You can often find fresh bamboo shoots in Asian food stores, but they’re not easy to prepare as they’re protected by many layers of overlapping, brown husk covered in fine, sharp hairs.

Bamboo shoots are a staple in classic Asian dishes, such as stir-fry or various types of chicken in sauces with vegetables ...

Reduce the heat to low and add the chicken, bamboo shoots, reserved coconut milk, lime leaves (or lemon zest), fish sauce, tamarind paste (or lemon juice) and the palm sugar (or brown sugar).

The most typical Jinan dishes are sea cucumber with mat balls; braised shark’s fin with shredded chicken; sea cucumber, mushroom, and bamboo shoots; clam in egg white; and fried oysters.