Jai

Jai is served on New Year’s Day and is said to have cleansing properties. This recipe is also known as “Lo Han Jai” and ingredients included in other variations could be: dried fungus (cloud ears), ginkgo nuts, lotus root, dried oysters, lily stems, seaweed hair, fried tofu and dried bean curd sticks. However, some prefer not to use tofu because it is white and some believe that the color white is a symbol of death.

2 T. vegetable oil

8 Chinese black mushrooms (soak in hot water for ten minutes, squeeze excess water, remove stems, leave whole — save soaking water)

1/2 c. sliced bamboo shoots

8...