Garlic Stem and Cloud Ear Mushroom Stir-Fried Chicken (Suan Xin Yun Er Chao Ji)

Why people make this dish

Garlic scapes — the slender green stems pulled from the center of a garlic plant — are a seasonal spring ingredient available at Chinese and Asian grocers. Unlike garlic cloves, they have a gentle, sweet flavor that does not leave any unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth after eating. Paired with the pleasantly chewy cloud ear mushroom (yun er) and tender chicken thigh, this is the kind of quick, uncomplicated weeknight dish that tastes like effort without requiring much. Cloud ear mushroom has a long tradition in Chinese food therapy for its support of blood circulation and its softening effect on blood vessels — making it a useful ingredient to include in everyday cooking regardless of any particular health concern.