Dearest Reader, I confess that I mistakenly, unintentionally married into a good looking family and I cannot tell you how annoying that can be. They’re tall and athletic, the boys chiselled and handsome, the women naturally pretty and of course I stand out like the odd one out with my goth inspired looks. I am literally the black sheep.
Mr NQN’s little brother Manu is a sweet guy who is always willing to lend a helping hand. He also is quite innocent to the effect to his looks on the womenfolk. I think he had all of my mother’s friends fanning themselves in delight at our wedding – the effect was so significant that their chest heaving flirtatious behaviour made it through the fog of newly wedded bliss.
Later, we watched with amusement and then concern when a woman invited him to be her flatmate and when we met her, we were even more alarmed. She introduced herself and told us “I own him” and held his arm possessively. I think Mr NQN and I wanted to grab Manu’s other arm and get him the hell out of dodge because that didn’t sound normal at all.
What these women don’t know is that the way to get the Manu’s attention is to be a peace-loving hippie vegetarian rather than a seductress. You see whilst Mr NQN broke away from the family’s vegetarian lifestyle, his brother is probably the strictest sibling of the family in terms of adhering to the lifestyle and doesn’t drink even Coke or coffee. Despite this, he is quite a delight to cook for as he eats copious amounts and is very sweet and complimentary so when I knew that he was coming over I decided to make a vegetarian san choy bau.
You may be familiar with the meat version as the second course of Peking duck where they use the meat from the duck to make a filling that is served in crisp iceberg lettuce cups. It’s one of our favourite courses and I remembered going to Fu Manchu restaurant years and years ago and having one of their vegetarian sang choi bau. It was every bit as good or better than the meat version which can vary a bit. I wanted to make one that was not only vegetarian but healthy too and packed with vegetables while being low in fat.
The ingredient list may seem inordinate but if you have a food processor or a mini chopper then this is really easy as everything has to be diced. In this recipe, I used red lentils which cook quickly and provide a meaty texture in place of the meat and you get the essential crunch from carrot and water chestnut and umami flavour from the shiitake mushrooms. And the sauce ingredients give this seemingly healthy and austere vegetable combination a power punch of flavours-you don’t even need to use hoi sin sauce and I loved these just as they were.
So tell me Dear Reader, are you the “black sheep” in your family or immediate family?
Healthy Vegetarian Sang Choi Bau
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Makes 4-6 serves
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, diced
- 1 cup red lentils, rinsed until water runs clear (about 5-6 times)
- 230g/8 oz. tin of water chestnuts, diced
- 1 medium sized carrot, diced
- 6 whole shiitake mushrooms, diced (I use dried ones and rehydrate them in some boiled water for 15 minutes)
- 1 1/4 cups vegetable stock (I used the soaking water for the shiitakes too)
- 5 stalks of green onions
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing cooking wine or sherry
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (regular or light)
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce or vegetarian version
- 1 tablespoon caster or superfine sugar
- a few drops of sesame oil
- some white sesame seeds to garnish
- Hoi sin sauce to garnish (optional)
- 1 whole iceberg lettuce
1. In a large saucepan on medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the onion, ginger and garlic and saute until fragrant and translucent-a few minutes should do. Add the lentils, water chestnuts, carrot, shiitake mushrooms and stock and simmer with lid on for 10 minutes stirring to prevent the lentils from sticking at the bottom. Add the green onions in the last 5 minutes.
2. Add the cooking wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce and caster sugar and stir to combine and taste. Sprinkle a few drops of sesame oil to taste and set aside.
3. Take the whole ice berg lettuce and remove any extra leaves on the outside. Remove the core and run cold water down the centre of the lettuce and allow to sit for a minute. The water gently separates the leaves. Peel off lettuce leaves one at a time and trim if desired. Serve the mixture inside the lettuce leaves with hoi sin sauce and some white sesame seeds.
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64 Comments | Add your own
This looks great. I love the idea of a vegetarian version of this dish. I’ve worked hard not to be the Black Sheep but I’ve often thought it might be fun! GG
A great version of this Chinese classic! I love the idea.
Cheers,
Rosa
I adore lettuce cups or wraps as we call them. These sound delightful with the lentils, I will definitely give them a try, thank you!
The black sheep of the family? I don’t think we have one, we have such a small family!
This recipe looks seriously delicious – I have heard and seen lettuce cups as holders and your pics inspire me to try it
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I love to read posts about your family–they are always interesting. The posts and the family! My vegetarian husband would love this recipe.
Hands down, I am the weird black sheep in my own family. Always. Sometimes appreciated for my strangeness, sometimes not.
Pretty clever move there! Vegetarian sang choi bau is just perfect.
Unfortunately you’ve inspired me to make a chicken version tonight. I’ve strangely got iceberg lettuce in my fridge, plus chicken mince and all the requisite sauces. My husband is going through an iceberg phase at the moment.
This looks delicious! I’m not a vegetarian but I don’t cook meat at home so I always look for vegetarian versions of food. My mum would love these as well!
love that tip re water and the lettuce leaves! Mine always break when I try to peel them off – I will be trying your technique that’s for sure!
Ohh lovely recipe
I’ve never really thought of a vegetarian san cho bau because I’m just such a carnivore hahaha ~ but definitely saving this recipe for my vegetarian friends and when I want Mr Bao to eat more veggie hehe
I’m definitely the black sheep of the family, I’ve done everything my parents don’t want me to hahaaha and i’m always trying to differentiate myself from my 3 sisters hehe
I love seeing these sorts of recipes, also not being a strict vegetarian, but also rarely cooking meat at home.
One of the drawbacks of living alone is most recipes are way to much for a single person – does anyone know how long the mix would keep for leftovers?
Black sheep thats me with my in-laws as well, i drink, swear and don’t go to chruch, my in-laws on the other hand…..
going to put this on the menu for next week, sounds and looks sooo good
thank you Lorraine – great one to make my son for his birthday – he’s not only vegetarian, but vegan (though a bit more relaxed than at the start) and this is perfect.
I am TOTALLY the black sheep of my immediate family especially on my partner’s side of the family, we’re polar opposites. My partner who loves my South American culture, embraces it wholeheartedly as does his dad however, his mum and his awful, anal, “it’s all about me” sister, do not. Not surprising as she doesn’t even embrace her husband’s Italian background. I don’t mind if they don’t but, I just think it’s strange not to learn about your spouse’s culture. You’re so lucky L, that your husband’s family appreciate you for who you are, it just makes you unique and especially having a sweet bro in law who isn’t starved of attention or constantly being childish.
Yummy I will be making this recipe for sure.
Yes I must be the black sheep as my parents and sister like bland plain food.
It’s always nice when people are happy to be cooked for! Love the little dominoes in the styling, very cute
Love exploring exciting meatless recipes too!
DEFINITELY am the black sheep of the family too!
I revel in living life to my own special beat,
As it TRULY is an AMAZING feat!
Oooohhh pink nails! I’ve never seen you with them before.
I’ve missed red lentils. They’re so nice to eat in winter.
I’m hoping you’ll give us a book update soon. Surely your publisher has a release date.
im definitely giving this a go thanks Lorraine
Great tip on the lettuce under running water, going to try that next time! Haha very curious to see what Manu looks like, I’m picturing him like a Hercules-type guy!
Methinks you must have posted this just for Manu and myself, cause it IS SO ME!! Actually have made this with variations all my life, I guess, and absolutely love it
! Yours is a lovely recipe and one can’t cook Asian without chopping, let’s face it 
! But the cooking time is generally so short! Black sheep – well, no – if you are the only child with a large number of aunties/uncles without, you get awfully spoilt as a bit of a ‘princess’ 
!
i’m quite strict with my caffeine and sugar intake too. in fact, very strict.
Where are the photos? I’d love some eye-candy. Does Manu make the women swoon like Manu the celebrity chef? I love this vegetarian version. This is one of my daughter’s favourite meals. She’s always asking me to make it. And she’s not much of a meat eater either so I’ll try your lentil version. And I’m the black sheep because I didn’t study law! xx
Thanks for the tip about washing the lettuce to seperate the leaves, I’ve never been able to pull them apart properly and now I know why!
I never knew that’s how you split the iceberg up! genius!
I’m not the black sheep, but maybe the black piggy as I’m the only one in my family who eats pork products. They do miss the smokiness of great small goods though, and for Christmas I bought mum and dad a smoked lamb ham, and I overnight expressed a huge beef salami to Queensland for mothers day
I love San this dish, and littlej always wants to order it when we go out, great interpretation indeed!
your mini chopper does a great job, must be a very good brand. It’s a really great recipe. I am a little disappointed by red lentil: I want it to be the same color after cooking as before.
Each time I cook it I look in the pot, waiting for a miracle…
So, this Manu… would he be enticed by a lass with a tendency beyond hippie vegetarian into raw veganness, who wouldn’t even know how to start being a possessive femme fatale? Just, y’know, wondering.
P.S. Darling, I’ve met you. You are as gorgeous as the world. xo
Both of my brothers were impossibly good looking in their youth (must be the Finnish genes) and didn’t really have much idea of the effect….much better than being full of it.
I find it hard to believe that you, Mrs Stunning face beautiful talented lady, could be the black sheep
Surely not! Love these, so light and delicious!
Heidi xo
This looks delish! Will definitely try it out when our vegetarian friends come over for dinner!
Love lettuce cups and the vegetarian version sounds really light and nice for summer weather. Lorraine, you gotta be kidding me about you being black sheep!
Love the mahjong tiles you threw in there, was just thinking about playing tonight with some friends.
I’ve never tried the san choy bau as a vegetarian dish, sounds very light and healthy!
You are a wonderful sister in law! These look complex but gorgeous – and so fresh and healthy. Definitely one to try (will also be making the duck version too!)
I never thought of using red lentils in san cho bau! Might have to give this one a try. I’m definitely not the black sheep – I was the well behaved, straight A student who didn’t drink/smoke or even swear really. I suspect it’s an eldest child trait…
I love the mahjong tiles!And, life would not work for me without coffee! But I love the vegetarian recipe
Yum! Great idea making a vege version!
I sometimes think i’m the black sheep… not necessarily in a bad way
I am on a health kick right now so I am definitely trying these! I certainly am the odd one out in my husbands all-Italian Sicilian family! I am the blonde, blue-eyed fresckly one in this case, hehe.
This looks fantastic Lorraine!! So healthy and delicious, and I love your addition of lentils. I’ll have to try this.
I never thought of making these! Ben would love them!
I know this duckly version and love it… never knew the name though. Great idea to lighten it up. Like hot dogs, I think the spicing has a lot to do with the dish… taking out the duck you still have all those marvelous flavors. Great little recipe you’ve created… on my list now for great summer dish.
What a great meal for a handsome vegetarian. I’m sure the family is in love with you as much as your readers and your mum is. xoxo Mum
Aww.. I wouldn’t call you a black sheep ever
Special and interesting sounds better 
Hmmm I guess I must be… I’ve done heaps of things to disappoint 
Oh well.. my life my rules!
So, you feel you got married with the Cullen family? We know nobody is perfect, but some people looks like they are perfect. I’m not, I’m tiny, pale and with a little bit over weight, compared with by sister and big brother…thay are tall, athletic and with tan color…
I have made san choy bau with tofu which worked really well for me – but I expected to be able to eat it with a lettuce leaf cup in my hand but the mixture was too hot to handle – and am jealous that you have found veg san choi bau in a restaurant – I must be going to the wrong places
I love lettuce cups and this is such a healthful version. Thank you Lorraine!
these look so delicious! and super cute!
Haha what a ladies man. I love the lentils in this. Perfect vegetarian food and probably more filling than its meat counterpart too
Love the lentils in this. You remind us all that lettuce cups are as versatile as tortillas in holding all manner of wonderful fillings. I, myself, like my lettuce cup with a cupcake inside. LOL Just kidding.
I have had plenty of black sheep moments.. in my family, same as you, goth inspired fashion sense,seperates me from the herd, and with my inlaws because I am outspoken & wont play pretend.
Love your veggie version.. I think I might give it a try with brown lentils.. what do you think? They look meatier?
Lorraine you surely are a beautiful princess admired by all and maybe worshipped by many people, so how could you possibly even suggest that you are a black sheep!!
In my own family I’m not the black sheep as we are all a bit mad, but in my partner’s family I’m definitely the black sheep. They are all über healthy running and cycling competitively. I am the one drinking wine while everyone else sips soft drinks. Oops. I love being the black sheep
Black sheep? Couldn’t be!
Though on second thought, I think being the black sheep keeps things interesting. I’m from a family of artists and entrepreneurs so we’re all black sheep in our own way, I think
This veggie version is a wonderful idea. My fiance would particularly love the addition of lentils. Also, great tip of rinsing and separating the lettuce leaves. Just learned something new!
I love this idea! The second course of Peking Duck is my fav but I always feel as if it’s a bit fatty and unhealthy..
lettuce cups are fun!
i wouldn’t consider myself a black sheep, but i’m definitely singled out as, well, the only single one left. i’ve got family trying to set me up on dates all over the place!
You,a black sheep? Possibly one tinged with gold. Funny how we view ourselves. I am the black sheep to my in-laws (but that is truly not MY fault). Your vegetarian san choy bau looks delicious, simple, tasty and a wonderful idea to cook one cool evening. Especially, thank you for informing us of how to separate the iceberg lettuce leaves – this has always been a painful process and one which has not always been successful.
Wonderful vegetarian dish!
Lovely. We have been trying to have one meatless day a week. THanks for another idea to add to the repetoire
It’s funny, when we visit Mike’s family in the Middle East I stick out like a sore thumb (they’re all dark-haired and skinned and I’m fair-skinned and light-haired)…maybe I’m the white sheep, lol? The good thing is that they always make me feel at home.
This dish looks incredible! We’ve been eating more vegetarian dishes and this one would really hit the spot.
This looks so delicious, and a perfect idea for when I cook for my vegetarian Mum & Uncle!
I’m not the black sheep but another of my uncle’s did call me a food snob once (I objected to Pizza Hut)
I am trying to include a meatless day in our week and this looks like a great recipe to try. I’ll have to bookmark it
Cooked this for dinner last night for my 2 daughters and me. Delicious flavours. We all enjoyed it. Great, fairly fast weeknight meal. And the lettuce trick. I’ve never heard that before – and it worked so well. Normally a tricky job. Thank You.
This is utterly delicious. I just made a huge batch so we have something healthy for dinner for the next few nights rather than falling back on toast. Aaaahhh the glamourous side of parenthood! Thanks for the recipe, NQN
Hi Cook and Jenna! Thanks so much! I’m so glad that you liked it and found it easy
I made this last night. Having never cooked with lentils before I was a bit worried it would become gluggy but it was really light and delicious. Definitely a keeper though it helps if your significant other likes to do all the chopping.
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