Savory Yam Wood Ear and Carrot Stir Fry

If you’re searching for a dish that is incredibly quick, wonderfully light, and brings a delightful combination of textures to your plate, then you have found your new weeknight favorite. This stir-fry is a masterclass in simplicity, coming together in about 10 minutes from start to finish. It’s a gentle and savory dish, relying on the natural flavors of the vegetables rather than heavy sauces. The technique is a simple stir-fry, or more accurately, a quick sauté and simmer, making it virtually foolproof even for beginner cooks. The real magic lies in the textural interplay: the slight, satisfying crunch of the yam, the tender sweetness of the carrots, and the unique, chewy springiness of the wood ear mushrooms. It’s a nourishing, comforting meal that feels both wholesome and sophisticated. Before you get started, let’s gather our ingredients. The list is short and simple, but a couple of items might be new to you. Don’t worry, they are worth seeking out and I’ve provided some easy-to-find alternatives. Ingredients: Chinese Yam (山药, shānyào): 100g (about 3.5 oz), peeled and thinly sliced. This is not the orange sweet potato common in the West. Chinese yam (also known as nagaimo or cinnamon vine) has white flesh and a crisp, slightly slippery texture when cut. You can find it in most Asian supermarkets. Substitution: If you can’t find it, a great substitute for texture is canned sliced water chestnuts, drained. Jicama or even a firm, crisp pear could also work in a pinch for a similar crunch. Carrot: 100g (about 3.5 oz, or one medium carrot), peeled and thinly sliced. Dried Wood Ear Mushrooms (木耳, mù’ěr): 10g (about ⅓ oz). These are also called black fungus. They look like thin, crinkly, black paper when dry but bloom into wavy, gelatinous morsels when rehydrated. They offer…