Savoury Beef with Asparagus

(Original recipe by Ken Hom "100 Quick Stir-Fry Recipes")

Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 450g (1lb) lean beef steak
• 450g (1lb) fresh asparagus
• 3 tbsp ground nut oil
• 100g (4oz) onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp black beans, coarsely chopped
• 1½ tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 2 tsp finely chopped fresh root ginger
• 3 tbsp home-made or good-quality bought chicken stock or water
• 1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce

For the marinade:

• 2 tsp light soy sauce
• 2 tsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp cornflour
• salt and pepper

Step One
Put the beef in the freezer for 20 minutes. This will allow the meat to harden slightly for easier cutting. Cut it into thin slices, each 4cm (1½in) long. Put the beef slices in a bowl and add the soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, sesame oil, cornflour, ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Mix well and let the slices steep in the marinade for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, slice the asparagus on the diagonal into 7.5cm (3in) pieces and set aside until needed.

Step Two
Heat awok or large frying pan over a high heat until it is very hot.Add the oil and,when it is very hot and slightly smoking, add the beef from the marinade and stir-fry for about 2 minutes. Remove the meat and drain it in a colander. Pour off all but 1¼ tablespoons of the oil and reheat it over a high heat.When it is very hot, add the onions, black beans, garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 1 minute then add the asparagus and stir-fry for 1 minute. Now add the stock or water, rice wine or sherry, sugar, 1½ teaspoons of salt and½teaspoon of pepper. Continue to stirfry for 3 minutes or until the asparagus is slightly tender. Add more water as necessary.

Step Three
Quickly return the meat to the wok, add the oyster sauce and stir well. Turn the mixture onto a warm platter and serve at once.

   

 You can use also green beans and veal meat, it goes very nice.