This SHANGHAI “VEGETABLE RICE” is a simple comfort food of my childhood. It is the kind of humble home cooking that I love nd crave. The name of this recipe is a direct translation of its name in Chinese, 上海菜飯. Actually, the character 菜 (pronounced cài in Mandarin or choy in Cantonese) in this context refers specifically to leafy vegetables versus the broader definition of vegetables. Growing up, we simply called this “choy faan” or leafy vegetable rice.
Read moreShanghai Pork + Bok Choy Wontons / Dumplings
Che vey! That's shanghainese for "eat rice" which is like saying "bon appetit" before you begin a meal. These words were most frequently uttered around my grandmother's dinner table. She was the one who created the shanghai wonton loving monster that I am. Sometimes when we are feeling decadent (not lazy), we also add a tiny morsel of raw white shrimp in with the filling. Homemade dumplings are a labor of love but so very worth it. Put some great music on and make them asap!
Read moreLion's Head Meatballs
Lion’s Head Meatballs is a very traditional Chinese dish featuring large pork meatballs and leafy greens. This is a family recipe passed down from my Shanghainese grandmother, which always uses bok choy. The big fluffy meatball represents a lion's head and the surrounding leafy greens, its mane. Don't you love the fanciful name? Just as much to love is the dish itself, a mainstay comfort meal to be certain.
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