Low-Fat Three Fresh Vegetable Stir-Fry

 Low-Fat Three Fresh Vegetable Stir-Fry (Su San Xian) is a classic light, healthy Chinese home-style vegetarian dish. 

It uses three kinds of fresh seasonal vegetables as the main ingredients, with no heavy oil or strong seasonings, retaining the original fresh and sweet taste of vegetables.

 It is high in fiber, low in fat, nutritious and refreshing, very suitable for light meals and weight-management diets.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

100g fresh shiitake mushrooms

80g cucumber

80g carrot

Aromatics

2 garlic cloves (minced)

A small amount of chopped scallions

Seasonings

1 tsp light soy sauce

A pinch of salt

Half tsp white sugar (to enhance freshness)

A little white pepper powder

1 tsp cooking oil (very low amount)

A few drops of sesame oil (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare all ingredients

   Wash shiitake mushrooms, remove the stems, and slice them evenly.

   Peel the carrot, cut into thin slices or thin strips.

   Wash the cucumber, remove the ends, and slice into thin pieces.

   Chop garlic and scallions, set aside.
2. Quick blanch (optional, for lower fat)

   Boil a small pot of clean water.

   Put carrot slices and shiitake mushroom slices into boiling water, blanch for 30 seconds, then remove and drain.

   This step reduces the amount of oil needed for stir-frying and keeps the dish lighter.
3. Stir-fry the base fragrance

   Heat a non-stick pan over low heat, add only 1 teaspoon of cooking oil.

   Add minced garlic and scallion whites, stir-fry gently for 10 seconds until fragrant.
4. Stir-fry the three fresh vegetables

   First add blanched shiitake mushrooms and carrots, stir-fry over high heat for 1 minute.

   Then add cucumber slices, stir-fry quickly for 30–40 seconds.

   Do not stir-fry too long, to keep the cucumber crisp and tender.
5. Season lightly

   Add light soy sauce, a small pinch of salt, and half teaspoon of sugar.

   Add a little white pepper powder, stir all ingredients evenly.

   Keep the seasoning light, to highlight the natural sweetness of vegetables.
6. Finish and serve

   Drizzle a few drops of sesame oil if you want a richer aroma (can be omitted for lower fat).

   Stir once gently, then turn off the heat immediately.

   Transfer to a plate and serve hot.

Cooking Tips

1. This is a super low-fat dish: use less oil, high-heat quick stir-fry, no heavy sauces.
2. Cucumber goes in last to keep its crisp texture and avoid turning soft.
3. Sugar is only for enhancing freshness, use a tiny amount and will not make the dish sweet.
4. You can adjust the three vegetables according to preference, such as replacing with wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, or green peppers.
5. For an even lighter version, you can blanch all ingredients and toss with sauce, without stir-frying.