Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinner: Bamboo Shoot Stir Fry

On our last trip to Chinatown, my mom picked up some fresh bamboo shoots from a vendor on Hester. I’ve never seen fresh bamboo shoots, but my mom assured me that they were very easy to cook with and fresh bamboo tasted a lot better than anything you’d find from a can. We also picked up some Chinese celery, dry tofu, and pork to make a healthy stir fry. If you see bamboo shoots at the market, definitely pick some up and make this dish – it’s easy, fast, and delicious.

Bamboo Shoot Stir Fry

Ingredients

1 Fresh bamboo shoot
1 red pepper (optional)
1 bunch Chinese Celery
3-4 pieces of dry tofu
1 pound pork
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 pinch of white pepper

First, begin peeling the tough exterior off the bamboo shoot. They should come off very easily to reveal a fibrous interior:

Next, chop off all of the layers that are very fibrous:

Thinly slice the bamboo and set aside:

Also, cut up any other vegetables you’re using (and tofu if you’re using that as well). Make sure the widths are all around the same size.

Slice your pork into small pieces:

Place in a bowl:

Add a tablespoon of soy sauce:

A tablespoon of corn starch:

And a healthy pinch of white pepper:

Combine the ingredients and make sure the pork is coated:

Stir fry the pork in a pot with canola oil:

After the pork has finished cooking, place it in a clean bowl. In the same pot, place the chopped Chinese celery and red pepper in first, then add the bamboo shoots and the dry tofu:

Stir fry until the Chinese celery is almost cooked through:

Finally, add the pork and stir until the celery is completely cooked:

The dish is a great all-in-one: protein + vegetables + lots of flavor. The vegetables can be easily substituted, but I think the colors work really well and it’s very delicious. Let me know if you end up using other veggies and how the bamboo shoots turn out!

Cost Breakdown:

1 Fresh bamboo shoot – $1.50
1 red pepper (optional) – $1.00
1 bunch Chinese Celery – $1.50
3-4 pieces of dry tofu – $0.50
1 pound pork – $4.50
1 tablespoon corn starch – free
1 tablespoon soy sauce – free
1 pinch of white pepper – free

Total: – $9.00