Soybean Sprout and Dace Fish Paste Stir-Fry

Why people make this dish

Common warts are caused by a viral infection and can appear anywhere on the body — most often on the face, hands and feet. Western dermatology uses liquid nitrogen cryotherapy to remove them quickly. But for those with only a few small warts who prefer a natural approach, Chinese food therapy offers an old folk remedy: eating soybean sprouts.

Nourilo shares his own experience: years ago he noticed two small warts on his face — not painful, but bothersome. He consulted his food-therapy books and found a simple remedy: eat nothing but blanched soybean sprouts for three consecutive days, unseasoned, as many as you can manage. He made it through two days, found it nearly impossible to continue, but a few days after stopping, both warts had completely disappeared without a trace. Traditional reasoning holds that soybean sprouts — particularly the sprouted form with fine root fibres — can help dispel wind and resolve accumulations associated with wart formation. For those with a colder constitution, cooking the sprouts with ginger, garlic or warm-natured dace fish paste makes the dish much more palatable and more suitable.

Method

1. Rinse the soybean sprouts thoroughly in cold water.
2. Heat oil in a wok. Add the minced ginger and garlic and stir-fry briefly until fragrant.
3. Add the fish paste and pan-fry until lightly golden and fragrant on both sides. Remove and set aside.
4. Add the soybean sprouts to the wok and stir-fry over high heat.
5. Add a splash of cooking wine, salt to taste and a small amount of water. Cook for about 10 minutes until the sprouts are cooked through.
6. Return the pan-fried fish paste to the wok and stir together briefly. Serve immediately.

Nourilo’s Tips

When buying soybean sprouts, avoid the thick, very white, stubby-rooted variety commonly found in supermarkets — these may have been grown with chemical additives. Look instead for slender, naturally grown organic sprouts from an organic food store or Asian grocer, which have a longer, finer appearance. These are the ones with the traditional food-therapy properties. If you want to try the more intensive folk method of eating only soybean sprouts for three days, that is your choice — but the gentler approach of regularly including soybean sprouts, cooked with ginger and garlic, in your weekly diet will also have a gradual effect over time.