It is always fun to visit the local market during Chinese New Year period. This is when I can see a lot of rare ingredients that could not be found at other time of the year.
Bamboo shoot used to be a poor man’s food which had become an expensive delicacy. The traditional way of cooking uses boiling salt water to soften it before frying. This time, I fry it raw to retain its crunchiness. I was lucky it turns out well.
Bamboo shoot, remove the layers of outer skin (more than expected) and cut into bite size
Garlic
White wine
Olive oil
Sea salt
Crushed black pepper
Lemon juice
Fry garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Put in bamboo shoot follow by salt and pepper. Add in a glut of white wine and cook for 5 minutes. Squeeze a wedge of lemon juice over and serve immediately.
gotasté 
I don’t think I even knew people could eat bamboo! I know pandas do, but I didn’t know that people could! I guess I learned something new today!
Rebecca! Great to hear from you 🙂
If I’m not wrong, pandas eat the leaves as well. People just go for the shoots. Bamboo shoot is rare in singapore but common in china, taiwan and japan. It is often used to make dumplings, buns, stew and soup. In taiwan, they specially cultivate bamboo plantations to harvest the shoots to sell at a good price. I don’t like the preserved version but love the fresh ones. It is tougher than asparagus with a mild taste of green.
Interesting! It would probably be very hard to find fresh bamboo in America, but if I ever do, I’ll try it! But only after making sure it’s fresh and not preserved!
The preserved ones are normally vacuum packed or in bottles. I can’t stand the smell.
This is wonderful! I have bamboo in the back that has taken over 🙂
Bamboo is very expensive to purchase, but once it is planted, it just shoots up. And if it thunders and lightning cracks, it grows even more! I love this idea of the bamboo shoot. Of course it would be expensive to have dining out. It is amazing how items end up being a delicacy and never thought of before. I love this with olive oil and white wine 🙂
Hi Judy,
Thank you very much for your nice comment. You have bamboo in your backyard? So exciting! Do they produce shoots? Have you harvest them before? I heard the shoots sprouts easily during raining season. Like you say when thunder and lightnings cracks, it grows even more! You are amazing! 🙂
Hi Danny,
I have a lot of bamboo and haven’t harvested them yet. And didn’t think about it until your post! Very cool! Great post as always 🙂
This looks really wonderful! I wonder if I would be able to find some here in Finland, I would love try your recipe!
Thank you for your nice comment. This isn’t much of a recipe really. I just wanted to retain it’s full flavor with simple ingredients. There are a few varieties and Finland may just have it. Let me know 🙂
I love bamboo shoots and you are so right, it’s hard to find it whole and fresh like this unless it’s the special time of the year. 🙂 This dish is absolutely delectable.
Thank you for stopping by Amy. That’s why whenever I am in Taiwan, I will order it for almost every meal. Love the soup and stew versions too! 🙂
Wow, Danny, I never knew about bamboo before I read this post, I am glad you posted about this! thank you for sharing, it does look wonderful 🙂
Hi Ingrid, thank you very much. I’m glad you like it. It is a good source of fiber too. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this! I have only seen canned bamboo shoot. I love trying delicacies, wish I was there to try it!
I have not tried the canned version. I suppose they would have lost all the crunchiness after soaking in salt water for so long. You can try china town if they got fresh ones or come over next year 🙂
Seems so good, I have to try it!
Thank you. Let me know if you got a chance to try it! 🙂
If i’ll find bamboo, I’ll try it!!I promise you…
🙂
This sounds like something I would enjoy – but I’ve no idea where to go for bamboo. In this day and age I must be able to find it somewhere, so I shall have a little investigation.
Hi Gabriela, you should be able to get it in china-town. They are mostly from china or taiwan. Don’t go for the packed or preserved ones. They taste totally different from the fresh version.
And I’ve made your recipe of courgettes with pasta last night. I haven’t got mint but it already taste so good. Sure to try it again with mint. What a great recipe. Many thanks!
Danny
Great recipe, Danny! I usually see canned bamboo shoots in the local Asian markets here, but have never tried cooking the fresh version of it. Love how you take a traditionally Asian ingredient and combine it with a Western way of cooking. -Veronica
Hi Veronica, I’m glad you like it this way. Asian recipes tend to overcook it. Most are afraid we might taste too much of the ‘green’ if it is still crunchy. Lucky this recipe works! I think the wine and lemon may have removed the ‘green’ away. You may be able to find the fresh versions during chinese new year.
Very creative way of cooking indeed! I will need to stop by the local supermarkets.
I love bamboo shoot and usually have them in Chinese cuisines. This is an interesting take on it –great idea Danny!
Thank you Anne. I’m glad it works for me. It actually taste a bit like asparagus when I cook it this way.
Georgous pics, my friend! 🙂 Beautiful even! In Brussels, there is one very large Asian supermarket & I go there all the time for everything!
Hi Sophie, great to hear from you! 🙂 Thank you for your nice comment. I wish to visit Brussels in my next Europe trip.
I have lived in Brussels for 10 years but not anymore,…We should meet!
Yes we should! 🙂 Are you still living in Europe? Or have you moved to Asia? No worries if it is inconvenient to mention it here.
I live in Mechelen, Belgium. Mechelen lies in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium: in Flanders! It is 20 km north of Brussels! 🙂 Yeah!
I love to explore such places as compared to the typical touristy ones. Will google more on it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
🙂