Happosai (Combination Stir Fry)
A very popular Chinese dish, Happosai (八宝菜) is not modified very much from the original Chinese version and it is similar to combination stir fry. It is made with lots of vegetables, meat and seafood coated with a thick flavoursome sauce. You can use different vegetables if you like. Please see notes for alternative vegetable suggestions.
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 100 g (3.4oz) squid or calamari skin removed ((note 1))
- 100 g (3.4oz) medium size prawns peeled and deveined
- 100 g (3.4oz) pork thinly sliced into bite size pieces ((note 2))
- 200 g (7.1oz) Chinese cabbage
- 50 g (1.8oz) carrot
- 50 g (1.8oz) boiled bamboo shoots ((note 3))
- 40 g (1.4oz) snow peas ends removed
- 30 g (1.1oz) rehydrated black fungus cut into bite size ((note 4))
- 30 g (1.1oz) shallots ((scallions) cut into 5cm (2"))
- 50 g (1.8oz) bean sprouts ((note 5))
- 2 tbsp oil separated
- Salt & pepper
- 1 knob of ginger finely julienned
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 200 ml (6.8oz) hot water ((note 6))
- ½ tsp Chinese style chicken stock powder ((note 6))
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sake
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cornflour/corn starch diluted in 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- 1
Squid: Using a sharp knife, cut the hood lengthwise to the tip and lay the opened squid flat on the cutting board. Score the squid diagonally (don’t cut all the way), then score again perpendicular to the first scoring to make diamond pattern. Cut into about 2.5cm (1”) x 4cm (1½”) rectangular pieces. Tentacles can be separated into 2-3 bunches if you have them.
- 2
Chinese cabbage: Cut each leaf in half lengthwise, then cut them crosswise into 4cm long pieces. Separate leaves from the stems (white hard parts).
- 3
Carrot: Cut into about 4cm (1½”) logs, halve the logs lengthwise, then slice into 3mm (⅛") thick rectangular pieces.
- 4
Bamboo shoots: If using a whole bamboo shoots, halve lengthwise and cut each piece into 4cm (1½”) long pieces perpendicular to the first cut. Place the cut side of the bamboo piece on the cutting board and slice into 3mm (⅛") thick.
- 5
Sauce: Mix all the Sauce ingredients, except cornflour, in water in a bowl.
- 6
Heat a wok or a large fry pan over high heat. When smoke starts coming up, add 1 tablespoon of oil to the wok/fry pan.
- 7
Add pork slices. Cook for 30 – 60 seconds (note 7) until both side of the pork pieces are sealed.
- 8
Add prawns and squid to the wok/fry pan, add pinch of salt & pepper and stir for 30 seconds ensuring that both sides of the prawns and squid pieces are sealed.
- 9
Remove pork and seafood onto a plate.
- 10
Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the wok/fry pan, add ginger and mix, then add carrots and white stem part of Chinese cabbage. Stir for 1 minute.
- 11
Add bamboo shoots and stir for 30 seconds. Add the rest of the vegetables and stir further 1 minute.
- 12
Add the sauce mix and bring it to a boil. Pour the cornflour mixed in water over the sauce and mix quickly so that the cornflour mixes into the sauce evenly.
- 13
When the sauce becomes thick and bubbling, add sesame oil, mix and turn the heat off.
- 14
Serve immediately.