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Shanghaniese Cai Fan or Vegetable Rice Served on a plate

Cai Fan 菜飯: Salted Meat and Bok Choy Rice

By Tiffy Cooks

5 from 1 vote
if you’re looking for a way to sneak more fiber in your meals, try this Shanghai-inspired Salted Meat and Bok Choy Rice, or Cai fan 菜飯. With crisp veggies, savory bits of cured meat, and fragrant, glossy rice in every bite, this dish is definitely a nostalgic comfort food. Enjoy this rice on its own, or paired with a saucy, savory protein dish. This veggie-packed rice will be one of the easiest and yummiest way to get extra fibre into your diet!
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Cook Time:35 minutes
Total Time:35 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: Asian Recipe Easy, Chinese Food, comfort food, gut friendly, lunch, lunch idea, rice, Side Dish, vegetable, winter
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 442kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4-5 cups bok choy or any leafy greens, chopped + washed
  • 2 cups uncooked rice rinsed
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup salted meat diced (Chinese sausage, salted cured pork, pancetta, or bacon)
  • 1 tbsp oil for stir-frying the greens
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Render the meat: In a pot, pan-fry the diced salted meat over medium heat until fragrant and the fat renders out (about 2–3 minutes).
  • Toss the rice: Add the rinsed rice and stir to coat in the rendered oil.
  • Cook the rice: Pour in 2 cups water. Once it reaches a gentle simmer, turn heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 10 minutes.
  • Steam off heat: Turn the heat off but keep the lid on for 15 minutes (don’t peek).
    Opening the lid after cooking and steaming rice with salted meat for Shanghai Cai Fan
  • Stir-fry the greens: While the rice cooks/steams, heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or pan over medium heat. Add bok choy and stir-fry just until wilted. Add garlic, toss for 30 seconds, then season lightly with salt.
    Sautéing chopped bok choy before adding them into the Shanghai Cai Fan Vegetable Rice with salted meat
  • Mix + steam again: Fluff the rice. Add the cooked bok choy without pouring in any liquid. Gently mix, then smooth the top, cover, and let it steam 5 minutes with the heat off.
    Adding cooked bok choy back into the pot of cooked rice with salted meat for Shanghaniese Cai Fan or Vegetable Rice with Salted Meat
  • Serve: Scoop into bowls and enjoy hot.
    Shanghaniese Cai Fan or Vegetable Rice Served on a plate

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 10gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 154mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 3133IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 1mg
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