This Homemade Vegetable and Pork San Choy Bow will surprise you with how easy it is to make. Delicious, yet healthy, Chinese food at home in a flash. This recipe is loaded with veggies yet still remains a family favorite, including the kids! Not to mention, it’s easy to make ahead and serves as a great option for leftover lunches.
Healthy, Homemade and Easy
Although it’s fun to take the family out for a nice meal once in a while, it can get pricey and stressful very fast (hello two year old!). So, I love to find ways to make a delicious meal that saves us all the way around.
This Pork and Vegetable San Choy Bow was the perfect answer to that problem and a delicious and family-friendly answer at that!
One of my husband's go-to dishes, when we go out for Chinese food, has always been San Choy Bow. Although I am quite partial to it as well, I have to admit I always avoid it in restaurants, as there is no elegant way of eating that stuff and I always end up with sauce running down my arm and all over my clothes....very classy 🙂
So instead my get my kicks from making it at home.
Sneaking Veggies Is Easy In This Homemade San Choy Bow Recipe.
This homemade version of San Choy Bow is a twist on the original as we load it up with a ton of vegetables. The kids (including the big ones) still love it though, and the veggies are barely even noticeable mixed in with the pork mixture.
That means I can use the dish as a way to get everyones vegetable servings for the day in, as well as my own.
Dairy Free, Gluten-Free, and Low in Carbs.
This is a dairy-free recipe as well as a low-carb dish.
The only two ingredients that could potentially make this not gluten-free is the soy sauce and oyster sauce. However, if you check the labels, there are options for getting these both gluten-free, pretty easily.
What Ingredients Are Needed To Make This Easy San Choy Bow At Home?
In order to make this Pork and Vegetable San Choy Bow, you’ll need:
- pork mince,
- crimini mushrooms,
- zucchini,
- celery,
- onions,
- lettuce,
- soy sauce,
- oyster sauce,
- ginger powder,
- sesame oil,
- carrot,
- garlic,
- and sesame seeds if desired.
Tips for Making the Perfect San Choy Bow
When I served this version of san choy bow up for dinner the other night my toddler gobbled it up (sans the lettuce leaves) and my husband declared it to be the best San Choy Bow he has ever had.
The traditional way to eat it is, of course, wrapped up in a smallish lettuce leaf, but I tend to serve mine in big romaine leaves and eat them burrito style.
The next day I always enjoy any leftover pork mixture with some raw carrot and zucchini 'noodles' made with a vegetable spiralizer which is really yummy!
- Be sure to smash the pork with a whisk while in the frying stage. This is imperative to receive the correct texture for the recipe. Although it will still taste good if you don't have a whisk, this method really adds a great texture and presentation to the dish.
- If you want to keep this recipe MSG free and healthier, be sure to check the labels of the ingredients you’re using. With many of the sauces in this recipe, it’s easy for MSG to be included. Alhough the research is inclusive as to the effects of MSG I tend to err on the side of caution and avoid it just to be sure.
- A traditional grater will work just fine when slicing up the vegetables. However, I used a Food Processor which made the task much easier.
If you have to smuggle vegetables for yourself, your husband or your kids then this pork and vegetable san choy bow is a great recipe, as those veggies are well hidden in the mixture.
Check out this post for more inspiration on what to do with pork mince.
Pork and Vegetable San Choy Bow
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon ginger powder
- 3 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb pork mince aim for pasture raised and organic
- 1 large grated carrot
- 1 large grated zucchini
- 10 Crimini mushrooms chopped finely
- 1 celery stalk chopped finely
- 2 spring onions chopped finely
- leaves Lettuce alternative: raw carrot and zucchini noodles
- Toasted sesame seeds and chopped spring onions to serve
Instructions
- Whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce and ginger powder in a jug.
- Heat sesame oil in a wok until very hot and add garlic followed by the pork mince. Using a whisk, stir fry and 'mash' the pork until half-browned.
- Add the spring onions and half of the oil mixture and continue mashing until all pork granules are the size of green peas, or smaller.
- Add chopped mushrooms, carrot, zucchini, celery and the rest of the oil mixture.
- Stir fry for 5 minutes.
- Serve in trimmed lettuce leaves and top with toasted sesame seeds and spring onions.
- As an alternative serve prepared pork mixture on raw carrot and zucchini noodles with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and spring onions.
- Enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Lexi says
I made this last night with 100% plant based mince (as I'm a vegetarian) - and it was 10 out of 10 delicious! Will be making again - thank you for the recipe! 🙂
Donna says
So glad you enjoyed!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
Everyone at my house will surely love this!
Renee Goerger says
I could not love this recipe more! The flavor is delicious and it's relatively easy to put together.
Donna says
Yay 🙂
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy says
I LOVE my spiralizer. This looks fun to make and delicious to eat. What a great meal on a hot summer day. Wrapped in lettuce makes it crispy and refreshing.
Donna says
Absolutely! And using lettuce leaves makes it a lot lighter too, perfect for hot days
Dorothy at Shockinglydelish says
I am always excited to find recipes that look great AND they are dairy free, GF, and low carb!
Donna says
Well this one definitely ticks all those boxes 🙂
wilhelmina says
This is so, so, so good! Incredibly satisfying!
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant says
Oh, yes! I'm all over this. I've only recently started cooking with Asian flavors at home for the same reasons you don't eat out as often as you used to. I hope I have leftovers because I want to try it with the spiralized veggies, too.
Donna1 says
Yeah my favourite version is definitely with the spiralled veggies (I actually make twice as much, just so I can have the leftovers the next day 🙂 ) My hubby loves the lettuce leaves though, as he spent his childhood eating them for special occasions! Hope you love them!!
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy says
I have never had San choy bow but it looks like something I would enjoy!
Donna1 says
It is so yummy! Messy, but yummy 🙂
Sabrina says
I love this method of serving pork! This sounds like a really delicious dish!
Donna1 says
Thanks Sabrina 🙂
Diane says
Donna, this looks so good! We never eat out for the same reason. Yucky tummies are the expense are not worth a bit of ambience. This recipe looks like a keeper. I'm intrigued by this one. I just have to make it!
Donna1 says
Oh thank you for your lovely words Diane, I hope you love it as much as we do 🙂
Oana@AdoreFoods says
Such a great recipe! Have to try it soon! We have also been trying to replicate some of our favorites at home 🙂 Just the thought of what is in those dishes....yuck!
Donna1 says
I know Oana, once you realise whats in there it can be hard to look past it!
Sarah says
Your pictures are beautiful. Making me crave Chinese food now. Hehe. 🙂 Pinning.
Donna1 says
Haha 🙂 thank you so much Sarah!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
This looks really good, and a declaration of "the best ever" seals the deal! I look forward to trying this!
Donna1 says
Haha thanks Patricia 🙂 I hope you love it!
Amanda {Striped Sptaula} says
Lovely recipe! I, too, have been making some of my favorites at home to have better control over the preservatives, etc. (I'm so sensitive to MSG!) This looks delicious, pinning it to try.
Donna1 says
I hope you love it! My husband is ridiculously sensitive to MSG as well, it is almost like he has been drinking excessive amounts of caffeine when he eats it! I hope you love this version, it is a favourite in our house!
Mahy says
OMG these look AMAZING Donna! Love the flavors, the single servings, the healthy factor in it, photos--everything!
Donna1 says
Oh thank you so much for your lovely words Mahy 🙂
Tracy @ Served from Scratch says
I love that it's in a lettuce wrap! Pinning this for later!
Donna1 says
Thanks Tracy 🙂