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Spicy herbs and aromatic plants have traditionally been used in cooking. They make food more flavorful and aromatic, act as natural preservatives, and can also provide the body with valuable nutrients.
Onions and garlic are among the best-known aromatic crops. A less common but no less flavorful and distinctive plant is jusai, also known as jiucai, jiusai, Chinese chives, garlic chives, or branched onion. Native to China and widely used in East Asian cuisine, jusai combines the flavor and aroma of garlic and green onions. It has a delicate texture and is used as an ingredient in many traditional dishes, including Chinese jiaozi dumplings and Korean salads such as yeomji (yeomdicha).
What are the benefits of jusai and what dishes can You add it to?
Jusai is also known as garlic chives or branched onion. It is a distinctive member of the onion family and contains a variety of nutrients important for the human body. It provides B vitamins (B1, B2, B5, and B6), beta-carotene (provitamin A), phytoncides, essential oils, and dietary fiber.
Including this plant in the diet may support normal digestion, immune function, and eye health. In traditional Eastern cuisine and herbal practices, jusai has also been valued as a plant that may support the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
Research into the properties of less commonly used Allium species, including jusai, published in the International Journal of Noni Research, has examined their potential biological activity, including antimicrobial and antitumor effects.
How to use branched onion in cooking
Garlic chives pair particularly well with vegetables, root vegetables, grains, meat, poultry, and fish. They can be added to minced meat when making meat patties, manti, dumplings, savory pastries, pies, and similar dishes.
Finely chopped jusai leaves can also be used as an attractive and flavorful garnish for salads, mashed potatoes, and other everyday dishes.
Jusai sautéed in butter with spices makes an excellent addition to meat and fish dishes. It can also be served as a flavorful side dish or savory appetizer with potatoes, rice, or bulgur.
If you enjoy spicy and aromatic food, try gently sautéing some branched onion in vegetable oil for 3–4 minutes. Add beaten eggs, cover, and cook for another 10–12 minutes. Allow the dish to cool slightly before cutting it into portions.
Jusai can also enhance the aroma of meat and fish broths while adding a pleasant, moderately spicy aftertaste. It can be added to soups, borscht, stews, broths, and other first courses.
What can You use instead of jusai?
Jusai is particularly common in East Asian and Central Asian cuisines, and it can be difficult to find in ordinary grocery stores and supermarkets in Ukraine and many European countries.
A good alternative to fresh jusai is young garlic shoots and young onion shoots from different varieties. They can be used both fresh and dried.
For a more pronounced flavor, combine dried onion or garlic greens with dried minced garlic cloves and dried onion. You can also replace ordinary table salt with Svan salt, Adyghe salt, black salt, or garlic salt to add extra flavor and aroma to your dishes.
CraftOil dried herbs and spices – products for true food lovers
CraftOil offers a wide and regularly updated selection of craft food products. Our range includes dried onion flakes, dried garlic, Adyghe salt, garlic salt, Svan salt, and black salt. All products are stored under suitable conditions and packed in practical plastic jars on the day of the order.
For those who are looking for food that is not only delicious but also nutritious, we offer a selection of cold-pressed and unrefined culinary oils for everyday cooking and wellness-oriented diets. Our flaxseed, sesame, mustard, camelina, and other oils can turn familiar dishes into flavorful culinary creations.
To learn more about our products or choose the right oil, herbs, or spices for you, send us a request through the website and our managers will get back to you.
