Beef with Snow Peas

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbflank steak, trimmed of fat and sliced very thin against the grain
• 0.5 cuplow sodium soy sauce
• 3 tbspsherry or cooking sherry
• 2 tbspbrown sugar
• 2 tbspcornstarch
• 1 tbspminced fresh ginger
• 8 ozfresh snow peas, ends trimmed
• 5whole scallions, cut into half-inch pieces on the diagonal
• salt, as needed (use sparingly)
• 3 tbsppeanut or olive oil
• crushed red pepper, for sprinkling
• jasmine or long grain rice, cooked according to package, for serving

Method

1. 1In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, sherry, brown sugar, cornstarch, and ginger. Pour half the liquid over the sliced meat in a bowl and toss with hands, reserving the other half of the liquid. Set aside.
2. 2Heat oil in a heavy skillet (iron is best) or wok over high heat. Add snow peas and stir for 45 seconds. Remove to a separate plate and set aside.
3. 3Allow pan to get very hot again. With tongs, add half the meat mixture, leaving most of the marinade still in the bowl. Add half the scallions. Spread out meat as you add it to the pan but do not stir for a good minute. After turning it, add the rest of the marinade and the snow peas. Stir over high heat for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Check seasonings and add salt only if it needs it. Mixture will thicken as it sits.
4. 4Repeat with other half of meat, allowing pan to get very hot again first. Stir over high heat for 30 seconds, then turn off heat.
5. 5Serve immediately over rice. Sprinkle crushed red pepper over the top.