Dish of Beef with Asparagus & Black Beans
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Beef with Asparagus & Black Beans


China / California

Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
2 main
**
1 hr
Prep
Beef and asparagus with classic Chinese saucing. I have lightened the pattern recipe which overwhelmed the asparagus - the California part. The Chinese have yet to learn how to handle this "foreign vegetable".

1
12
-----
1/2
1/4
1
1/2
1
-----
2
1
-----
1/2
1/3
1/8
-----
1
1
1

#
oz
---
T
t
t
t
T
---
cl
T
---
t
c
t
---
t
T
T

Asparagus
Beef lean (1)
--- Marinade
Oil
Sugar
Soy Sauce
Sesame Oil
Rice wine
----------
Garlic
Black Beans (2)  
-- Sauce
Salt
Stock
Pepper
------------
Cornstarch
Water
Oil

Prep   -   (45 min - 25 min work)
  1. Slice BEEF across the grain into strips about 1/8 inch thick, 1/2 inch wide and 1-1/2 inches long. This is easier if you chill the beef in the freezer for about 30 minutes to stiffen it.
  2. Mix All Marinade Items and massage into the Beef. Set aside and marinate for at least 30 minutes turning once or twice.
  3. Snap tough ends off ASPARAGUS. Diagonally cut off the tips to a length of 2 inches (tip to tip) and set aside. Cut the rest of the stem diagonally into pieces 2 inches tip to tip, keeping the bottom pieces separate from the middle ones.
  4. Crush GARLIC and chop fine. Rinse BLACK BEANS, crush well together with garlic.
  5. Mix together all Sauce items.
  6. Mix together Cornstarch and Water.
RUN   -  p; (25 min)
  1. Bring plenty of water to a rolling boil. Dump the bottom end pieces of Asparagus in and cook for 1-1/2 minute. Dump the middle sections in and cook another 1 minute, then dump in the tips. Cover and cook over moderate heat for a total time of 7 to 8 minutes depending on size. Take off heat and pour in enough cold water to stop the cooking but still keep warm.
  2. In a roomy sauté pan or wok heat 1 T Oil very hot over high heat. At the first faint wisp of smoke stir in the Beef. Stir fry until all raw color is gone and any exuded liquid has evaporated.
  3. Stir in Black Bean mix and fry stirring for about 1 minute, then stir in Stock mix. Cover and simmer for about another 3 minutes.
  4. Gently stir in Asparagus until well mixed with the beef, then stir up Cornstarch and stir in until sauce is very lightly thickened.
  5. Serve immediately with plenty of steamed long grain rice.
NOTES:
  1. Beef:

      Weight is for boneless with all excess fat and membranes removed. Chuck or brisket work fine, but cooking time is very short, so avoid tough cuts like Round.
  2. Black Beans:

      These are salted and fermented soy beans sold in bags and boxes in Asian markets. For details see our Black Bean page.
  3. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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