Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (2024)

Huy Vu Updated 5/23/20 Jump to Recipe

One of the staples my mom and grandma kept in the kitchen was dưa chua, or pickled mustard greens. It was often served as a side dish for meals throughout the day. These pickled greens counter-balance many salty dishes such as thịt kho. Northern Vietnamese more commonly eat this with thịt đông.

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (1)

I remember seeing a plate of this at meals quite often as a child, much before I mustered up the courage to tryđồ chua. These pickles are less pungent and have a variety of textures and crunch making them fun to eat. Some of my relatives only like the leaves, and some only like the crunchier branches. So depending on who visited more during the week, the big jar of do chua would be imbalanced like a marshmallow-stripped cereal box.

Selecting and prepping the veggies

Whether your preference for do chua is for leaves or for the stems, you can start by choosing a fitting head of gai choy. 1.5 to 2lb. heads make a good amount for me. Younger (smaller) ones aren’t as crunchy. Older (larger) ones have more stem than leaves.

Break apart the leaves and wash all the dirt off under running water. Shake off excess water and lay out on trays to dry. We do this so the final result is crunchier and slightly chewier. Find a balance of drying time that you like. This drying process also helps make your dưachua last longer since we remove water from the leaves and replace it during pickling with saltier water.

Drying the leaves

They can be left out overnight in the kitchen for more time drying. This processed can be sped up by sun drying.

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (2)

After a day of drying, chop up the mustard greens and yellow onion into whatever size you like.

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (3)

The pickling liquid

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (4)

After the water has boiled and cooled to touch, add everything to the pot. You can transfer to a jar at this point too. It can be glass or plastic, with a rubber seal or just a plastic screw on lid. Old kim chi jars are perfect for this. I recently found out some shops nearby that occasionallysell used (and washed) kim chi jars for under $1.

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (5)

Place in a warm place. This can be next to a window, heater vent, or in the oven with the oven light on. Check on your dưa chua every day or so to see how sour it gets. It can be anywhere from 1-4 days depending on the room temperature. When it gets sour enough to your liking, move the jar to the fridge.

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (6)

What are the benefits of eating mustard greens?

Mustard greens, like other dark leafy greens, are packed with lots of fiber, vitamin B, and antioxidants that have a lot of health benefits. When fermented and pickled, mustard greens have the added benefits of healthy gut bacteria.

Where are mustard greens from?

The mustard plant originated from South Asia, but these days can be found in various continents around the world.

What do Mustard greens taste like?

Mustard greens have a spiciness that is reminiscent of mustard, but they also have a slight bitterness and vegetal flavor to them like other dark leafy greens have as well.

Do you eat the stems of mustard greens?

Yes, you can definitely eat the stems of mustard greens. In this recipe, you have the option to eat the leaves, stems, or both.

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (7)

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (8)

Dưa Chua Recipe – Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens

4.94 from 16 votes

This pickled gai choi side dish was one always present in my grandmas kitchens. Crunchy, lightly pickled slices of mustard greens with slivers of onions made them a great pairing for things like salty, braised meats.

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BY: Huy Vu

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Pickling and drying: 4 days d

Total: 4 days d 25 minutes mins

SERVINGS: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 lb large head of gai choi Asian mustard greens
  • 1 medium onion sliced
  • 16 cups water
  • 4 tbsp. salt
  • 10 tbsp. sugar
  • 2 tbsp. vinegar

Instructions

Notes

The above recipe is perfect to me, but I want to try other variations for my family to eat.
5/2015 – For grandma, I cut sugar to 2/3 the above recipe. So far, she likes it. A little salty for her so will try 85% salt next trial.

Nutrition Facts

Dưa Chua Recipe – Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens

Serving Size

0 g

Amount per Serving

Calories

144

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

1

g

6

%

Sodium

3882

mg

169

%

Carbohydrates

33

g

11

%

Fiber

5

g

21

%

Sugar

27

g

30

%

Protein

5

g

10

%

Vitamin A

4572

IU

91

%

Vitamin C

107

mg

130

%

Calcium

199

mg

20

%

Iron

3

mg

17

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Keyword: mustard, pickles

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Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (9)

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens - Dưa Chua Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is dua chua? ›

Vietnamese Pickled Mustard Greens or Dua Chua is a classic side dish that is eaten to a variety of Vietnamese dishes. This simple recipe from my grandma has only 5 ingredients and requires minimal cooking. And as a bonus, I share my mom's recipe for roasted duck with mustard greens.

How long are pickled mustard greens good for? ›

They will keep in the refrigerator in a sealed container with the pickling liquid for up to 2 months, as long as you always use clean utensils to handle them. Also keep the rim and top of the jar clean with each use.

Can pickled mustard greens be eaten raw? ›

Why is it necessary to cook pickled mustard greens before eating? - Quora. It's not necessary, but the spicy taste of raw mustard greens is not for everyone. I enjoy it, but it tends to overwhelm other flavors. Cooking removes the spiciness so it is enjoyable by a larger audience.

What to eat dua chua with? ›

Serving. These pickled greens are traditionally served alongside Thịt Kho Tàu, a Vietnamese caramelized and braised pork belly and egg dish. They add a tangy note that complements the fatty pork well.

What is Nem Chua made of? ›

Nem chua is a fermented pork dish from Vietnamese cuisine. It is mainly composed of a mixture of lean pork and thin strips of cooked rind, garnished with garlic and chilli. It can take the form of bite-size pieces wrapped individually in aluminum foil and paper, or a kind of cervelat in sealed plastic.

What do you use Nem Chua for? ›

However, across all regions, nem chua can be enjoyed both as-is (it's a “perfect accompaniment to an ice cold beer,” says Nguyen), as well as an ingredient in cooked dishes, like naem khao (a crispy rice salad made by frying and crumbling rice balls then mixing them with naem) and phat naem sai khai (naem stir-fried ...

What to eat with pickled mustard greens? ›

Besides using it in fried rice, we often use takana aburaitame to make onigiri (rice ball) and pasta, add to natto or steamed rice, top it over ramen, or stuff it into dumplings as a filling.

How do you know if pickled has gone bad? ›

How to tell if pickles have gone bad? Here are a few signs your pickles are a little too far gone: Visible mold: This is an obvious sign that your pickles have gone bad. Unusually sour taste and smell: If things smell and taste a bit more sour than usual, in an unpleasant way, this may not be a good sign.

Are Chinese pickled mustard greens healthy? ›

Pickled mustard greens, often referred to as takana in Japanese and Chinese cuisines, are similar in calories, carbs, and fiber as raw mustard greens. But they do lose some nutrients during pickling, especially vitamin C ( 6 ).

What takes the bitterness out of mustard greens? ›

Blanch in boiling water – this helps to remove the bitterness and soften the greens, Blanch THEN saute with bacon and onions, etc. Massage with oil (best with kale for salads and baked chips) if you are going to eat it as a salad.

Do mustard greens cause gas? ›

Overeating raw and cooked mustard greens can cause gas and bloat due to their high fibre content. If this frequently causes problems, blanching or boiling the greens before using them in other meals will help lessen the risk of bloating and indigestion.

What are three ways you can eat mustard greens? ›

You can eat them raw, boiled, steamed, or stir-fried. It's easy to add mustard greens to your diet.

Can you eat Nem Chua raw? ›

Nem Chua is eaten raw but doesn't cause food poisoning when prepared correctly.

What is mam in Vietnamese? ›

But the key to this soup is the mam, as in mam ca loc (fermented fish paste) or mam tom (fermented shrimp paste), a murky purple slurry that on its own is one of the most odoriferous substances this side of a tannery fire.

What do pickled mustard greens taste like? ›

Pickled mustard greens usually have a salty and sour taste thanks to the salt and vinegar used for pickling (not unlike this yamagobo we make!).

What is dua made of? ›

Content of your dua:

Ask Allah for exactly what you want. Talk to Allah like you're having a conversation with Him. Describe to Him what's on your mind. Tell Him how you feel.

What does Duaa do? ›

Duaa is the idea of prayer which includes invocation, supplication or a request from God. In Islam it can also mean the actual special scripted prayers that people may use when in need of particular guidance.

How do you pronounce dua chua? ›

Dưa chua, approximately pronounced y-uh chwa, is a very common and popular Vietnamese side dish. Often served with lunch or dinner, this dish is loved by Vietnamese people of all ages.

References

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