What Are Bamboo shoots and How Can I Use Them?

Bamboo shoots rewards a little know-how: how to choose them, cook them, store them, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 144 recipes to cook with them.

What are bamboo shoots?

The inner white part of the young shoot of the bamboo, a tropical plant, prepared by stripping off the tight, tough overlapping outer sheaths of the plant. The shoots are then cut into strips and are ready for cooking.

Bamboo shoots are a basic ingredient in Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian cooking. There are different kinds depending on the season (winter, early spring and spring bamboo shoots; summer ones are bitter), and sizes from one inch to eight inches in diameter.

Not all bamboo plants produce edible shoots. It is essential that the bamboo shoots should be young in order to be tender.

In the US, we buy bamboo shoots in cans, peeled, chunked, boiled and ready to use. They are imported from China, Japan and Taiwan and come packed in either water or a brine.

Bamboo shoots are used mainly as fillers in Chinese cooking; their flavor is similar to an artichoke. They can be deep-fried, pickled, or added to soups, stews, and other dishes in much the same way as mushrooms are used.

If a recipe calls for fewer bamboo shoots than are contained in a can, the remaining shoots can be kept for a considerable amount of time by covering them with cold water in a clean glass jar with an airtight lid and kept in the warmest location in the refrigerator. The water should be changed at least every other day.

Nutritive food value – 3 ½ ounces of drain canned bamboo shoots contain 27 calories.

Nutrition

Where found

Bamboo shoots are usually found in the asian section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Bamboo shoots are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do bamboo shoots weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using bamboo shoots

There are 144 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Shrimp Flavored Beef over Rice

My intention was to combine flavors of shrimp and beef inside the meat as well as inside the sauce..

Hot & Sour Mushroom Soba Soup

Hot and sour mushroom soup with sliced mushrooms, bamboo shoots, rice vinegar, and white pepper, ladled over Japanese soba noodles. A 30-minute lighter take on the Chinese takeout classic.

Mama D's Sweet Dragon’s Breath Stir Fry

This stir fry is sweet and as fiery as you want to make it with Sriracha sauce. This recipe uses beef, but you could substitute chicken or shrimp. It's quick and easy to make, and is impressively attractive.

Delicious Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao chicken stir-fries marinated chicken with dried red chilies, bamboo shoots, and peanuts in a sweet, savory, slightly tangy sauce. Authentic Sichuan technique in 40 minutes.

Beef & Vegetable Stir-Fry

Bring out the wok and try this savory dish that will have you throwing out take-out coupons!

Bok Choy & Shitake Mushrooms

Vegetarian bok choy and shiitake mushrooms in a ginger-garlic sauce with bamboo shoots. Light, savory, and on the table in under an hour. Serves 2 over rice.

Vegetarian Pot Stickers

Vegetarian pot stickers stuffed with shiitake, napa cabbage, spinach, and tofu, then pan-fried crisp on the bottom and steamed tender on top. A healthy, customizable take on classic Chinese dumplings.

Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry with Vegetables

This was very easy to prepare, but I would double the chili paste next time and add some "red" to it- i.e. red bell pepper or carrots.

Singapore Satay (1 of 2)

Singapore-style chicken satay marinated in curry, cumin, coriander, garlic, and lemon juice. Bamboo-skewered grilled chicken bites for parties, served with peanut sauce.

Amazing Spicy Szechuan Chicken

Spicy Szechuan chicken stir-fries velvety egg-white-coated chicken with peanuts, chilies, ginger and bamboo shoots in a glossy soy-sherry sauce. A fast, fiery weeknight stir-fry, easily made gluten-free.

Stir-Fried Chicken

Fire up the wok and enjoy this succulent dish made with mushrooms, bamboo shoots and a bit of sherry.

Sweet & Sour Vegetables

The flavor was combination was excellent. Next time will add some whole dried chili peppers to give it a bit more kick. We served it over brown rice and could hardly stop eating it.

Asian Sweet & Sour Cod

Asian cod recipe. Asian marinated meaty cod with a crispy coating, colorful tender-crisp veggies, all glazed with a sweet-sour sauce.

Hunan Hot & Sour Chicken

Next time when you crave Chinese food, instead of take-out, make this quick, easy and delicious hot and sour chicken. Serve it over a bed of rice, your dinner is served.

Chicken Almond Guy Din

This delicious chicken veggie stir-fry is packed with goodness, and it takes less than 15 minutes to make. Serve it with cooked brown rice to complete the meal.

Mom's Hot & Sour Soup

Mom's hot and sour soup combines silken tofu, bamboo shoots, shredded pork, white vinegar heat, and a swirled egg ribbon in a sesame-finished Chinese broth. Ready in 30 minutes start to finish.

Stir-Fried Scallops in a Basket

Scallops stir-fried with bamboo shoots, carrots, and snow peas in a ginger-gin sauce, served inside a crispy deep-fried potato basket. A Chinese banquet showpiece you can pull off at home.

Dried Fish Belly Soup - Kapaw Pla *

Kapaw Pla is a traditional Thai soup featuring rehydrated dried fish belly in a light chicken broth with bamboo shoots, soy sauce, and white pepper. Topped with sliced egg and fresh cilantro, it's comforting and deeply savory.

General Tso's Chicken #8

Crispy deep-fried General Tso's chicken with bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and a tangy sauce of dark soy, Chinese cooking wine, and chili sauce.

Sour Soup with Rice Noodles

Chinese sour soup with shredded pork, dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and rice stick noodles in a clear chicken broth. Finished with white vinegar and sesame oil for a bright, fragrant bowl.

Oyako Donburi- Chicken & Egg Dish

Oyako donburi (parent-and-child rice bowl) with chicken simmered in homemade stock with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and carrots, then finished with softly set eggs and green onions over steamed rice.

Chow Mein (Two Sides Brown Noodles)

Here's a recipe for Chow Mein which is a pretty classic application using pan fried noodles.

Fiery Pork & Winter Bamboo Shoots Over Snow

Fiery pork and bamboo shoots over crispy rice noodles: stir-fried slivered pork with winter bamboo, Thai chili paste, and ginger served over a cloud of deep-fried puffy rice stick noodles.

My Chicken Almond Stir Fry

Chicken almond stir fry with bok choy, snow peas, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots in a light soy-ginger glaze, topped with golden toasted almonds.

Spicy Pork Strips with Black Fungus

Szechuan-style pork shoulder stir-fried with cloud ear black fungus, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and ginger in hot chili sauce. An authentic Chinese wok dish.

All 144 recipes