Difference between revisions of "Five Mountain Shoots"

Latest revision as of 15:53, 25 January 2020

The Five Mountain Shoots are five plants found on the Blessed Isle, which begin to sprout and grow during the Ascending month of each season, with particular abundance in the mountainous prefectures such as Juche Prefecture and Lord’s Crossing Dominion, at which time they are much-sought by both peasants and the Scarlet Dynasty for their kitchens.

Each plant can be eaten on its own, or accompanying other dishes, but they are often prepared separately and served together as five Dynastic Dim Sum dishes together known as the ‘Five Mountain Shoots’, or (most common amongst peasants, who must often make do with the tougher, older shoots) stewed into ‘Mountain Shoot Stew’.

Butterbur

Butterbur is a plant found in the mountainous regions of the Blessed Isle. During the Ascending months, it produces bulb-like shoots which are harvested and soaked with Ash to reduce their astringency. The shoots can then be prepared in one of several ways: steamed and pressed with Sesame, battered and deep fried into tempura, fried then mashed with miso to produce a relish for rice, or stewed on their own or in Mountain Shoot Stew.

Bamboo Shoots

Bamboo shoots are the soft young shoots of Bamboo, used in cookery rather than as a raw material. There are a number of possible preparations. These include stir frying, added to Rice while it is being cooked, boiled or blanched (using the water from washed rice), added to stews such as Mountain Shoot Stew, or braised with dark soy and rice wine to provide the thorns for the boar meat flower of Blossom at Bright Summit.

Wasabi Leaves

Wasabi leaves are the young leaves of the Wasabi radish which appear during the Ascending months, and carry some of that plant’s burning pungency. They are used culinarily in several preparations, most commonly stir-fried with garlic and served over noodles, though they can also be included in soups and stews (such as Mountain Shoot Stew) or eaten raw in dishes such as Toes in the Mountain Stream.

Fern Coils

Fern Coils are the young leaves of certain Ferns, which grow in a characteristic coil during the Ascending months before unfurling in the Resplendent. They are found across Creation, particularly common in the mountain valleys of the Blessed Isle and the jungles of The Southeast and The Southwest, where they find a place in local dishes.

On the Isle, the coils are most often sautéed or steamed, though they are also included in miso soup and Mountain Shoot Stew. They are also preserved in salt or pickled; In the East, they are roasted or eaten fresh as part of salads, and a hotly spiced fern coil pickle can often be found in the markets of the River Province; in the Southwest, they are cooked in a rich coconut sauce along with lemongrass and chilis.

Spikenard

Spikenard is a plant native to the mountainous regions of the Blessed Isle. In addition to use in creating perfumes and incense, the young shoots which sprout in the Ascending months are gathered up for use in cookery. These shoots are soaked to remove their resinous coating and then prepared in a number of different ways, most commonly grilled, sautéed, pickled, or included in soups such as miso soup of Mountain Shoot Stew. Medicinally, spikenard is held to clear the mind and aid in restful sleep.

Mountain Shoot Stew

Rarely gracing Dynastic tables, Mountain Shoot Stew is nevertheless closely associated with the Five Mountain Shoots by the peasant population of the Blessed Isle. The Shoots, which typically emerge during the Ascending month of each season, are sought for the tables of commoners and nobles alike. The Scarlet Dynasty claims the youngest, most tender of the shoots, while peasant foragers keep for themselves the older or tougher shoots deemed unsuitable for the ruling classes. These are stewed in a mix of seaweed broth, mushroom broth, soy sauce, Rice vinegar, and Sugarcane (often with only two or three of the Five Shoots and one or two other ingredients, depending on what is readily available).