Bamboo Shoots Recipe and Guide

Bamboo shoots are young sprouts of the plant of the same name. They are a popular cooking ingredient in many Asian countries due to their tastiness as well as rich health benefits. 

Just like how ingredients from Asia such as kikurage and lotus root are becoming more popular in the Western world, more and more people are starting to realise the benefits of these amazing sprouts in cuisine.

Jump to:

• What Are Bamboo Shoots?
• Are Bamboo Shoots Edible?
• Braised Bamboo Shoots Recipe
• How Do You Eat Bamboo Shoots?
• What Is The Difference Between Fresh And Canned Bamboo Shoots?
• How To Prepare Bamboo Shoots?
• How To Peel Fresh Bamboo Shoots?
• How Long To Boil Fresh Shoots?
• Where Can I Buy The Shoots?
• How To Pick Out Good Bamboo Shoots?
• How Can You Tell If They Have Gone Bad?
• How To Store And How Long Do They Last?

What Are Bamboo Shoots?

Bamboo is a type of grass plant, and the Latin name is Bambusa. It is the fastest-growing plant in the world. The tender sprouts hatch from the soil, which then lignifies. 

Shoots can grow up to 35 m. In appearance, they resemble young giant corn cobs protruding from the ground, only of a greyish-blue colour. 

Are Bamboo Shoots Edible?

For many in the Western world, this is a rather exotic product. Many people will grow indoor bamboo plants for decorative purposes. However, Asians have been eating it for a very long time. 

Bamboo shoots taste tender and crunchy and in a way similar to corn. Once cooked, the shoots can be very sweet. Many bamboos are bitter and must be boiled before eating. 

However, some varieties can be eaten raw. These have fresh stems that are sweet and crunchy. Some of the sweet varieties are Dendrocalamus, Phyllostachys, and Bambusa. Although some types can be eaten raw, we recommend that all types be boiled and cooked thoroughly before consumption, especially if you intend to eat the sprouts in the wild during camping.

In cooking, this delicacy is usually used fresh, dried, or canned. Surprisingly, this "exotic" ingredient is easy to find, as canned and packaged versions are generally found on the shelves of many global brand supermarkets. However, it is more difficult to find it fresh.

How Do You Eat Bamboo Shoots?

Spring is the season for young succulent shoots. During this time, you can buy them at any store or market in China and most of Asia. In the rest of the world, it is also quite possible to find them if you try.

The Chinese cook the sprouts with meat such as chicken, beef and pork. They can be added as an additional vegetable in stir-fry dishes.

The sprouts' crispy, slightly sweet flesh is also great for use in various soups, salads, or stews. Moreover, vegetable side dishes with this plant's young shoots are common. 

You can also try stewing them with mushrooms or cabbage. Once you try this, we trust you will remember this delightful combination for a long time.

Experienced chefs advise against boiling bamboo shoots for too long. Prolonged heat treatment will deteriorate their taste and destroy the nutrients that this food product is so rich in.

As a tip, add them to the dish last to preserve the crispy texture. 

Vegetarians in Asia have long appreciated these sprouts' beneficial properties. They serve them as a side dish, adding a little oil, pepper, or soy sauce.

What Is The Difference Between Fresh And Canned Bamboo Shoots?

In summary, sprouts are simply new bamboo buds harvested before they grow hard and fibrous. They are usually available in two forms: fresh and canned. 

The fresh ones are usually sold in whole pieces and are perfect for frying. 

Canned ones are pre-cooked and packed in water. You can find canned shoots that are sold whole, chopped or sliced. To make sour and spicy soup, we recommend you get grated ones.

You can also find packaged versions that are fermented and have various spices added to them.

Of course, the best option from a health perspective is to use fresh ones. They retain all the good nutrients, vitamins, and minerals inside.

How To Prepare Bamboo Shoots?

Fresh bamboo must be heat-treated and cannot be eaten raw. Other types of bamboo can be bitter when eaten raw but turn sweet after boiling, cooking, and frying. We recommend boiling fresh bamboo for 20 to 30 minutes. 

Meanwhile, canned ones should be washed and at least fried before official use.

How To Peel Fresh Bamboo Shoots?

Fresh, crispy shoots are cut as soon as they emerge from the ground. Bamboo has a record growth rate—it grows by as much as 90 centimetres in just a day! Because of this, the delicate flesh of bamboo shoots is usually hidden in a large number of layers of bamboo.

To peel it, you need to cut a small incision on the outer shell of the bamboo all the way down on one side. Then, by using both hands, grab each side of the outer shell and peel away the skin. 

You need to repeat this step until you reach the bamboo's soft part. The smooth section is the edible and nutritious part of the bamboo.  

How Long To Boil Fresh Shoots?

Before preparing the dish, cut off the roots, clean the sprouts, cut across the fibres into 3 to 5 mm wide strips, and boil. Make sure you use the soft part of the bamboo shoots.

Boil the shoots for 20 minutes in an uncovered saucepan. This allows the bitter substances to evaporate partially. If the bitterness remains after cooking, boil the shoots for another 5 minutes in fresh water. 

You can cook them in the microwave for 4 minutes in a shallow, uncovered water-filled dish. As a result, the vegetables should be crispy with a crust.

Where Can I Buy The Shoots?

You can usually find them in Asian markets or large-brand supermarkets. Most of them are canned bamboo shoots since fresh ones are really hard to maintain for such a long time. 

You can also find and order this healthy Asian ingredient from online stores.

How To Pick Out Good Bamboo Shoots?

Pick the ones with big, healthy roots and large yellowish rhizomes. Brown rhizomes are a bad sign! 

If you are buying canned ones, just check the expiry date printed by the manufacturer on the back of the can.

How Can You Tell If They Have Gone Bad?

Just like any other plant, sprouts can go bad, especially if they're not stored properly or have passed their shelf life. 

A big red flag is the smell of the bamboo shoots. You will smell the likes of ammonia once it is no longer good to eat.

If you store it at room temperature or in the refrigerator, you should always leave the outer shell. The skin is callous and acts as a barrier preventing air from reaching the plant's meat. Once the air hits the meat, oxidation will begin, and the meat will start to deteriorate.

How To Store And How Long Do They Last?

Fresh bamboo shoots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. However, if you keep them for a longer time, the sprouts may taste bitter.

You can preserve them for over 2 weeks by freezing boiled shoots in the freezer.

Canned versions can remain fresh for almost a year, but just make sure you check the expiry date printed on the can upon purchase. The date will show you how long the sprouts will continue to be fresh. After the expiration date, you can still eat them, but the quality and taste may no longer be the same.

You can also choose to pickle them to preserve them longer. Pickled bamboo shoots are a very valuable product due to their longer shelf life and high consumer qualities. Today, this delicacy, due to its long shelf life, has grown to become more popular in more countries outside of Asia.

Have you heard about mooli, another remarkable ingredient from Asia? Learn more about its benefits and how to make delicious fried daikon balls.