Name: Spicy Stir-Fried Water Spinach (Sambal Kangkung)
Yield: Makes 4 servings as part of a multicourse meal
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 medium-hot finger-length red chili, such as Fresno, cayenne, or serrano, seeded (optional) and thinly sliced; 1 bundle (¾ lb/340 g) leafy greens, such as kangkung, garland chrysanthemum, or mature spinach, tough ends trimmed, stems and leaves separated and chopped into 2–3 inch (5–7.5 cm) pieces (see notes); 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1 large tomato, sliced into 8 wedges; 3 Asian shallots or 1 European shallot, minced; 1 tablespoon dried shrimp, soaked in water for 10 minutes, patted dry, and minced (optional); ½ teaspoon fine sea salt; 3 tablespoons Julia’s Sambal Terasi

Preparation info

Makes
4
servings as part of a multicourse meal

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Mortar and Pestle

By Patricia Tanumihardja

Published 2024

About

Kangkung is a long, leafy green vegetable with hollow stems that is popular in Southeast Asia. However, it’s not easy to find in the United States, even at Asian markets. Thankfully, I’ve found that chrysanthemum greens (garland chrysanthemum) make a wonderful substitute. It has a similar sweet and nutty flavor as well as the same sturdy texture. However, you can use any green leafy vegetable (I prefer Asian vegetables like choy sum or yu choy) for this recipe. Just adjust cooking times for