christine gong, Author at A Dash of Soy

Bok Choy Vegetable

There are a few types of bok choy breeds in markets. The bok choy “大白菜” is commonly referred to napa cabbage. The bok choy 小白菜 is commonly used in Cantonese cuisines and it has a darker leaf with a crunchier white stem at the bottom of the plant. The more common bok choy seen in americanContinue reading “Bok Choy Vegetable”

Pea shoots “大豆苗” is one of the most expensive Asian vegetables. It may be because it is a seasonal vegetable and there’s a small window to eat this vegetable every year. It is very popular with Asian people, because not only is it highly fibrous, it is believed that eating pea shoots can prevent cancer.Continue reading “Pea Shoots Vegetable”

A choy “A 菜” is a crunchy vegetable that is similar to lettuce. It is commonly grown in Taiwan but has become popular in China and in the US. This vegetable is chalk full of vitamins A, B, and C. It can increase your appetite and aid in pain and with sleep insomnia. Ways toContinue reading “A Choy Vegetable”

Choy sum “油菜心” is a common leafy green vegetable in Chinese cuisine. It is a flowering cabbage because the vegetable has yellow flowers growing out of the “heart” of the vegetable. It is similar to gai lan in that the stem is hard with leafy petals on top. Choy sum is available year round, andContinue reading “Choy Sum Vegetable”

Have you ever been to a Chinese restaurant and see that there is a big tank full of lobster, crab, and fish? Fresh seafood is always best enjoyed with barely any seasoning so that the pure flavors of the seafood can truly shine. Steamed fish with ginger and green onion is the perfect example ofContinue reading “Steam Fish”

Pork dumplings is a easy Chinese recipe that is comforting, easy to make, and versatile. Winter is just around the corner and I can already imagine myself deep in hibernation mode – snuggling up with the kiddies while watching a movie and too lazy to go out to buy food. That’s why I usually prepareContinue reading “Pork Dumplings”

Gazing in amazement of the full moon, laughing during family dinner, playing with lanterns, and eating yummy mooncakes; that’s how we celebrate the Mooncake festival at my house every year. When my family owned a bakery, we used to make and sell fresh mooncakes every year, around September. Some of my most poignant childhood memoriesContinue reading “Mooncake Festival 中秋節”

History of Red Date Tea During Chinese tea ceremonies, a Chinese wedding tradition in which the soon-to-be-married couple serves tea to their elders, there is a customary saying called, “早生贵子,” in which the elders gives well wishes for the couple to, “soon give birth to precious children.” Red date tea 红枣水 symbolizes two things: (1)Continue reading “Red Date Tea”

Chinese Culture Postpartum Care In Chinese culture, postpartum care is one of the most important aspects of pregnancy, because it can affect your body and health for the rest of your life. As dramatic as that sounds, in Chinese culture, 坐月 or “sitting month” refers to the first month after birth, which is a particularlyContinue reading “Postpartum Care 坐月”

When I make dinner for my husband – no matter how fancy the dish looks or how many hours I’ve worked in the kitchen – he always asks me the same question: sauce? So much so, that now my son Connor says now too! Without a doubt, both of my boys love saucy dishes andContinue reading “Braised Oxtail Stew”