Spicy & Numbing Mala Xiang Guo (Super Easy Home Cooking)
[Party Dish/Appetizer Recommendation] Whip up Super Simple Mala Xiang Guo with Ingredients in Your Fridge!
Create an impressive Mala Xiang Guo in a flash using those leftover vegetables in your fridge! Its spicy and numbing flavor will tantalize your taste buds, making it a perfect appetizer or a delightful side dish for rice. This recipe is incredibly easy to follow, even for beginners, and is a great way to use up ingredients you already have.
Main Ingredients- Mala Xiang Guo sauce 1 packet (Hao Di Lao recommended)
- Shrimp (frozen or fresh) 350g
- King Oyster Mushrooms 2 packs
- Bok Choy 1 pack
- Green Onions 2 handfuls (white parts mainly)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the core ingredient for Mala Xiang Guo: the sauce. While the Hao Di Lao brand’s stir-fry sauce is recommended, feel free to use your favorite Mala Xiang Guo sauce.
Step 2
Measure out the amount of Mala Xiang Guo sauce you’ll need from the packet. It’s advisable not to use the entire packet at once, as it might be too salty or spicy. Start with about half and adjust to your preference.
Step 3
Prepare 350g of shrimp. If using frozen shrimp, rinse them under cold running water to thaw, then pat them dry with paper towels. For fresh shrimp, peel and devein them, then wash thoroughly.
Step 4
Wash the bok choy (1 pack) and trim the base. If the leaves are too large, cut them into 2-3 bite-sized pieces.
Step 5
Trim the base of the king oyster mushrooms (2 packs) and separate them into individual pieces. Lightly rinse them under running water and drain well. Gently brush off any dirt or debris from the caps.
Step 6
Heat 5 Tbsp of cooking oil in a wide pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped green onions and sauté until fragrant and the oil is infused with their aroma, creating scallion oil. Using the white parts of the green onions will yield a more aromatic flavor.
Step 7
Once the scallions are fragrant, add 1 Tbsp of minced garlic and stir-fry together. Be careful not to burn the garlic; adjust the heat as needed.
Step 8
Check that the scallions and garlic are lightly golden and fragrant, not burnt, and that the aromatic oil has developed. This scallion-garlic oil is crucial for enhancing the flavor of the Mala Xiang Guo.
Step 9
Add all the prepared shrimp to the pan and stir-fry over high heat. Ensure the shrimp are well coated with the scallion-garlic oil.
Step 10
Cook until the shrimp turn pink and opaque. This is a sign they are starting to cook through and will look appetizing.
Step 11
When the shrimp are almost cooked, add the prepared bok choy and stir-fry just until it starts to wilt slightly. Bok choy cooks quickly, so avoid overcooking to maintain its crisp texture.
Step 12
Next, add all the prepared king oyster mushrooms and stir-fry with the other ingredients. King oyster mushrooms cook fast, so they can be added at this stage.
Step 13
Now it’s time to add the Mala Xiang Guo sauce. Add the measured sauce and stir-fry quickly to coat all the ingredients evenly. Taste and add more sauce if desired, adjusting the numbing and spicy levels to your preference! Caution: The sauce can be very spicy and numbing, so taste as you go!
