CREAMED CHINESE CABBAGE

Creamed Chinese Cabbage image

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 to 1 1/2 pound chinese cabbage
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons chicken fat
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Stock, Chicken or favorite stock
4 tablespoons smoked ham
dash pepper

Steps:

1. Cut Chinese cabbage stems diagonally in 2-inch sections. Stir cornstarch into milk to dissolve. 2. Heat chicken fat. Add Chinese cabbage and stir-fry 2 minutes. 3. Add salt and stock and bring to a boil. Then cook, covered, over medium heat until cabbage is softened (4 to 5 minutes). 4. Gradually stir in cornstarch mixture over low heat (the milk should not boil). Then simmer, covered, 3 to 5 minutes more, stirring once or twice. 5. Mince smoked ham. Sprinkle cabbage with pepper and ham. Serve hot. NOTE: Unlike other Chinese vegetables, this one is better overcooked than undercooked. Although milk is not often used, its presence here enhances the vegetable's sweetness, freshness and delicacy. VARIATIONS: * For the Chinese cabbage, substitute Chinese lettuce, cut in 2-inch cubes or in strips 1/4 inch wide and 2 inches long. * For the fresh milk, substitute 1/2 cup evaporated milk. * For the chicken fat, substitute oil or lard. * In step 3, add to the chicken fat 6 dried shrimp (soaked). Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes then add cabbage. * Omit the smoked ham. Garnish the cabbage instead with 4 fresh mushrooms, diced and stir-fried separately until cooked through.The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

Nutrition Facts : Nutritional Facts Serves