Chinese chili with peppers

6 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
¾ pounds Ground lamb
1 tablespoon Dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon Dry sherry
1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce
1 Green bell pepper
1 Red bell pepper
1 Yellow bell pepper
1 small Yellow on1on
2 tablespoons Cornstarch
2 tablespoons Peanut oil
1 tablespoon Finely minced fresh ginger
4 Cloves garlic, finely minced
Sauce
½ cup Chicken stock
2 tablespoons Dry sherry
2 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons Oyster sauce
1 tablespoon Bean sauce
1 tablespoon Oriental sesame oil
1 tablespoon Distilled white vinegar
1½ teaspoon Chinese chili sauce

Directions

Stir-fried ground meat and diced vegetables in a spicy sauce produce an Oriental "chili" that can be mounded on steamed rice or buttered noodles to make a quick and satisfying dinner.

Advance Preparation

In a bowl, thoroughly combine lamb, soy sauce, sherry, and hoisin sauce. Set aside until ready to cook.

Seed and stem peppers, then cut into ½ inch cubes. Peel and coarsely chop onion. Set peppers and onion aside.

In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients; set aside.

Last-Minute Cooking

Stir cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water, then set aside.

Place wok over highest heat. When wok becomes very hot, add 1 tablespoon peanut oil to center, then roll oil around sides of wok.

When oil just begins to smoke, add lamb and stir-fry, pressing meat against the sides of the wok, until it loses its raw color and separates into small pieces, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a work platter.

Immediately return wok to highest heat and add remaining tablespoon peanut oil to center. Add ginger and garlic and saute for a few seconds. Add vegetables and stir-fry until peppers brighten and onion becomes transparent, about 2 minutes.

Return lamb to wok and pour in sauce. Bring sauce to a low boil, then stir in a little cornstarch mixture to lightly thicken. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes. Turn out onto a heated platter or individual plates. Serve at once with steamed rice, noodles, or bread.

Serves: 2 as an entree; 6 to 8 as part of an Oriental meal.

Menu ideas: Easy dinner for 4 - Chinese Chili with Peppers (double recipe); Onion Bread (double recipe; cook before guests arrive, and reheat in oven); Steamed Corn with Chinese Herb Sauce; ice cream and coffee.

Notes: This dish is excellent made with ground pork, beef, or lamb, but not with ground veal, chicken, or turkey.

To simplify any stir-fry dish, substitute ¾ pound ground meat (pork, beef, or lamb) for the cubed or sliced meat or sea- food. This shortens the preparation time but results in an equally good dish.

From "Pacific Flavors, Oriental Recipes for a Contemporary Kitchen", Hugh Carpenter, Stuart, Tabori and Chang, N.Y., 1988. ISBN 1-55670-333-3.

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