๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ Philippines ยท Food

Garlic Kangkong

โฑ 40 min
A relaxed effort
๐Ÿ”ฅ 280 kcal
Nicely balanced
๐Ÿฝ 4 servings
Great for the family

By eatmundo ยท August 4, 2026

Garlic Kangkong๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ PHLuzViMindaLife ยท CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Wikimedia Commons

A classic, vibrant stir-fried water spinach dish featuring an intense garlic aroma and a savory, salty soy-oyster sauce.

Ingredients

How to Make It

  • 1

    Wash 500g water spinach thoroughly and trim the bottom woody parts, cutting into 3-inch long pieces.

  • 2

    Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok over high heat and add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 chopped onion.

  • 3

    Sautรฉ until fragrant and golden, about 30 seconds, being careful not to burn the garlic.

  • 4

    Add the harder stems first and toss for 1 minute until they begin to wilt.

  • 5

    Add the leaves, 3 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp oyster sauce.

  • 6

    Stir quickly for another 60-90 seconds until the leaves are bright green and wilted.

  • 7

    Add sliced chili if desired for a bit of heat.

  • 8

    Serve immediately while the vegetables are crisp-tender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use spinach instead?+

Regular spinach is too delicate and becomes mushy; water spinach (kangkong) is the standard for its crunchy texture.

Why is my kangkong watery?+

Ensure the leaves are well-dried before stir-frying and use very high heat to evaporate excess moisture.

Should I add sugar?+

A small pinch of sugar helps round out the saltiness of the oyster sauce if preferred.

Is it better to steam first?+

No, stir-frying raw keeps the vegetable crunch; steaming would make it too soft.

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