Ingredients

The following ingredients have 5 Servings
  • 1 1/2 pounds asparagus, medium- or pencil-size
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 small dried red peppers
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chinese chile paste
  • 1 teaspoon grated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro
  • 3 green onions, slivered
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Instruction

  • 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.