Rau Muống Xào Tỏi (Garlic Stir-Fried Water Spinach)
Local name: Rau muống xào tỏi
In short: Crisp-tender water spinach stir-fried over very high heat with plenty of garlic and a splash of fish sauce, ready in five minutes as a side for rice. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 90 kcal
Rau muống xào tỏi is the green vegetable on almost every Vietnamese family table: water spinach with hollow stems that stay crunchy and tender leaves that wilt in seconds. Garlic goes into smoking-hot oil, the greens follow, and a little fish sauce seasons the pan. The whole dish takes five minutes, so have everything ready before you start and eat it straight away. Some cooks add a squeeze of lime or a few pieces of chili.
Instructions
- Wash the water spinach well and shake it completely dry, because extra water makes the stir-fry steam. Cut it into 6 cm (2 1/2 in) lengths and keep the thick stems apart from the leaves.
- Stir the fish sauce, sugar, salt and water together in a small cup.
- Heat the oil in a wok over high heat until it just begins to smoke. Add the garlic and stir for 10 seconds, until golden at the edges.
- Add the stems and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the leaves and the sauce and toss for 1 to 2 minutes, until the leaves wilt and the stems are crisp-tender.
- Season with pepper, add the chili if you like and serve at once.
Tips
- Dry greens and a very hot wok matter most, since wet leaves and a cool pan give a soggy, grey stir-fry. Cook in two batches if your wok is small.
- No water spinach? Use spinach (cook it for 1 minute), bok choy or choy sum. For a vegan version, swap the fish sauce for soy sauce.
Questions and answers
What is water spinach?
Also called morning glory, kangkong or ong choy, it is a leafy green with hollow stems and arrow-shaped leaves. Asian grocery stores sell it fresh in bunches.
How do I keep the stems from turning tough?
Cut the stems into short lengths, split thick ones lengthwise and add them to the wok before the leaves so they cook a little longer.
Can I make it ahead of time?
It is best eaten at once. Wash and cut the greens ahead and keep them dry in the fridge, then cook just before serving.
How long does it take to make Rau Muống Xào Tỏi (Garlic Stir-Fried Water Spinach)?
About 15 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Rau Muống Xào Tỏi (Garlic Stir-Fried Water Spinach)?
About 90 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 6 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 90 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 620 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
