Lily Bulb, Celery, and Carrot Stir Fry

By Nicole Sheldon, The Spice Doc

The one common denominator in almost all restaurants in mainland China, regardless of region or style, is that there is usually a medicinal aspect to, at the very least, a few dishes.  Whether it be Gou Qi Zi floating in a steamed chicken soup or Bai Guo stir fried with vegetables, yao shan is alive and kicking in China. In most of the more comprehensive restaurants with
flowing menus you will find a version of the following simple yet delicious recipe: lily bulb, celery, and carrot stir fry. 

Bai He, a.k.a. lily bulb, is in the category of herbs that tonify yin and it functions to clear heat, calm the spirit, and moisten the lungs.   It is bitter, cold, sweet and goes to the heart and lungs. Besides all this, it happens to have a lovely nutty sweet flavor to it if cooked right. 

Most of the lily bulb is found dried, so you will have to rehydrate it in water or blanch it in boiling water as is often done in restaurants before it is quickly sauteed. As for the other ingredients, celery is cool, bitter, and clears stomach and liver heat and carrots are neutral (to sometimes warming if cooked long and slow), sweet, and address the middle burner/digestive function.  Carrots are also one of the few yang vegetables in Chinese Medicine and therefore add balance to the yin nature of the other vegetables in this dish.  You may sometimes find this dish cooked with Bai Guo, instead of or in addition to carrots, lending it further sweetness. 

After the lily bulb has been prepped, all you need to do is pan fry - on very high heat with just enough oil - the lily bulb, celery, and carrots until they turn the right color. The carrots will go just slightly softer and darker orange, the celery will go lighter but not lose it’s crunch, and the lily bulb will go ever so slightly translucent without losing form.  Salt is sprinkled on whilst cooking and the dish is served alongside an array of many other dishes usually. 

If you were to be suffering from heat with perhaps a dry cough and a little constipation, or maybe just one of those symptoms not all three, this dish could be a nice accompaniment to your meal or your medicine.  Enjoy!

Bai He - Lily Bulb