Name: Chicken and asparagus stir-fry
Cook time: 1 h
Yield: 4 with steamed rice as a meal or 4-6 as part of a banquet
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 800g chicken thigh fillets,cut into 2cm slices; 1½ bunches of green asparagus (about 375g); ¼ cup peanut oil; 3 spring onions,trimmed and cut into 10cm lengths; 6cm knob ginger,finely sliced; 2 tbsp shao hsing wine or dry sherry; 2 tbsp water; 1 tbsp light soy sauce or tamari; 2 tsp brown sugar; ¼ tsp sesame oil; ¼ cup finely sliced spring onions

Spring stir-fry with chicken fillets and asparagus spears.William Meppem

easyTime:30 mins - 1 hourServes:4 with steamed rice as a meal or 4-6 as part of a banquet

I always prefer to cook with chicken thigh fillets rather than the breast when stir-frying because their thin layer of fat promotes tenderness and moisture. The addition of asparagus spears adds texture,colour and a vegetable component to the dish.

Ingredients

800g chicken thigh fillets,cut into 2cm slices
1½ bunches of green asparagus (about 375g)
¼ cup peanut oil
3 spring onions,trimmed and cut into 10cm lengths
6cm knob ginger,finely sliced
2 tbsp shao hsing wine or dry sherry
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp light soy sauce or tamari
2 tsp brown sugar
¼ tsp sesame oil
¼ cup finely sliced spring onions

Marinade

2 tbsp shao hsing wine or dry sherry
2 tbsp cornflour
1 tbsp cold water
1 tsp salt flakes

Method

Step1
Combine marinade ingredients in a large bowl,add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover,and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Step2
Wash asparagus and trim woody ends. Peel lower parts of the stems,if necessary,and finely slice on the diagonal. Set aside.
Step3
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a wok until the surface seems to shimmer slightly. Add half the marinated chicken and stir-fry for 1 minute. Remove from the wok with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the remaining chicken and stir-fry for 1 minute,remove from the wok and set aside.
Step4
Add the remaining oil to the hot wok,stir in asparagus,spring onions and ginger and stir-fry for 1 minute. Return chicken to the wok,add wine or sherry and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Lastly,add water,soy sauce or tamari,sugar and sesame oil and stir-fry for a further minute or until chicken is slightly browned and just cooked through.
Step5
Arrange chicken on a platter and top with finely sliced spring onions.