Lohan Jai, “Buddha’s Delight”
2 min readLohan Jai, “Buddha’s Delight”
serves 4
Lohan, or Arhat to use the Sanskrit name, are the Buddha’s principle disciples. The name of this dish may thus be translated as “vegetarian dish (jai) of Buddha’s disciples.” It is considered one of the tastiest and most nutritious dishes for vegetarians. Lohan jai’s properties strengthen qi, dispel dampness, and warm the stomach. In China this dish is often eaten as part of a therapeutic regimen for lowering high blood pressure. It is a favorite among people who feel weak or tired, and among the elderly.
6 shiitake mushrooms
½ ounce (15 grams) wood-ear mushrooms
½ ounce (15 grams) dry lily flowers
3/4 ounce (20 grams) tofu
Water for soaking
2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) oil, or water
5 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
½ cup (100 grams) peeled potatoes, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) cooking wine
2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) soy sauce
10 ounces (300 grams) gluten, braised
Salt to taste
Place the shiitake mushroons, wood-ear mushrooms, dry lily flowers, and tofu in separate bowls. Cover each ingredient with hot water and soak until they are soft. If you are in a hurry, 45 minutes is the bare minimum for palatability. (In China, most cooks soak these overnight.) When they are soft, strain the shiitake mushroons and reserve the soaking water, setting it aside. Drain all other soaked ingredients. Slice the shiitake and wood-ear mushrooms. Cut the soaked tofu into 1-inchlong (about 2- centimeter-long) segments. Heat the oil (or water) in a wok or frying pan. Add the crushed garlic and stir-fry for 5 seconds. Add the sliced potato, the shiitake and wood-ear mushrooms, the lily flowers, and the tofu and stir. Add the cooking wine and the soy sauce and stir thoroughly.Add about ¼ cup (60 milliliters) of the water in which you soaked the shiitake mushrooms. Cover the wok and allow to simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if needed. After 5 minutes, add the braised gluten. Stir well. Cover the pan again and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add salt to taste, remove from heat, and serve.
