“Pen Cai 盆菜“ is a traditional Chinese dish often associated with the Lunar New Year. It is a rich and elaborate one-pot dish that typically includes a variety of ingredients such as meats, seafood, mushrooms, and vegetables. The term “Pen Cai” literally translates to ‘basin vegetables’, referring to the large basin or pot in which it is cooked. Let us kickstart the ang ang festival together and enjoy this flavorful dish during the Chinese New Year celebration!
Ingredients:
For the chicken broth (if you’d like to make from scratch):
- 1 whole chicken
- 2 carrots, washed and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, washed and chopped
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 leek, cleaned and sliced
- 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
- 10 cups water
For the broth:
- 2 litres (8 cups) chicken / vegetable broth
- 2-3 slices ginger
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to your tasting
Friendly note: Opt for moderation when adding condiments to your broth for a mindful approach to sodium intake. Here’s to a healthier and more balanced celebration!
For the filling, feel free to customise the ingredients based on your preferences and availability.
- Lean meat slices
- Prawns
- Abalones
- Assorted mushrooms (shiitake, oyster, button), soaked and sliced
- Dried scallops, soaked
- Dried oysters, soaked
- Fish maw, soaked
- Sea cucumber, soaked
- Tofu, sliced
- Bok choy, separated into leaves
- Chinese radish (daikon), peeled and sliced
- Yam, sliced
- Broccoli
- Carrots, sliced
- Baby corn
For garnish:
- Green onions, chopped
- Cilantro, chopped
- Sesame oil
Steps
1. Prepare all the ingredients as mentioned above.
2. Prepare the chicken broth (skip if you’re not making broth from scratch):
- In a large pot, put in all ingredients required for the chicken broth
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat
- Skim off any foam that rises to the surface
- Once the broth simmers, reduce the heat to low and let it cook for about 1.5 – 2 hours
- After simmering, remove all ingredients from the broth leaving only the soup
- Then, strain the broth and discard the solids
3. Prepare the broth:
- In a large pot, bring the chicken / vegetable broth to a simmer
- Add ginger, garlic, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sugar
- Add salt and pepper according to your taste
4. Layering the ingredients:
- In another large deep pot start layering the ingredients prepared
- Start with sturdier and long-cooking ingredients at the bottom, such as radish and mushrooms
- Continue layering with meat, seafood, tofu, and other ingredients
- After layering all the ingredients, pour the prepared broth over the layers, making sure all ingredients are submerged
5. Cooking:
- Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer
- Cover the pot and let it cook for about 1 – 1.5 hours or until all ingredients are tender and flavours have melted
6. Garnish:
- Once cooked, garnish the Pen Cai with chopped green onions, cilantro, and a drizzle of sesame oil
Healthier Twist:
- Prepare your own broth from scratch: to lower sodium content
- Use light soy sauce: to lower sodium content
- Use lean proteins such as skinless chicken breast, lean pork loin: to lower fat content
- Add in more vegetables: to increase fibre content
Cheryl, Dietetics Intern
