When my father was at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital A&E the other day due to sudden chest pain, I was with him in the observation ward and one of the nurses was serving bento lunches to patients. My father was given steamed white rice, steamed fish and stir fry broccoli with straw mushrooms. What a healthy meal, I thought to myself. I was even impressed that he had such a voracious appetite despite being ill and could finish all his food in no time. I asked him if the hospital’s food was that great. He replied, “not really but these are my favourites”.
I salute my father for loving healthy food wholeheartedly because it’s something I can never be on par with him as I can never resist my indulgences. Anyway, it was because of his meal that I decided to cook the same for dinner at home.
Stir Fried Broccoli with Straw Mushrooms Recipe
Ingredients (serves 2-3)
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1 can 425g straw mushrooms, halved
1 carrot, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp oyster sauce mixed with 2 tbsp water
fish sauce to taste
olive oil
Instructions
1. Heat a little olive oil in pan and saute garlic till fragrant. Add in broccoli & carrots and stir fry for a minute.
2. Add oyster sauce mixture & straw mushrooms and season with fish sauce.
3. Cook for another 3-4 minutes till the broccoli stems and carrots are tender.
I try not to overcook the broccoli so they remain nice and green with a perfect crisp to the stem. I just love the natural vibrant colours of the dish which makes it look appetising. A perfect vegetable side dish to any meal whether you’re cooking Chinese or Western. Eat more greens!