Crispy Fried Pumpkin with Salted Egg Yolk
With just a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy crispy fried pumpkin with salted egg yolk, a savory dish that’s bursting with flavor and so satisfying to eat. {Gluten-Free Adaptable}
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 lb (450) peeled pumpkin or winter squash (, cut into 2”x1/2” (5 cm x 1 cm) sticks)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup canola oil ((or vegetable oil))
- 1 clove garlic (, minced)
- 2 salted duck yolks (, cooked (*Footnote 1))
- 1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- 1
Place the pumpkin in a deep plate. Sprinkle with the 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss with your hands to coat the pumpkin evenly with salt. Let it rest for 15 minutes.
- 2
Crush the cooked yolks with a fork in a small bowl, until they are very well crumbled.
- 3
Drain off the liquid from the pumpkin and transfer it to a big bowl. Add the cornstarch and toss to coat completely.
- 4
Prepare a large plate and top it with a few layers of paper towels. Or prepare a medium-sized baking tray with a wire rack.
- 5
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the coated pumpkin. Cook until the bottom turns crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the pumpkin to cook the other side, for another 2 to 3 minutes, until it turns crispy throughout and cooked through.
- 6
Turn off the heat. Transfer the cooked pumpkin using a spider strainer or a slotted spoon to the prepared plate (or rack) to drain the excess oil.
- 7
Remove the extra oil and only save 1 tablespoon of oil by either pouring the oil into a heat-proof bowl, or using a big ladle.
- 8
Turn the heat to medium-low. Add the garlic and fry until fragrant, 30 seconds or so.
- 9
Add the crumbled salted yolk. Cook and stir until it is thick and foaming but not browning, a few seconds.
- 10
Pour in the Shaoxing wine. Cook and stir until the liquid is mostly evaporated.
- 11
Add the fried pumpkin back to the pan and sprinkle the sugar over it. Stir everything together for 1 minute, or until the pumpkin pieces are evenly coated with the yolk. Transfer to a plate immediately.
- 12
Serve hot as a side dish or over steamed rice as a main.