Spring Noodle Stir Fry With Asparagus And Walnuts Recipes

WOK-FRIED ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• Snap off and discard bottoms of asparagus, then cut into 2-inch pieces. (Halve thicker pieces lengthwise first.)
• Set a wok over high heat and add vegetable oil. When oil is hot, add asparagus and season lightly with salt. Stir-fry for a minute or so, then add Sichuan pepper, five-spice powder, garlic, ginger, sugar, chiles, soy sauce and walnuts. Continue cooking over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, tossing to coat well, until asparagus is cooked but still firm and bright green. (It will continue to cook a bit off the heat.)
• Transfer asparagus to a serving platter and drizzle with sesame oil. Sprinkle green onions over the top and garnish with cilantro sprigs.

ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• 1. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice cubes and add some cold water. Place a colander squarely inside the ice bath. The colander will keep you from having to pick the asparagus out from amongst the ice cubes in the ice bath.
• 2. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Add the asparagus and cook for 1 to 1½ minutes. You want them to be crunchy. If the asparagus are thicker, cook for 1½ to 2 minutes.
• 3. Remove the asparagus from the water using a slotted spoon and transfer them to the colander inside the ice bath. Move them around gently so the ice water penetrates the asparagus and accelerates the cooling process. Vegetables take longer than you think to cool so allow them to sit a few minutes in the ice water. Hold a piece of the asparagus in your hand for a few seconds to assure that it's really cool (even in the center). If the piece still feels warm, allow them to cool longer in the ice bath. Place them on a kitchen towel to drain any excess moisture.
• 4. Heat oil a medium skillet until hot (but not smoking), add the walnuts and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. They should bubble and fry slightly in the oil. When you can smell the walnuts, add the paprika and cayenne and lower the heat to medium. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and transfer the mixture to a bowl. Set aside.
• 5. Toss the asparagus in the bowl with the walnuts and the oil. Let this mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or a few minutes. When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice. Serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS STIR-FRY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch, sugar, broth, soy sauce and ginger until blended; set aside. , In a small skillet or wok, stir-fry the asparagus, mushrooms, carrot and garlic in oil until crisp-tender. Stir cornstarch mixture and add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

ASPARAGUS-TOFU NOODLE STIR-FRY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the scallions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, red pepper, lemon juice, sesame oil, water, sugar or honey, and salt. Stir in the tofu. Cover and let stand for at least 15 minutes (longer is OK . You can prepare the other ingredients during this time.).
• Cook the noodles in plenty of boiling, salted water until tender. Drain, rinse in warm water, and drain again.
• Place a large wok over medium heat and wait a minute or two. Add 2 tablespoons peanut or canola oil, then turn up the heat. Add the asparagus and mushrooms, and stir-fry for several minutes until the asparagus is just tender.
• Add the drained noodles and stir-fry for about 3 more minutes, keeping the heat high. (It helps to use tongs for the stirring at this point.).
• Pour in the entire bowlful of marinade-plus-tofu. Cook and stir another 3 minutes or so, or until the sauce is well distributed and everything is heated through.
• Serve immediately, topped with toasted sesame seeds and/or cashews.

QUICK ASPARAGUS STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add asparagus and stir-fry until soft but still firm, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and lemon juice.

SIMPLE SPICY ASPARAGUS IN A WOK

Steps:

• Snap off and discard bottoms of asparagus, then cut into 2-inch pieces (halve thicker pieces lengthwise first).
• Set wok over high heat and add vegetable oil. Add dried peppers and let sizzle, then add asparagus, tossing well to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry for a minute or so, then add chile paste, garlic, ginger, orange zest and jalapeño. Continue cooking over high heat for a minute, maybe less, until asparagus is cooked but still firm and bright green. (It will continue cooking off the heat.)
• Mound asparagus on a serving platter and drizzle with sesame oil. Sprinkle cilantro, green onion and sesame seeds over the top.

STEAK AND SPRING VEGETABLE STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Pat steak dry with paper towels. Slice meat crosswise as thinly as possible and place in a medium bowl. Add cornstarch, 1 Tbsp. soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp. oil and toss with tongs to coat meat.
• Toss asparagus, sugar snap peas, ginger, and three-fourths of scallions in another medium bowl.
• Stir oyster sauce, mirin, vinegar, and remaining 1 Tbsp. soy sauce in a measuring glass or small bowl to combine.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably stainless steel, over medium-high. Cook vegetable mixture, shaking skillet often to move them around, just until asparagus is tender but still retains a hint of crunch, about 3 minutes. Return vegetables to bowl.
• Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in skillet over medium-high. Add steak, arranging slices in a single layer, and cook, undisturbed, until undersides are browned, about 3 minutes. Using a thin metal spatula, scrape bottom of skillet and loosen meat. Add cooked vegetables and sauce to skillet and cook, tossing constantly, until meat is cooked through and sauce is thick and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Let cool slightly; season lightly with salt.
• Serve stir-fry over rice, topped with remaining scallions.