Approximately 4 servings
Ingredients
4 stems of water bamboo (coba)
1 large dry wood ear
½ red bell pepper
Condiments
½ tsp. sea salt
½ tsp. grated ginger
1 cup vegetable stock
Steps
1. De-shell, wash and slice (or cube) the bamboo. Soak wood ear in water and slice into pieces when softened. Wash and slice red peppers.
2. Heat oil in frying pan and sauté with grated ginger. Add sliced bamboo pieces, wood ear strips, and 1 cup of stock (or water). Simmer for about three minutes before adding red bell pepper and the rest of the condiments. Cook for one additional minute then serve.
Alternatives
Steamed white bamboo is also a delicious dish.
Information
In Japan, water bamboo is also known as “water oats”. Chinese medicine considers water bamboo to be cold in nature and sweet in taste. It relieves heat in the body, neutralizes toxins, eliminates distressing thirst, and facilitates urination and excretion. It also cures excess heat, thirst, jaundice, dysentery, red eye, and sores. Since bamboo is inherently cold, it should be cooked with warm seasoning such as ginger. However, white bamboo also contains oxalic acid and oxalate calcium, which are difficult to dissolve. Therefore, people with kidney stones or urinary tract stones should only consume bamboo in moderation.