Stir-fried bean sprouts (Chao dou ya)

Stir-fried beansprouts is a traditional side dish that's popular throughout China and in Chinese restaurants across the world. It's usually made with a combination of beansprouts, garlic, scallions, salt, and vegetable oil. Crisp and firm beansprouts are washed and stir-fried with garlic in vegetable oil.

Once the beansprouts are coated with the oil, the scallions and salt are added to the wok, and the dish is shortly stir-fried until everything is heated through. Stir-fried beansprouts are served while still hot, often as an accompaniment to meat dishes.

There are many variations on the dish, so it's not unusual to see ginger, soy sauce, or hot peppers in the wok as well.