Chopsuey Greens Shungiku

This edible variant of Chrysanthemum is one of the most interesting Asian ‘greens’ available. Both the pretty leaves and flowers can be used and have a wonderful fragrance and flavour. Delicious in soups, casseroles, hotpots and salads, or blanched with a sesame oil and garlic.

SALAD – SIMMER – STIR FRY – SOUP – CASSEROLE – GARNISH

SOWING DIRECTIONS

When

All year round, avoiding hottest and coldest months.

Where

In fertile, well drained garden soil or pots.

How Sow

6mm (¼in) deep, cover with fine soil and keep moist. Seedlings appear in 7-14 days.

Care

Water well and feed regularly.

Harvest

As you need.

Sow:
-Spring
-Summer
-Autumn
-Winter

Harvest:
As you need.

Soil type:
-compost
-well drained

Tempura Fried Chopsuey Greens

Ingredients

Honey sesame topping
2 tbs sesame seeds
2tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar

Tempura sauce

2tbs sugar
2 tbs water
5 tbs soy sauce
5 tbs lemon juice

Tempura batter

4-6 cups fresh chopsuey leaves
1cup plain flour
1 tsp Baking soda
2 tbs Corn flour
1Cup Cold water
1 Egg

Sesame oil to shallow fry

Instructions

To make tempura dipping sauce, combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and cokk over med heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Add soy sauce and lemon juice, stir and set aside.
To make sesame topping, toast sesame seeds in a dry pan till golden. Crush lightly in a mortar and pestle while still warm, add soy sauce and sugar, then set aside.
Cut the chopsuey into 5cm lengths. Blanche in boiling water for 30 seconds, then shock in ice water, drain and squeeze out any excess water.
To make Tempura batter mix plain flour, baking soda and corn flour together in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl crack the egg and beat it roughly, add cold water and mix gently. Pour the flour mix in batches into the egg mixture and combine gently.
Heat the oil to approximately 160℃.
Dust the blanched chopsuey with plain flour on both sides. Put into the tempura batter mix, then straight away into the oil. Only do a couple at a time so the temperature remains constant. Cook till lightly golden and crisp, turning once. Place cooked tempura on plate with paper towel to drain.
Arrange the tempura on a serving plate, top with crushed sesame and serve with a bowl of dipping sauce.