Stir-Fries
Stir-fried Garlic Scapes with Lamb
Stir-fried Garlic Scapes with Lamb is a classic, flavorful home-style dish that pairs the seasonal crunch of garlic scapes with tender lamb. Lamb is warm in nature and sweet in taste. It is known for warming the middle, tonifying deficiency, and benefiting the kidneys and yang. Garlic scapes are also warm in nature and pungent in taste, known for warming the middle, dispelling cold, detoxifying, and strengthening the spleen. The combination of these two warm-natured ingredients enhances their warming and tonifying effects. The dish features a rich garlic aroma, tender and flavorful lamb, and crisp, refreshing garlic scapes. It is an excellent choice for warming the body in winter and enjoying the fresh flavors of spring, making it a delicious and nutritious meal that pairs perfectly with rice.
Main Ingredients
- Lamb (tenderloin or leg meat preferred) 250g
- Garlic scapes 300g
- Fresh ginger 5 slices
- Garlic cloves(sliced or minced) 3 cloves
- Green and red chili peppers(julienned or sliced) 1 each
- Dried or fresh chili peppers 3 pieces
- Light soy sauce 2 tbsp
- Cooking wine 1 tbsp
- Salt To taste
- Ground pepper (or Sichuan pepper) A pinch
- Cornstarch 1 tbsp
- Vegetable oil As needed
Steps
Slice the meat: Slice the lamb against the grain into thin slices or shreds. Marinate: Place the sliced lamb in a bowl. Add cooking wine, light soy sauce, a pinch of salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Mix well with your hands. Finally, add a little oil and mix again. Marinate for 10-20 minutes. This is the key to keeping the lamb tender.
Wash the garlic scapes, remove the tough ends, and cut them into 3-4 cm sections.
Heat oil in a wok. Once hot, add the marinated lamb. Stir-fry quickly over high heat until the meat changes color and is just cooked. Remove and set aside. Setting the lamb aside prevents it from overcooking and becoming tough.
Leave some oil in the wok, then add ginger slices, garlic slices, and dried chilies (if using) until fragrant. Add the garlic scapes and stir-fry over high heat until they are just cooked and become a brighter green. If you prefer a softer texture, add a little water and cover briefly.
Return the cooked lamb to the wok and stir-fry quickly to combine with the garlic scapes. Season with light soy sauce, salt, pepper, and stir-fry for a few more seconds. Do not overcook the garlic scapes; they should remain crisp.
TCM Notes
Garlic scapes and lamb are nutritionally complementary. Nutritional Value of Lamb: Lamb is rich in high-quality protein, fats, B vitamins (B1, B2), and niacin. In TCM, it is known for warming the middle, tonifying deficiency, and benefiting kidney yang. Nutritional Value of Garlic Scapes: Garlic scapes contain sugars, dietary fiber, carotene, vitamins A, B2, C, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. Dietary fiber helps prevent constipation. Vitamin C helps lower blood lipids, prevents coronary heart disease and arteriosclerosis, and prevents thrombus formation. Allicin has antibacterial properties.
Suitable for：Those with wind-cold cough or deficient-cold asthma Those with cold pain in the lower abdomen, kidney deficiency, or sore lower back and knees Those recovering from illness or with a sallow complexion Those needing warming and tonifying in winter Generally suitable for most people in moderation
Not suitable for：Those with a hot constitution or yin deficiency with fire excess: Both garlic scapes and lamb are warm-natured and may exacerbate heat and consume fluids. Those with colds, fever, or external heat conditions: Should avoid consuming warm-tonifying lamb. Those with skin conditions like sores or boils. Those with heat-related conditions such as constipation or excessive thirst. Those with liver or gastrointestinal diseases: Should consume with caution to avoid加重 burden. Those with renal insufficiency: The protein in lamb may加重 kidney burden.
