Aug 26, 2013 4 min read Recipes

Mince and wood ear mushrooms in black bean sauce

Max and I cook quite a bit at home, and eat out very seldom. When we cook, we tend to become more aware of what goes on our plate and into our bodies. And we therefore start to eat healthier too. Plus, cooking at home tends to be more healthy as we use less oil and no additives and all the bad things :)

But these days, I sometimes wonder if cooking is a dying art. I certainly home not!

Unfortunately, I have not been able to chronicle much of my cooking adventures, but here is a start:

This was our dinner tonight, yummy! I tend to cook more by taste, and generally use ingredients that are available in the house. So please, if there are any ingredients listed in this recipe, which you don't have (or maybe don't like) feel free to substitute it :) And if there is too much or too little of some ingredient, please change it as you feel - make the recipe your own, experience with it and have fun!

The Ingredients

Half of a large onion, sliced

A slice of garlic, cut into small pieces

5 to 6 cloves of garlic, diced into small pieces

One large carrot, sliced

One zucchini, sliced

Wood ear mushrooms!! PS, soak these in some cold water while you prepare the other ingredients - it helps when cooking them. Then roughly slice them as you like for the stir fry :) They add texture and loads of nutrients into the meal.

A bunch of choi sum, roughly cut

The sauces - I used approximately 1 tablespoon of black bean sauce, soy sauce to taste (adding a bit at a time), salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. I also used canola oil for the stir fry

And, not to forget, 250 g mince.

The Recipe

In a fry pan, heat the oil. Once it is hot, add the onions and saute until the onions become slightly clear and soft

Add garlic and ginger and cook for a minute

In the mean time, put some water in another pot and bring to the boil. We will put the mushrooms in here to blanch. Add the carrots and cook for 5 to 7 minutes then add the mince

Once the water in the other pot is boiled, add the mushrooms and blanch for approx 30 seconds the drain and wash in cold water.

Its always good to have a helping hand :P

Have a tea break, go on, you deserve it!

Once the mince is browned, add the zucchini and cook for 1 minute. Then add the black bean sauce and soy sauce, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper, mix.

Cook for 2 to 3 minutes then add the mushrooms and cook for a further 5 - 10 minutes (depending on how soft you want your mushrooms and carrots to be).