsu, shepherd's purse (jicai) is picked from field edges in early spring, and this gentle, lightly thickened soup is one of the first dishes of the season at home and in Shanghainese restaurants. Finely chopped greens and small cubes of soft tofu are simmered in vegetable stock with a few shiitake, then thickened just enough to coat a spoon, giving a soothing, savoury soup with a fresh, grassy taste. Serve it as a starter or with a small bowl of rice. It is suitable as part of a balanced diet. About 110 kcal and 7 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is adding too much starch, which makes it gluey; it should flow off the spoon. Spinach works if you can't find jicai. Chef's tip: blanch and squeeze the greens before chopping, which keeps the soup bright green instead of murky.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 9 oz shepherd's purse (jicai) or spinachwashed
- 10 ½ oz soft tofucut into 1 cm cubes
- 4 fresh shiitake mushroomsdiced
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp fresh gingerfinely chopped
- 3 ¾ cups vegetable stock
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
- 2 tbsp cornflourmixed with 4 tbsp cold water
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Blanch 9 oz shepherd's purse (jicai) or spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds, cool under cold water, squeeze dry and chop very finely.
3 minStep 2: Heat 1 tsp vegetable oil in a pot over a medium heat and fry 1 tsp fresh ginger and 4 fresh shiitake mushrooms for 2 minutes until the mushrooms soften.
2 minStep 3: Add 3 ¾ cups vegetable stock, 1 tbsp light soy sauce, ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp ground white pepper and bring to a simmer. Slide in 10 ½ oz soft tofu and simmer gently for 3 minutes.
4 minStep 4: Stir 2 tbsp cornflour again and pour it in slowly while stirring gently; simmer for 1 minute until the soup is lightly thickened and glossy.
1 minStep 5: Stir in the greens, heat for 1 minute until bright green, drizzle with 1 tsp toasted sesame oil and serve.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 110 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 7 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does jicai doufu geng take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of fresh shiitake mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
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