Szechuan Asparagus Food

SICHUAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat and cook asparagus for 1 minute. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, rice wine vinegar, sambal oelek, sesame oil, ginger paste, and garlic together for the sauce.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sauce until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in asparagus.

JAPANESE EGGPLANT WITH SICHUAN PEPPER

Steps:

• Slice the eggplant into 1 to 2-inch segments, depending on the width of the eggplant. Set up a steamer on the stovetop. Season the segments with salt. Place the eggplant in the steamer in a single layer and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Cool on paper towels.
• For the vinaigrette, trim the garlic cloves and mash gently with the side of your knife, then finely chop the garlic. Peel and chop the ginger root.
• Trim and slice the scallion on a bias. Save the white part for the vinaigrette and the green part for a finishing garnish. Keep the greens fresh by covering them with a moist, cool paper towel. Chop the cilantro.
• To assemble the vinaigrette, put the three oils and the Sichuan peppercorns in a small pot set over low heat. Heat until sizzling, then strain out the peppercorns. Discard the peppercorns and put the oil back into the pot. Add the garlic and ginger and heat until sizzling but not browned. Add the scallion whites and Sichuan bean paste and stir. Add the black vinegar, soy, mirin, wine, sugar, sesame seeds and cilantro and bring to a boil.
• Transfer the vinaigrette to a bowl and cool. Put the eggplant in a serving dish and season with the cooled sauce (depending on eggplant size, you may not need all the sauce-the sauce keeps for a week refrigerated) and sprinkle with the scallion greens. Finish with freshly ground black pepper, if you'd like a little more peppercorn flavor.

CL SICHUAN SHRIMP STIR-FRY WITH BROCCOLI OR ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat 1 teaspoon sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add broccoli (or asparagus and red bell pepper and pea pods). Sauté 4 minutes.
• Add 1 teaspoon sesame oil, shrimp and minced garlic. (Add optional mushrooms, if using.) Sauté 4 minutes or until the shrimp are done.
• Combine sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch and red chili paste. Add to skillet; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Stir in sliced water chestnuts. Serve over rice. Sprinkle with thinly sliced green onion tops. (Serving is 1 cup shrimp mixture and 1/2 cup rice.).

P F CHANG'S SICHUAN-STYLE ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• The day prior to making this dish, drain and rinse 1 tbsp diced green chilies. Add to a bowl the drained chilies, soy sauce, chili-garlic sauce and rice vinegar. Refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to make the dish, add the content of the bowl to a food processor and pulse once or twice. Set aside.
• Slice the onion and trim and cut the asparagus spears into thirds. Grate the ginger and chop the garlic.
• Heat a dry wok or heavy frying pan on medium-high heat. It will be hot enough when water evaporates almost immediately after hitting the pan.
• Pour in the oil making sure to rotate the wok or pan to get all sides coated evenly as you pour.
• Toss in the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for one minute. Add the asparagus, onion and pureed green chili paste and stir-fry for another 2 minutes.
• Add the oyster sauce and cornstarch, continuing to fry for about another minute so the cornstarch thickens the sauce.
• Remove from heat and place into a serving dish. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

SZECHWAN EGGPLANT STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants in 1/2 lengthwise and then slice crosswise into wedges, no more than 1-inch wide.
• Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high flame and add the oils; tilt the pan to coat all sides. When you see a slight smoke, add a layer of eggplant, stir-fry until seared and sticky, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the eggplant to a side platter and cook the remaining eggplant in same manner, adding more oil, if needed.
• After all the eggplant is out of the pan, add the green onions, ginger, garlic, and chile; stir-fry for a minute until fragrant. Add the broth. In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch until the sugar and cornstarch are dissolved. Pour the soy sauce mixture into the wok and cook another minute, until the sauce has thickened. Put the eggplant back in the pan, tossing quickly, until the sauce is absorbed. Garnish with sesame seeds, Thai basil, and cilantro and serve.

SZECHUAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a wok or large skillet, flash fry asparage and onion in olive oil for about 2 minutes.
• Add garlic, ginger, chili paste, pickled veggies and saute for 1 minute.
• Add oyster sauce and corn starch and saute for 1 minute.
• Add sesame oil and saute for 30 seconds to one minute.