Koh Family's Auspicious Seven

Source: Rebecca Lynne Tan, recipe published in Sunday Times (Lifestyle section) dated 16 Jan 2011



This is a stir fried dish, typically eaten on the seventh day of Chinese New Year or also known as the Man's day (人日).  Each of the 7 vegetable selected has auspicious meaning.  It is possible to substitue each with another vegetable/ingredient with auspicious meaning.  Cuttlefish is a definite NO as it suggests being fired from job (炒鱿鱼).  Recipe's owner is a Peranakan decendant.  3 main vegetables used in the recipe are oriental mustard, leek and Chinese celery.  The other 4 vegetables are varied according to availability and preference.


Symbolism of the vegetables selected in the recipe as below:
(a) Oriental Mustard (芥菜): wealth, as shape symbolises ingot 
(b) Leek (大蒜): clever with money (会算)
(c) Chinese Celery (芹菜): hardworking (勤劳)
(d) Cai Xin (菜心): close family ties
(e) Gai Lan (芥兰): close family ties
(f) Cabbage (包心菜): wealth, as shape symbolises ingot
(g) Chinese Cabbage/ Da Bai Cai (大白菜): 100 types of properities


Other auspicious vegetables can be used as subtitute includes:
(h) Lettuce (生菜): increase wealth (生财) or energetic (生猛)
(i) Spring Onion (葱): clever (聪明)
(j) Chive (韭菜): long lasting or longivity (长长久久)
(k) Carrot (萝卜 or 菜头 in Hokkien/Teochew, both are Chinese dialect): good luck (好彩头)
(l) Coriander (芫荽): good relation with opposite sex resulting to marriage (好姻缘)
(m) Bean Sprout (银芽): to your heart's content, positive start into new year (迎合心意)
(n) Black Moss (发菜): prosperity (发财)
(o) Chinese Mushroom (冬菇): longivity, sizing opportunity
(p) Bamboo shoot (竹笋): well wishes in all doing (柷一切顺心)
(q) Dried Lily Bud/ Golden Needle (金针): wealth
(r) Snowpea (荷兰豆): unity




Serves 8 as part of a shared meal


Ingredients:
Oriental Mustard, wash & cut into bite size, ~200g size, 1 head
Leek, wash & cut into bite size, 3 stalks
Chinese Celery, wash & cut into bite size, 3 stalks
Cai Xin, wash & cut into bite size, 3 stalks
Gai Lan, wash & cut into bite size, 3 stalks
Cabbage, wash & cut into bite size, 6 leaves
Chinese Cabbage, wash & cut into bite size, 6 leaves
Streaky pork loin, wash, remove skin & pat dry, ~300g
Water, 1 cup
Cooking oil, 3 tbsp
Fish sauce, 3 tbsp or to taste
Sugar, ½ tsp or to taste



Method:
1. Cut pork into 10mm wide x 5mm thick strip.

2. Pour cooking oil in to wok and brown the pork strip.  Then add in the various vegetables and stir fry till they start to soften.

3. Pour in water and remaining seasonings.  Cover to simmer till vegetables are soften.