Capcai ( chaap chai)

CAPCHAI

Pronounced.. chaap chai. This is a simple stew, which we eat regularly at home. Especially when we have been eating out a lot. A very simple healthy non spicy dish which is really tasty. Have it accompanied with egg fried rice to make a one dish meal. A very forgiving dish, which makes use of a lot of vegetables…( good way to clear out your fridge.😊) You can make it vegetarian, or add chicken, or prawns.  Just make sure to cut the vegetables at a slant. So they can cook evenly and fast.

• 3 options to have this dish.
• 1.. Poured over fried rice.
• 2.. Poured over a mix of boiled noodles and deep fried boiled noodles.( also called IFUMIE) similar to chopsuey.

Poured over fried or steamed wontons( including a picture in comments.)

Just make sure its made on a high flame. And try to make  it near serving time, so the vegetables look fresh and not limp. Vegetables  should have a crunch..

• 1 carrot..peeled, sliced at a slant .
• 1 potato , peeled , quartered and sliced  at a slant.
• 4 baby corn, sliced at a slant.
• 1/2 cup of broccoli flowerlettes .. soaked in salted water.
• 1/2 cup pakchoi or mustard greens roughly chopped.
• 10 snappeas…baby sweetpeas whole.
• 1 big dry shitake mushroom ( boil in water until soft).. then sliced.( retain about 1 cup of the water)
• 1 onion cut into big cubes
• 1 bell pepper..green or red or yellow, cut into big cubes.
• 1/2 cup quartered mushrooms( fresh or tinned)
• 1/2 cup Chinese cabbage roughly chopped.

OPTIONAL…I ADDED SILKEN TOFU.

• 2 to 3 tbsps vegetarian oyster sauce.
• 2 tbsps sesame oil
• 1 tsp white pepper powder
• Salt to taste.
• 1 tsp mushroom seasoning or MSG.
• About 2 heaped tbsps cornflour mixed with some water to make a slurry..use as required.

To be ground to a paste..

• 3 seedless red chillies
• 6 garlic pods
• 1 inch piece of ginger.

1. Heat 2 tbsps oil in a pan and add the paste. Saute till fragrant and add the white pepper and salt.
2. Now add carrots, potato, corn, mushrooms and mix. ( IF ADDING CHICKEN , ADD NOW, BONELESS CUBED )
3. Add  3 cups of HOT WATER.( including reserved water from shitake mushrooms)
4. Let the vegetables boil for about 5 mins, and add the oyster sauce, sesame oil, msg.
5. Now add onions, bell pepper, snap peas, Chinese cabbage , pok choi, and broccoli.

Bring to a rolling boil for few mins only.

Now add enough cornflour slurry to thicken the stew. Check seasoning and serve immediately.