Braised Bamboo Shoots

Braised Bamboo Shoots

　　Braised Bamboo Shoots

　　The best bamboo shoots for braised bamboo shoots are winter shoots and whip shoots. After shelling and cleaning, they are cut into small pieces and stir-fried in lard in a wok. Chicken broth and shiitake mushrooms are added and cooked until done, then seasoned with soy sauce and sugar. Once the liquid has evaporated, ham is added before serving.

　　Nowadays, restaurants in Shaoxing often serve oil-braised bamboo shoots, a preparation similar to braised bamboo shoots, where the stir-fried shoots are mainly cooked with soy sauce.

　　Bamboo is abundant in the Jiangnan region, especially around Shaoxing. Winter and spring are often the seasons when people love eating bamboo shoots the most. At this time of year, visitors from out of town to Shaoxing also tend to choose dishes related to bamboo shoots more than any others.