There are three stir-fry essentials to keep on hand, “the 3 G’s” – garlic, ginger, green onions. That’s according to Chinese Southern Belle, Natalie Keng, who gave tips during a class at Buford Highway Farmer’s Market.
Garlic: Few recipes need whole, perfectly peeled cloves. (And I’ve never had a garlic press that I’ve used more than twice. Either they don’t work or are too much trouble to clean.) The easiest way to peel a clove of garlic is to whack it with the flat of a broad knife or clever. The peel will pull right off in one piece.
Green Onion: Also called spring onion, are particularly attractive sliced at an angle.
Ginger: I do love fresh ginger, but used to think it was so much work to peel and mince. Natalie suggests that you wash and freeze roots. When you need ginger, take it directly from the freezer and grate what you need, still frozen. This also means that you can buy a large ginger root (actually a rhizome) with no fear of it going bad.
To stir fry, preparation is essential. Have all the ingredients prepared before you start cooking. All the ingredients in a single dish should have a similar shape, too. For instance, if you are dicing the chicken, dice all the vegetables. It’s partly aesthetics, but it also make for more even cooking.
For a quick meal, start with a half-frozen chicken breast, which slices better than one completely thawed. Marinate the cut up chicken in soy sauce, salt and pepper while you chops the remaining vegetables, whatever you have on hand that’s fresh. Next add oil (perhaps a mix of canola, safflower and/or peanut, but not olive) to the pan (preferably a cast iron wok). Once the oil is very hot, start with the 3 G’s. Add the chicken, and stir quickly for just a couple minutes before adding vegetables. Cook for 2-3 additional minutes until vegetables are done, but still crispy and colorful. Just before you turn it out onto a dish with rice or noodles, add a bit of sesame oil to finish. Keep the ingredients simple and fresh. Don’t crowd the pan and you will have a winning combination every time.
Now all you need are chopsticks and a sweet tea and you too can be a Chinese Southern Belle!
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