Morning Glory Vegetable: Stir Fry Vietnamese Water Spinach

Morning Glory Vegetable (known as Rau Muống in Vietnamese) is a popular Southeast Asian Water Spinach. This is an earthy and hearty vegetable, quickly stir fried with garlic, seasoning and fish sauce. A great vegetable side that pairs well with many rice entrees. The dish of morning glory stir fry with garlic (Rau Muống Xào Tỏi) was a staple dish in my home growing up. You can also make stir fry Morning Glory with Beef (Rau Muống Xào Bò), and some other kinds of meat and seafood products for your own flavor.

Rau Muống Xào Tỏi - Stir Fried Morning Glory with Garlic

This leafy green is similar to spinach, except the stem is a bit thicker with a tubular and hearty stalk.  A hefty bundle of rau muong will cook down to a smaller volume quickly (just like spinach).  The leaves have a slight chew while the stalk, if not overcooked, will have a light crunchy bite. Authentic Vietnamese Rau Muống is a quick and simple side dish that’s easy to make with easy recipe and only 4 ingredients:

• Water Spinach – Sold in large 1 to 2 pound bunches at most Chinese and Vietnamese grocery shops.
• Fish Sauce – Sold in most Asian markets and in some mainstream American and European stores.
• Garlic – Gives Morning Glory a delicious aroma and flavor.
• Sugar – Just a pinch balances the saltiness of the fish sauce.

How to Cook Vietnamese Water Spinach?

• Cut about 1 inch off the ends of the morning glory stalk, cut the stem and stalk into 3 to 4 inch pieces, leaving the leaves intact. I usually do this by hand by snapping the stem and stalk with my finger tips.
• Wash vegetable well 3 times in basket and one more time under water tap.
• Sautee the chopped garlic in a large wok on medium high heat, add the morning glory, sugar and fish sauce. The water from the morning glory will help to cook down the vegetable. Stir fry for about 4 to 5 minutes and you’re done!

Rau Muống Xào Thịt Bò - Stir Fried Morning Glory with Garlic and Beef

How To Serve Vietnamese Water Spinach? Rau Muong is best served as a side dish with other main dishes like Thịt Kho and some steamed rice on our daily meals (Lunch and Dinner). If preferred, you can add a side of Nuoc Cham to dip the morning glory in with your rice.

And where to Try this Dish? Because this is very popular dish (can be the most popular vegetable dish in Vietnam). So you can oder this dish from any restaurant when you travel in Vietnam, from Hanoi, Phong Halong Bay, Sapa, Hue, Hoi an, Da Nang, Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta. You can also buy fresh morning glory in Vietnamese Supermarmet to make your own dish at home.

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