Sautéed Water Spinach with Garlic and Chili

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-26 · Updated 2026-06-26

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A vibrant side dish featuring tender water spinach leaves stir-fried with aromatic garlic and a subtle kick of red chili for balance. This Filipino-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 15 minutes, pairs garlic cloves, thinly sliced, red bird’s eye chili, sliced thinly, vegetable oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 90 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 5 min Serves 3 Filipino cuisine 90 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb water spinach (kangkong), washed and chopped into 3-inch pieces
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 red bird’s eye chili, sliced thinly
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp water

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 6 sliced garlic cloves and 1 sliced red bird’s eye chili, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
Step 2: Add 1 lb chopped water spinach leaves and stems, tossing continuously with tongs for 1 minute.
Step 3: Pour in 1 tbsp fish sauce and 2 tbsp water, stir quickly and cover with a lid.
Step 4: Cook for 2 minutes until water spinach is wilted but still bright green and tender-crisp.
Step 5: Remove lid, give one final toss, then transfer immediately to a serving dish to retain texture.