刀豆土豆 Brown Sauce String Beans and Potatoes

​Pinyin: dāo dòu tǔ dòu

Originally a South American vegetable with origins in Peru and Chile, it wasn’t until the 1600s near the end of the Ming Dynasty that potatoes were introduced to China. Originally a vegetable reserved for the rich and royal it became an important crop during the Qianlong reign in the late 1700s. Today China produces over a third of the world’s potato crop and is the world’s largest potato producing country even though per capita consumption of potatoes in China remains low.

Potatoes contain a selection of vitamins and minerals that are important for human health including thiamine and several phytochemicals. Potatoes also contain glycoalkaloids which are toxic to humans though there haven’t been any potato related poisonings in the USA in over 50 years.

Potatoes are easy to cultivate and do well in cool damp weather. Unfortunately, potatoes are prone to a number of pests and even organic potatoes are often sprayed with a copper pesticide. Potatoes have a tendency to spoil easily if mishandled or stored incorrectly, as a result nearly all potatoes are grown domestically which means they are less susceptible to global price fluctuations and overproduction.

The string bean and potato dish above combines two common vegetables found throughout the Western world and puts them together in a very Shanghai fashion that has a unique and appealing flavor. The dark brown soy sauce and sugar mixture that is common in Shanghai food is added to the wok after the vegetables have had some time to cook in a bit of oil. As the sugar cooks it releases caramelized flavors that help to tame the sweetness. Meanwhile, the soy sauce adds a savory element and a deep dark color that enhances this vegetarian dish.

This isn’t an exotic dish made with bizarre ingredients that you didn’t even know existed, rather it is made out of ingredients that are likely in your kitchens right now. Chinese food is inventive and creative, but it isn’t scary, this dish is a great way to break into the world of Chinese food and it can even be done right from your home. Give this one and try and enjoy it in it’s simplicity.