| In China and Japan, the sprouting of the bamboo | | | | long enough to heat them through. Browning a |
| shoot is a sign of spring. Prized for their rich aroma | | | | bamboo shoot does nothing for its flavor and |
| and crunchy texture, fresh bamboo shoots are only | | | | destroys its distinctive crunch. If you are fortunate |
| available in March and April. In North America, fresh | | | | enough to find fresh bamboo shoots, be sure to |
| bamboo is only available in the spring in Asian markets | | | | process them in boiling water before you use them in |
| and a few farmers' markets in California and the | | | | cooking. |
| Southeast, but canned and frozen bamboo shoots | | | | Bamboo shoots, like many other tropical root |
| are available all year round. | | | | vegetables, contain trace concentrations of |
| In Australia and the Philippines, high-quality, locally | | | | hydrocyanic acid (yes, a form of cyanide) that have |
| grown bamboo shoots are available in markets for | | | | to be leached out of the vegetable before it is used |
| several months every year. Ideally, bamboo shoots | | | | as a food. Here is what you need to do to fresh |
| should be consumed the same day they are | | | | bamboo shoots: |
| harvested, so any fresh bamboo of high quality has | | | | 1. Peel off outer rind of each root. Cut off the tip |
| to be grown in the same area where it is consumed. | | | | and score the surface of the shoot, making a long, |
| Bamboo shoots are so good for you they literally | | | | shallow cut the length of the shoot. Take care not to |
| glow in the dark. Researchers in Japan have found | | | | cut into the shoot. |
| that freshly cut bamboo emits a gentle glow as the | | | | 2. Put the bamboo shoots into a pressure cooker, |
| plant's internal self-defense system activates | | | | just covering them with water to which you have |
| antioxidants to prevent oxidation and browning. | | | | added a handful of rice bran. Close the pressure |
| These antioxidants also counteract bacterial infections | | | | cooker and steam for 10 minutes. (If you do not |
| in the people that eat bamboo shoots. | | | | have a pressure cooker, boil in an open boil for 45 |
| Traditional Asian medicine teaches that the energy of | | | | minutes.) |
| bamboo shoots counteracts the energies of negative | | | | 3. At the end of the cooking time, take the shoots |
| emotions, specifically the negative emotions that | | | | out of the pot and rinse away the rice bran. Peel off |
| settle into the liver and cause spasms in the | | | | the rind from the score on the surface, then cut the |
| gallbladder. Whether you believe the theory of Asian | | | | shoots into bite-sized pieces. The bamboo shoots are |
| medicine or not, herbal formulas made with bamboo | | | | now ready for use in cooking other dishes. |
| shoots do relieve gallbladder pain. | | | | Americans associate bamboo shoots with Chinese stir |
| Scientifically oriented researchers in China have found | | | | fries, but these crunchy sticks can be used to make |
| that bamboo shoots are among nine vegetables in | | | | sushi, in spring rolls (harumaki) and meat buns |
| the Asian diet that offer protection against lung | | | | (nikuman), to flavor stews of shellfish, to give crunch |
| cancer (along with bitter melon, cucumber, wild | | | | to split pea soup, to provide an edible toothpick for |
| celery, spinach, sweet potatoes, fresh soybeans, | | | | hors d'oeuvre, and as a contrasting flavor in dishes |
| Szechuan peppers, and sweet potatoes). | | | | made with fava beans. And they are a key ingredient |
| When you use canned bamboo shoots, be sure to | | | | in a famous savory vegan stew from Nepal. |
| add them at the end of cooking, heating them just | | | | |