Melbourne cooks love fast dinners. A bunch of fresh greens, a hot wok and ten minutes is often all you need. Asian vegetables fit this style well. They cook quickly, taste clean and suit stir-fries, soups and steamed sides.
If you search for Asian vegetables in Melbourne, you want fresh stock and an easy way to buy it. This guide covers ten favourites and how to cook each one. You also learn where to buy Asian vegetables online with delivery to your door.
Key Takeaways
- Asian greens like bok choy, choy sum and gai lan cook in under five minutes.
- Fresh Asian vegetables taste best when you cook them within a few days.
- Garlic, ginger and soy sauce suit almost every vegetable on this list.
- Store leafy greens unwashed in a damp cloth in the fridge.
- You buy Asian vegetables online in Melbourne from Deliver Fresh and get them delivered.
Why Asian Vegetables Belong in Your Kitchen
Asian vegetables bring variety to weeknight meals. Many are leafy greens with a mild flavour. Others add crunch, sweetness or a gentle bitterness. You get new textures without long prep.
Our Asian vegetables collection puts a full range of fresh Asian vegetables in one place.
10 Asian Vegetables to Try and How to Cook Them
1. Bok Choy
Bok choy has crisp white stems and soft green leaves. The taste is mild and sweet. Halve baby bok choy and sear it cut side down for two minutes. Add a splash of water, cover and steam for one minute. Finish with soy sauce and sesame oil.
2. Choy Sum
Choy sum has slim green stems and small yellow flowers. It tastes fresh with a faint mustard note. Blanch it for 90 seconds in salted water. Drain it and top with garlic oil and a spoonful of soy.
3. Gai Lan
Gai lan, also called Chinese broccoli, has thick stems and a bold, bitter edge. Blanch it for two minutes. Toss it in a hot pan with garlic and ginger. A pinch of sugar balances the bitterness.
4. Wombok
Wombok, or Chinese cabbage, is large, pale and juicy. Shred it raw for a crunchy slaw. Stir-fry it for three minutes for a softer side. It also works in dumpling filling and soups.
5. Water Spinach
Water spinach has hollow stems and arrow-shaped leaves. Cook it fast over high heat. Stir-fry it with garlic and chilli for two minutes. Serve it straight from the wok, since it wilts quickly.
6. Daikon
Daikon is a long white radish with a crisp bite. Slice it into rounds and simmer in broth for 20 minutes. The flesh turns soft and sweet. Grate it raw and serve it beside grilled fish for a sharper taste.
7. Chinese Eggplant
Chinese eggplant is long, slim and thin-skinned. It has few seeds and a creamy centre. Cut it into batons and steam for eight minutes. Dress it with garlic, soy and vinegar. Pan-fry it until golden for a richer dish.
8. Garlic Chives
Garlic chives have flat green blades and a strong garlic aroma. Chop them into dumpling filling or scramble them with eggs. Add them to a stir-fry in the last 30 seconds.
9. Snake Beans
Snake beans are long, firm and a little chewy. Cut them into short pieces. Stir-fry them for five minutes with minced garlic and chilli until blistered.
10. Pea Shoots
Pea shoots are tender tips with a sweet, grassy taste. Wilt them in a hot pan with garlic for 30 seconds. They also go well in soup, added right before serving.
How to Choose and Store Fresh Asian Vegetables
Look for bright colour and firm stems. Leaves should look crisp, not wilted or yellow. Smell the garlic chives. A fresh bunch smells sharp and clean.
Store leafy greens unwashed in a damp cloth inside the fridge crisper. Use them within three to four days. Keep daikon and eggplant in the fridge for up to a week.
Buy Asian Vegetables Online in Melbourne
Hunting for fresh Asian vegetables across several shops takes time. At Deliver Fresh, you order online and we deliver across Melbourne. Browse our Asian vegetables delivery Melbourne range, pick your greens and plan your week.
Stock changes with the season, so check the collection for what is fresh now. You get Chinese vegetables and Asian greens Melbourne households use every week, without the trip.
Start Cooking With Fresh Asian Vegetables
Pick two or three vegetables from this list and cook them this week. Start with bok choy or choy sum, since both are quick and mild. Then try gai lan or snake beans for a stronger flavour.
FAQs
1. What are the most popular Asian vegetables in Melbourne?
Bok choy, choy sum, gai lan, wombok and water spinach top the list. Daikon and Chinese eggplant follow. Most Melbourne households use them in stir-fries and soups.
2. Where can I buy fresh Asian vegetables online in Melbourne?
Order from Deliver Fresh. Our Asian vegetables collection lets you buy Asian vegetables online and get them delivered in Melbourne.
3. What is the best way to cook Asian greens?
Cook them fast over high heat. Blanch for one to two minutes or stir-fry with garlic and ginger. Overcooking turns the greens dull and soft.
4. What is the difference between bok choy, choy sum and gai lan?
Bok choy has wide white stems and rounded leaves. Choy sum has thin green stems and yellow flowers. Gai lan has thick stems, broad leaves and a bitter taste. Cook bok choy and choy sum briefly. Give gai lan a little longer.
5. How do I choose and store fresh Asian vegetables?
Pick bunches with bright colour and crisp stems. Avoid yellow leaves. Wrap leafy greens in a damp cloth and keep them in the fridge. Use them within four days.
