Cold Wild Chives with Garlic and Sesame Oil

Name: Cold Wild Chives with Garlic and Sesame Oil
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 pound (about 450g) wild sand chives (沙葱); 1 teaspoon, plus more for blanching water salt; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tablespoons light soy sauce; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1 teaspoon optional: chili oil; for garnish optional: toasted sesame seeds

A crisp, refreshing appetizer from northern China featuring tender wild sand chives quickly blanched and dressed with aromatic garlic-infused sauce. This simple yet flavorful dish showcases the delicate onion flavor of沙葱 (sand chives), a prized ingredient from the Mongolian plateau.

15 min

Easy

0 favorites

Cold Wild Chives with Garlic and Sesame Oil

Story

Wild sand chives (also called Chinese wild leeks) grow abundantly in the sandy grasslands of Inner Mongolia and northern China. Their slender green stalks have a mild, sweet onion flavor more delicate than regular scallions. This cold dish is a popular starter in Chinese home cooking, particularly during warm months.

Ingredients

wild sand chives (沙葱) 1 pound (about 450g)

salt 1 teaspoon, plus more for blanching water

garlic cloves, minced 3

light soy sauce 2 tablespoons

rice vinegar 1 tablespoon

sesame oil 1 tablespoon

optional: chili oil 1 teaspoon

optional: toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

Prepare the chives

Pick through the sand chives, removing any tough stems or yellow leaves. Rinse thoroughly under cold running water until all grit is removed. Drain well.

Blanch the chives

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous pinch of salt. Carefully drop in the chives and cook for just 15-20 seconds—they should remain bright green and slightly crisp. Immediately drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.

Squeeze and cut

Once completely cooled, remove chives from the ice bath. Gather handfuls and squeeze out excess water thoroughly. Lay flat on a clean kitchen towel to air dry briefly, then cut in half lengthwise.

Make the dressing

In a small bowl, combine minced garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and chili oil if using. Whisk until well combined.

Toss and serve

Place the prepared chives in a mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over top. Toss gently until evenly coated. Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired, and serve immediately at room temperature or chilled.