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More Mushroom Madness

Below is my take on the "Mushrooms and Ham" topping from that pan fried noodles dish we love from Vegetarian Dim Sum House. It's a copy of the recipe that i emailed Loud Darian in 2003; in exchange, he emailed me instructions for a "tater tots casserole!"

be's Mushrooms, Ham and Bok Choy

10-12 Chinese dried black mushrooms
3-4 oz fake ham or real "smithfield" ham (not cold cuts) or canadian bacon
4-6 baby bok choy
2 T veg oil
4-5 ginger slices
1-2 T oyster sauce (Wan Ja Shan brand makes a vegetarian version)

1)  soak the mushrooms in cold water for 1-2 hours until softened. cut off stems, save the soaking water. squeeze them kinda dry.

2)  cut the ham into thick strips, about 1/4" thick and 1" x 2"

2.5) start the rice now!

3)  heat 1T oil in a wok (large pan is fine) over med-high heat. add 2 ginger slices and stir for 1 minute. add mushrooms and fry for another minute. then add ham and oyster sauce, fry for another minute. add 1 to 1 and 1/2 cups of mushroom water, bring to a boil. cover and turn heat to low, simmer for 20-30 mins, stir every now and then.

4)  wash the boy choy well, separate large stalks and cut off bottoms of all. slice large stalks in 1/2. drain.

5) in another pan or the same one (just wipe clean after emptying mushrooms and ham into a bowl) heat the last 1T oil over high heat. add 2 ginger slices and fry for a few seconds. add the boy choy and fry for a minute or so, until they look shiny. add a teeny bit of water and cover for a minute or until they are bright green and crisp but cooked. keep stirring them when the lid is lifted if it needs more than 1 minute.

6)  when the boy choy is done, dump the mushrooms and ham and sauce into the pan and mix. that way, the mushrooms and ham are soft while the greens are crisp! ration the mushrooms, cause some people are addicted and will eat all of them.

This dish is really tasty but it still doesn't compare to the original! I would post instructions on making perfect pan fried noodles, but i've yet to make an edible batch. Just serve it over rice, and make sure mushroom addicts don't eat more than their fair share!

posted by beXn @ 12:33 AM