Shiitake Mushroom, Cloud Ear and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Why people make this dish

Broccoli has been a dietary staple in Western cuisine for decades, but Western science has added an interesting reason for Cantonese cooks to use it even more: research published in recent years found that broccoli may help suppress H. pylori, the bacteria widely recognised as the primary driver of stomach ulcers and a significant risk factor for stomach cancer. Broccoli contains sulforaphane, a compound that activates protective enzymes in the body — and it is rich in antioxidants that support general cellular health.

Nourilo was delighted by this research, because broccoli has always been a favourite — inexpensive, easy to cook, and reliably sweet-tasting, especially the imported varieties. Paired with the classic Cantonese combination of dried shiitake and cloud ear fungus, it becomes a particularly nourishing weeknight dish.

This is everyday home cooking, not medicine — but it is the kind of everyday home cooking that quietly does your body good.