Ginger Soy Broccoli and Zucchini
Dried vegetables rehydrated in a soy-ginger sauce that thickens in the pot.
- calories
- 520
- weight
- 5.5 oz
- cal / oz
- 95
- protein
- 13 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 10 min
- total time
- 12 min
- water
- 600 ml boiled
- cost
- $
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Dinner
- Canister stove
- Liquid fuel
- Campfire coals
- Backpacking
- Car camping
- Basecamp
- Canoe / raft
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Dairy free
- Nut free
- One pot
- Dehydrate ahead
- Shelf stable
- Basic
Ingredients
| Dried broccoli florets | 1 cup | home-dehydrated or freeze-dried |
|---|---|---|
| Dried zucchini slices | 1/2 cup | cut thin before drying or they stay leathery |
| Instant rice | 3/4 cup | |
| Soy sauce | 2 tbsp | low sodium, in a small leakproof bottle |
| Cornstarch | 1 tsp | |
| Vegetable bouillon | 1 cube | |
| Dried minced garlic | 1 tsp | |
| Ground ginger | 1/2 tsp | fresh root does not travel, this does |
| Red pepper flakes | 1/4 tsp | |
| Oil | 1 tbsp | dropper bottle |
| Salt | a pinch |
Method
- Boil 600 ml of water. Drop in the bouillon, dried broccoli, zucchini, garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes.
- Simmer 6 to 8 minutes until the broccoli bends instead of snapping. Add a splash more water if the pot runs dry.
- Stir the cornstarch into the soy sauce in your mug until there are no lumps, then pour it into the pot.
- Simmer one more minute, stirring, until the liquid coats the vegetables.
- Kill the heat, stir in the rice and the oil, and lid it for five minutes.
The original is a fresh stir-fry, which is a problem three days from a road. Dried broccoli and zucchini rehydrate in the same water that becomes the sauce, so nothing gets poured off and no water is wasted. Ground ginger and dried garlic stand in for the fresh versions; they lose some brightness but survive a pack.
The cornstarch is the part worth getting right. Stir it into cold soy sauce first, not into the boiling pot, or it seizes into lumps that never dissolve. One teaspoon is enough to turn thin broth into something that clings to the vegetables and the rice underneath.
Packing
Dried vegetables, rice, bouillon, cornstarch, and spices in one bag. Soy sauce and oil ride in bottles, upright, in a side pocket.
Variations
- A foil packet of tuna or a handful of soy curls turns the side dish into a real dinner.
- Dried mushrooms or bell pepper go in with the broccoli and cost almost nothing in weight.
https://domesticsuperhero.com/make-your-own-chinese-food-quick-easy-and-cheap