Lemon Chinese Yam
檸汁山藥
Chinese yam in an edible plant commonly seen in East Asia but also can be easily obtained in most Asian grocery stores worldwide. It can be eaten raw, tastes mildly sweet and crispy. When it’s cooked, it’s starchy like potato. Chinese yam is sliced thickly and dried, then cooked in various Chinese soups. Chinese yam is packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber. In traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese yam is considered one of the almighty ingredients. It can ease symptoms of menopause, improve blood sugar control and reduce inflammation. It can be eaten often, several times a week.
Chinese yam can be cooked just like potato, steamed, poached, soup, baked, or deep-fried. I like to make Cantonese soup with dried Chinese yam. When I have hot and spicy Sichuan hotpot, I like to slightly cook the Chinese yam, so it tastes starch outside but keeps the crispiness inside. Or I would have fresh Chinese yam juice, sweetened with honey. Also I like to have hot steamed rice with grated Chinese yam, a Japanese way. In this recipe, I make a simple lemon olive oil dressing for this Japanese specie of Chinese yam.
Though fresh Chinese yam can be eaten raw, some of the species might be too tough to chew. Choose those thick tubers with lighter colour peel. There is one specie called Iron Bar, which is long and thin. It’s said to be with higher beneficial value than other species, usually cooked in soup.
Ingredients –
- Chinese yam, 500g
- Lemon, 1
- Syrup/honey, 1tbsp
- Dijon mustard, 1tbsp
- Olive oil, 2tbsp
- Salt, 1/4tsp
How to do –
1. When you peel the Chinese yam, make sure you wear latex gloves to prevent slipping;
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2. Chop into bite size matchsticks;
3. For the dressing, thinly slice some lemon peel for garnishing, mix the juice of 1 lemon, 2tbsp of olive oil, 1tbsp of Dijon mustard and honey, a nip of salt, mix well and have a taste, adjust with salt or sugar; Sprinkle on the Chinese yam and garnish with a little lemon peel.
用料 –
- 山药500克
- 柠檬1个
- 蜂蜜/糖浆1汤匙
- 第戎芥末1汤匙
- 橄榄油2汤匙
- 盐1/4茶匙
做法 –
- 削皮的时候戴胶手套不容易打滑；
- 切成适口大小的条；
- 柠檬皮可以削一些出来待会做装饰，柠檬汁挤出，拌入1汤匙第戎芥末、2汤匙橄榄油、一丁点盐、1汤匙糖浆或蜂蜜，搅拌均匀，尝味，适当增减甜味；
- 淋在山药上，放一点柠檬皮丝装饰。
