About: Red cloud tatsoi, botanically classified as Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa, is an ancient, non-heading mustard green belonging to the Brassicaceae family. The curved, spoon-like leaves have been grown in Asia for thousands of years, favored for their mild, sweet, and tangy flavor. Tatsoi is known by several names, including Wu Ta Cai in China, Tasai in Japan, Spoon Mustard, Broadbeak Mustard, Rosette Bok Choy, Spinach Mustard, Tat Soy, and Chinese Flat Cabbage. The crisp greens are a cool-season plant that can withstand frost, snow, and cold temperatures. Tatsoi was once primarily associated with Asian cuisine, as its roots stem from Asia, but recently the greens have been introduced worldwide, fusing into many different cuisines. Tatsoi remains a specialty green outside of Asia, found through local markets, but the hardy plants are also increasingly being cultivated by home gardeners, valued for their cut-and-come again nature, cold tolerance, and succession planting abilities.
Nutritional Info:
Tatsoi is a good source of vitamins A and C to boost the immune system, protect the cells against free radical damage, and reduce inflammation. The greens are also a good source of potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, calcium to strengthen bones and teeth, and provide some folic acid, iron, and antioxidants. In addition to vitamins and minerals, Tatsoi contains glucosinolates. These natural compounds are believed to create metabolites that help activate reactions within the body to potentially protect against diseases that damage cells.
Preparation:
Tatsoi is versatile green with a mild, subtly tangy flavor well suited for raw or lightly cooked applications. Young leaves are often favored for mixed salads and are an excellent accompaniment to other greens such as spinach, arugula, watercress, pea tendrils, and mizuna. Tatsoi can also be layered into sandwiches, torn and used as a topping over pizza and tacos, or blended into pesto as a unique variation. The crisp greens can be
incorporated as a substitute in recipes for bok choy, and when young, the tender leaves can be used in place of spinach. Tatsoi is also frequently utilized in lightly cooked preparations, including stir-frying, sautéing, steaming, and braising. The leaves and stems can be chopped and baked into quiche, stir-fried with other vegetables as a side dish, sauteed as a bed of greens for fish, wilted with warm sauces or dressings for a softer consistency, or mixed into soups just before serving. Beyond raw and cooked preparations, Tatsoi can be pickled to extend its shelf life and served as a fermented flavoring in stir-fries, soups, and noodle dishes. The greens also complement ingredients rich in umami such as scallops, mushrooms, seaweed, and sesame and fermented ingredients such as fish sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar. Tatsoi will keep for 3 to 5 days when unwashed, wrapped in a damp paper towel, and stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The greens can also be blanched, rinsed with cold water, and frozen for extended use.
Fun Fact/History:
Tatsoi is native to a region near the Yangtze River in Central China, where it has been cultivated since at least the 6th century. Tatsoi became widely adapted into Japanese cuisine and was so revered that the leaves were accepted into Japanese history as an essential ancient green. Today Tatsoi has been spread worldwide through globalization, migrating peoples, and the rise of online seed retailers. The greens are cultivated commercially and grown in home gardens, and when in season, they can be found fresh through farmer’s markets, specialty grocers, and in home gardens.