Kiam Chye (Salted Vegetable)

Kiam Chye (24 January 2009)




Kiam chye (Penang Hokkien: kiam3 chye3 ) is vegetable preserved in brine. There are many types of kiam chye to choose from, and can usually be bought at the wet market. Vegetables were formerly salted to keep it edible through the harsh winters, though nowadays, they are salted simply for taste.

A number of Nyonya recipes call for kiam chye, particularly kiam3 chye1 boey4 (salted vegetable odds and ends), a dish prepared from leftovers. If roasted duck is added to kiam chye boey, it can also be called kiam chye ark (duck in salted vegetables).

Kiam chye is particularly delicious when taken with hot white rice or with congee (moey).

Salted vegetable (kiam chye) (24 January 2009)