cung1 coi3沖菜冲菜

Jyutpingcung1 coi3

Yalechūng choi

Definition

Preserved turnip or kale head; a type of salted, preserved vegetable.

colloquialfood

How it's used

Often confused with 榨菜, 沖菜 refers specifically to a type of preserved mustard greens or kale head that is typically sold in a round, compressed shape. It is a staple in home-style Cantonese cooking, prized for its salty, slightly sweet, and crunchy texture when steamed with fatty meats or fish. Unlike other preserved vegetables that are eaten as a side dish, it is almost exclusively used as a seasoning ingredient to cut through the richness of proteins.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

le1呢dip2碟zing1蒸juk6肉beng2餅gaa1加zo2咗di1啲cung1沖coi3菜hou2好je5惹mei2味。

This steamed meat patty with preserved vegetable is very tasty.

nei5你maai5買zo2咗cung1沖coi3菜mei6未aa4呀？zan6陣gaan1間jiu3要jung6用lai4嚟zing1蒸jyu2魚。

Have you bought the preserved vegetable yet? We need it to steam fish later.

Common phrases

cung1沖coi3菜zing1蒸juk6肉beng2餅

steamed meat patty with preserved vegetable

cung1沖coi3菜zing1蒸jyu2魚

steamed fish with preserved vegetable

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 榨菜, which is usually spicy, crunchier, and often served as a standalone appetizer or in noodle soups rather than as a steaming ingredient.