Modo Tahan — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Fresh leafy greens like mustard greens or water spinach quickly stir-fried with garlic, shallots, and a touch of chili, served as a nutritious everyday side dish.

Ingredients

500g mustard greens or water spinach, washed and trimmed
4 cloves garlic, sliced
2 shallots, sliced
1 red chili, sliced
2 tbsp coconut oil
Salt to taste
Splash of water

Instructions

1 Wash greens thoroughly and cut into five-centimeter lengths. Shake off excess water but leave slightly damp.
2 Heat coconut oil in a wok over high heat until shimmering.
3 Add garlic, shallots, and chili. Stir-fry for thirty seconds until fragrant.
4 Add greens all at once. Toss rapidly, adding a splash of water to create steam.
5 Stir-fry for two to three minutes until greens are wilted but still vibrant green and slightly crisp.
6 Season with salt, toss once more, and serve immediately while hot.

Did You Know?

In rural Timor-Leste, families often grow mustard greens and kangkung in small kitchen gardens, making modo tahan the ultimate farm-to-table dish.