Quick and easy Spicy Water Spinach Stir Fry flavored with fermented soybean curds and garlic chili sauce. Super tasty with a bowl of steamed rice.
Water Spinach also known as water convolvulus, is a tropical semi aquatic plant grown as a leaf vegetable. It is commonly grown in parts of Asia and Southeast Asia. This vegetable is also called kangkong or ong choy. Stir frying this vegetable with chili and shrimp paste is a popular way of preparing it. This popular stir fry is known as Kangkung Belacan. The shrimp paste (belacan) has a strong odor but provides great flavor. It is widely used in Southeast Asia and has recently made culinary inroads to China and Japan.
Other Methods of Preparation
A simple way of cooking this vegetable is to stir fry it with just minced garlic. One can add chilies and fermented bean curd for greater flavor. This Spicy Water Spinach Fry is best served with steaming bowls of white rice.
Secrets to a Great Spicy Water Spinach Stir Fry
The secret to a great stir-fry is to get the pan really, really hot and have the ingredients well drained. The hot pan will sear the food, sealing in the juices. In the case of vegetables, I like to prepare, wash, and leave them to drain in a colander at least an hour before frying. If time does not permit, I use a salad spinner to get rid of as much water as possible.
Similar Tools Used in Making This Stir Fry Spicy Water Spinach
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Stainless 14-Inch Stir-Fry Pan with Helper Handle and Glass Cover
Asian Kitchen Carbon Steel Wok Stir Fry Pan, 12-inch
Classic Series Carbon Steel Wok, 14-inch
Stainless Steel Professional Wok Turner Spatula
Stir Fry Spicy Water Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 lb kangkung / water spinach / ong choy / convolvulus, cut into 3-inch lengths (450g)
- 3 to 4 fermented soybean curds
- 2 tsp garlic chili sauce
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- Be sure to rinse water spinach well as it can be gritty. Allow vegetables to drain in colander for at least an hour or use a salad spinner to get rid of excessive water.
- In a large pan or wok, heat oil. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add fermented bean curds, mashing with your spatula for another minute. Add garlic chili sauce and stir to combine.
- Quickly add drained water spinach and stir fry on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes until vegetables are wilted.
- Remove and serve immediately.
Nutrition
A Typical Home-Cooked Meal
Often times an egg or tofu dish is prepared as a filler dish in an Asian meal. These are quick and easy dishes using ingredients from the fridge or pantry. One such dish is my Steamed Tofu. This tofu dish is simple, healthy, and delicious. Only takes about 12 minutes to prepare. All the cooking is done in the microwave and cleanup is minimal.
Here is a simple home-cooked meal with Stuffed Oi Kimchi, Beef Stew, Lotus Root and Peanut Soup, Omelet with Chives and Onions, and steaming bowl of white rice.
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
the lacquer spoon says
Biren, thanks for the awesome recipes! I love Chinese chives and Japanese loves to use for daily stir-fry and dumplings too. Plus that's good for surviving the summer heat.
Sending my summer greetings to Taro and Jiro 🙂
rotinrice says
Chinese chives are really good in dumplings.
Taro and Jiro asked me to say "Hi" to you 🙂
NasiLemakLover says
Love your home cook Chinese dishes, look absolutely delicious !
denise fletcher says
Wow! That's what I call a home cooked meal!! Love everything on the table, but if I had to choose favourites , I would go for the kang kong and kim chi!
Speaking of chive dumplings, I can never resist those, though they can raise eyebrows with their stink LOL As delicious as they are smelly 😉
Anncoo says
Love this set meal Biren especially the kang kong. I've also cooked fried eggs with prawns yesterday. Next time I'll try your recipe.
lequan@luvtoeat says
PS
Almost forgot to congratulate you on your award, how rude of me. Needless to say, this award is definitely well deserved!
Cheah says
Congrats on your awards. Your homecooked meal looks delicious and wholesome!
Joanne says
Hmmm I don't think I've had water spinach before but I love the spices in this dish! Full of flavor.
lequan@luvtoeat says
Aww, you're a sweetheart for the mention Biren! I love the use of garlic chili sauce in your ong choy dish! Although these day I must adjust my recipes to my two extra tiny mouths. Teehee. My hubby actually prefers it your way, with less gravy, but my kiddies like to have a bit of the gravy on their rice, so more gravy it is. Either way, ong choy is simply delicious. I also love your chive omelet. This is such a great meal. Don't be surprised if I come knocking on your door before dinner time.
That's is so awesome that both your boys are willing to help out with the chores. You know the teenage years can be quite the rebellious years. Kudos to you Biren!
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says
Congrats on your award–and the teenage boys! I'll have one of those in about 8 years! The dishes look fabulous. Chile paste and green veggies just belong together, don't they?
rotinrice says
It's a pleasure LeQuan 🙂
Yes, I have had to adjust my recipes when the boys were little and even now. Sometimes, I come up with a new dish altogether and that is the fun and joy of cooking. Well, I guess that's what we do as moms so that our little ones are well fed.
You can come over any time. Would love to have you and your family join us for dinner 🙂
They have their moments but they are good boys. I thank God they are mine 🙂
shriya says
wow!! I love the spicy water spinach, it looks yummy. Love the platter.
Angie's Recipes says
Congratulations on your award!
I adore all the homey dishes you have prepared!
leaannbrown says
I've never heard of this spinach before…but then again, when I'm in the Asian market I've not heard of so many of those wonderful veggies they offer. I feel so sheltered. 🙂 Congrats on the award!
sarah says
wow!! so yummy!!
congrats on ur award…
Stella says
Hey Biren, that water spinach dish reminds me of LeQuan too! She loves healthy dishes like that-the ones that seem to be packed with flavor from things like shrimp paste and such. Ooh, I love shrimp paste by the way, so, if I see water spinach at our Asian market, I will not be afraid to grab some now!
Oh, and I do that type of omelet too, Biren. I thought it was weird that I love egg omelet with the kitchen sink thrown in and with a side of rice and soy sauce no less. I'm glad I'm not alone (smile). Yum!
p.s. I got your e-mail. I don't want you to feel pressured to make a bread b/c of me-only if it fits you guy's schedule…
IJust LoveMyApron says
I love water spinach too! and yes I remember that from LeQuan's. Both versions are slightly different than my mom's. The chili sauce is a good touch! And, the omelett is oh so good! I love everything on a table you showed!!
Julie M. says
Congrats on the awards! I love that whenever I come to your blog, I know I will always find a tasty and unique recipe. I have never heard of water spinach, but I would gobble this up in a heartbeat. It looks absolutely delicious!
Kristi Rimkus says
What a fantastic meal. I've not heard of water spinach. There is a new Asian market nearby that my friends are raving about. I'll have to see if they have it. It looks so healthy. I love those green vegetables!
My teenage boy is grown and gone. Enjoy while you can. 🙂
Carolyn Jung says
I buy water spinach sometimes at my local farmers market. It's a nice change from regular American spinach. And yes, I stir-fry it with garlic all the time, too! 😉
Anna says
It's the first time I see water spinach, it looks yummy. And what a feast…everything looks so good.
tigerfish says
The dishes are all so good with rice. I like the kang kong and simple omelet. yum yum yum…
rumana says
What a lovely plate.. looks great:)
Reeni says
Water spinach is something new for me! I bet it's delicious in the stir-fry. And I would love to try those other dishes too – what a great spread! You have good boys for helping out.
Mart says
Congratulations on your well-deserved awards. Water spinach is not always available here. I'll give your recipe a try the next time I see it. Your omelet sounds delicious and is very easy to do. I love that. I hope you are having a great day. I loved the photos of your sons at work. Blessings…Mary
Lazaro says
Both recipes look fabulous. Congrats on your well deserved award.
sayantani says
the last picture of the homemade spread is tempting me to go to my fav Asian restaurant to get a bellyfull of these goodies. love the omlette recipe.
rotinrice says
You like shrimp paste? Wow…you must be pretty well versed in Asian food 🙂 I think you will not be disappointed with the water spinach. Yes, eggs are good with most things. Maybe I'll introduce you to egg and canned sardines.
Anyway, don't worry about the bread. I've actually made a loaf using the bread machine and will be trying out the hand beater version soon. It's a good bread and we enjoy it. The first loaf is almost gone 🙂
rotinrice says
I use a lot of green leafy vegetables in our daily meals. It is really easy to prepare and very good for us.
Thanks Kristi! They seem to grow up faster and faster when they hit middle school. Right now, I am afraid of the prospects of being an "empty nester" 🙁
rotinrice says
Thanks Reeni! My boys are home bodies and I welcome all the help they can give me 🙂 They are growing up too fast.
Pam says
They both look delicious and congrats on your award. Good for you!
bunkycooks says
Congrats on the award, the dish and the boys helping out! I am not sure what to talk about first!
Ivy @ My Simple Food says
Love Kangkung, love the egg omelete and love the lotus root soup. I wanna have dinner at your house 🙂 I need some teenage boys to mow my lawn too 🙂
MaryMoh says
Congrats for the award! You deserve it. You have such a lovely blog. I love that water spinach too. I ate almost everyday when I was back for holiday. That meal looks wonderful too. I wish I can have that for lunch 😀 Hope you have wonderful day.