Stir-Fried Yam Bean with Beef and Cloud Ears

Ever tried this stir-fried yam bean with beef and cloud ears? This is a traditional Chinese stir-fry dish that I tried and loved when I was very small. The slightly sweet and crunchy flesh of yam bean impressed me very much.

That said, yam bean can remove body heat and help control blood pressure. I love its crunchiness going so well with the juicy stir-fried beef. Once the dish was served, I finished nearly half of it by myself.

Yam bean (aka Jicama), a kind of edible root vegetables, is widely used in Chinese cooking actually, quite easy to get it from any Asian grocers. It comprises of high quantity of fiber and anti-oxidants and can be eaten as raw.

Stir-Fried Yam Bean with Beef and Cloud Ears Recipe

(Printable recipe)
By Christine’s Recipes
Course: Stir-Fry
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Yield: 2 to 3 serves

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp minced shallot
• 220 gm yam bean (aka Jicama, 沙葛), peeled and sliced
• 10 gm cloud ears
• 125 gm beef skirt steak
• 5 to 6 slices ginger
• 1 spring onion, cut into sections, the green and white parts separated
• 120 ml chicken stock

Marinade:

• 1 tsp light soy sauce
• ½ tsp sugar
• ½ tsp corn flour / corn starch
• sesame oil, to taste

Sauce:

• 2 tsp light soy sauce
• ½ tsp sugar
• 1 tsp corn flour / corn starch
• 2 Tbsp water
• 1 tsp oyster sauce
• sesame oil, to taste

Method :

1. Soak the cloud ears until soft. Trim the hard stems. Blanch in boiling water. Drain well. Cut into smaller pieces if they are too large. Set aside.
2. Thinly slice the skirt steak against the grain. Mix with marinade. Set aside for about 15 minutes. Peel the yam bean with a knife. Cut into thin slices. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in a wok or a frying pan. Saute the shallot over medium heat. Toss in the yam bean and cloud ears. Stir to combine. Pour the chicken stock. Cover and cook for about 5 to 8 minutes, or until the yam bean is just cooked, yet remains crunchy. Dish up and set aside.
4. Add some oil in the wok. Stir fry the beef until 80% done. Add the ginger and white parts of spring onion. Stir to combine. Toss back the yam bean and cloud ears. Add the sauce and green parts of spring onion, cook to preferred consistency. Serve immediately with steamed rice.

Notes：

• The flesh of yam bean tastes slightly sweet with crunchy texture, available at Asian grocers. It’s often used to stir fry with meats in Chinese cooking.
• You can replace the beef with pork or chicken. It’s equally delicious.