Kai Lan

1) Known as : Kai Lan / Chinese Kale

2) Identifying the freshness of the product : 

    - Feeling / Touch : Stem should be firm when pressed 

    -Appearance : It should have nice green leaf with minimal holes on them

3) Asian dish that uses Kai Lan: Stir-fry Kai Lan in Cantonese style 

Snow Peas

                                     

1) Known as : Snow Peas 

2) Identifying the freshness of the product : 

    - Feeling / Touch : Snow peas should be smooth and has a firm skin to it.

    - Appearance : Snow peas should be light freen in colour and does not have cracks or small spots of rotting sight.

3) Asian dish that uses snow peas : Stir-fry snow peas with garlic and ginger.

French Beans

                                  

1) Known as : French Beans

2) Identifying the freshness of the product : 

    -Feeling / Touch : Should be tender, stiff but flexible and gives a snap when broken. Avoiding limp over matured beans with tough skins

    - Appearance : Should be long and light green in colour 

3) Asian dish that uses French beans : Stir fried french beans with garlic

Egg plant

1) Known as : Egg Plant or Brinjal 

2) Identifying the freshness of the product : 

    -Feeling / Touch : Hold the eggplant in the palm of your hand and gently squeeze it with your fingertips. Skin should be slightly elastic and spring back when you release it. 

    -Appearance : The cap and stem should be bright green , if they are faded or dark brown, the egg plant is old and overripe. The skin of eggplant should be deep and dark all the way around. In addition, it should be free from bruises, scars and discolouration.

3) Asian dish that uses Eggplant : Chinese eggplant with spicy garlic sauce

Lady fingers

1) Known as : Lady fingers / Okra 

2) Identifying the freshness of the product : 

    - Feeling / Touch : 2 to 4 inch pods that are dry and firm 

    - Appearance : Okra should be deep green in colour and avoid Okra that are blemish, dull , dry or discoloured. In addition, Avoid larger pods as they are usually woody and tough.

3) Asian dish that uses Okra : Sambal Okra 

                                       

Yam

1) Known as : Yam 

2) Identifying the freshness of the product : 

    -Feeling / Touch : Firm to touch 

    - Appearance : Free from bruises and they should not start sprouting. It also should not have black spots on the skin.

3) Asian dish that uses Yam : Yam paste with ginkgo nuts  

                                   

White Radish

1) Known as : White Raddish

2) Identifying the freshness of the product: 
    - Feeling / Touch : Evenly sized with a clean and smooth surface ( No bumps on the surfaces if possible)

    - Appearance:

• Have as little green part near the head as possible, because green means it got too much sun so it doesn't taste as nice.

• Have as white skin as possible as it does not taste nice with darker skin

3) Asian dish that uses white radish :Pan Fried White Radish Cake

Bitter gourd

1) Known as : Bitter Gourd / Bitter Squash

2) Identifying the freshness of product :

    -Feeling / Touch : Bitter gourd is free from dents and the skin is thick.

    -Appearance : Free from bruises,greenish yellow in colour and the grooves on the bitter gourd should be far apart. ( Not as bitter as those that are narrow and dark green in colour )

3) Asian dish that uses bitter gourd : Bitter gourd with fried eggs

Cucumbers

1) Known as : Cucumber 

2) Identifying the freshness of the product :
    -Feeling / Touch :  Cucumber is firm and it must also not have moisture and slime on the surface.
    - Appearance : There should be  no wrinkles on the surface of the cucumber

3) Asian dish that uses cucumber : Chinese achar (pickled vegetables)

  

Potatoes

     

1) Known as : Potatoes

2) Identifying the freshness of product :

- Feeling : Potatoes should be hard and firm to touch.

- Looks : There are no discolouration and growth throughout. 

3) Asian dish that uses potatoes : Red braised potatoes

1) Yellow Bell Peppers

1) Known as : Yellow Bell Peppers  

2) How to identify freshness : The bell pepper does not have any traits such as the appearance of wrinkles and have a firm skin on it.

                                 

3) Asian dish that uses yellow bell pepper : Sweet and Sour pork