Stir-Fried Asparagus with Mushrooms and Oyster Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 lb Asparagus (Pencil-size spears preferred; trim the woody ends and cut into bite-size pieces)
• 8 oz Fresh shiitake mushrooms (Wipe clean, remove and discard the tough stems, and slice the caps)
• 3 cloves Garlic (Thinly sliced or minced)
• 2 tbsp Oyster sauce (Use vegetarian oyster sauce if desired)
• 1 tbsp Light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Water (For loosening the sauce and steaming the asparagus)
• 1 tsp Granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp Neutral cooking oil (Such as grapeseed, canola, or peanut oil)
• Ground black pepper (To taste)
• Fresh cilantro or sliced scallions (Optional garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare all ingredients before heating the pan. Trim the asparagus, cut the spears into bite-size pieces, remove the fibrous stems from the shiitakes, and slice the mushroom caps. Stir together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, water, and sugar in a small bowl.

2. 2

   Heat a large wok or 12-inch skillet over high heat until very hot. Add the neutral oil and swirl to coat the cooking surface.

3. 3

   Add the asparagus and stir-fry, tossing constantly, for about 3 minutes, until the spears turn bright green and begin to become tender while retaining some snap.

4. 4

   Add the sliced shiitake caps and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mushrooms soften and begin to brown at the edges.

5. 5

   Add the garlic and stir-fry for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Do not let it burn.

6. 6

   Pour in the oyster-sauce mixture and toss continuously for 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce bubbles, lightly thickens, and evenly coats the vegetables.

7. 7

   Taste and season with black pepper. Transfer the stir-fry to a serving dish, garnish with cilantro or scallions if using, and serve immediately while the asparagus is crisp-tender.

Notes

The source page indicates that pencil-size asparagus works best; adjust cooking time for thinner or thicker spears. Shiitake stems are fibrous and should be removed and discarded. The ingredient quantities and detailed method above are reconstructed because the accessible source excerpt does not include the members-only recipe card.

Nutrition per serving

• side dish
• vegetarian
• stir-fried
• quick meal
• Vietnamese-inspired
• dairy-free
• gluten-free if using tamari and gluten-free oyster sauce