A stir-fry is all about preparation: you need to have everything ready to go before you start the cooking, which actually takes place in a matter of minutes. Serve this stir-fry over brown rice—or for a more traditional take, over wilted mustard greens splashed with a little rice vinegar.

Makes 4 servings, 1 1/2 cups each

ACTIVE TIME: 35 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Moderate

2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 pound raw shrimp (21-25 per pound), peeled and deveined
3 cups snow peas, trimmed
8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, sliced
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1/4 cup dry sherry (see Ingredient notes)
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce (see Ingredient notes)
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 cups mung bean sprouts

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add shrimp and cook, stirring, until pink and beginning to curl, about 1 minute. Transfer the shrimp to a plate (it will finish cooking later).
2. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the pan over high heat. Add snow peas, shiitakes and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, whisk sherry, hoisin, soy sauce, cornstarch and pepper in a small bowl.
4. Stir bean sprouts, the cooked shrimp and the sherry mixture into the snow pea mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is slightly thickened and the shrimp are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 305 calories; 10 g fat (1 g sat, 5 g mono); 173 mg cholesterol; 23 g carbohydrate; 31 g protein; 4 g fiber; 574 mg sodium;509 mg potassium.

Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (130% daily value), Selenium (64% dv), Iron (40% dv), Folate (25% dv), Potassium (17% dv).

TIP: Ingredient Notes: Don't use the "cooking sherry" sold in many supermarkets—it can be surprisingly high in sodium. Instead, purchase dry sherry that's sold with other fortified wines in your wine or liquor store.

Hoisin sauce is a dark brown, thick, spicy-sweet sauce made with soybeans and a complex mix of spices. Look for it in the Chinese section of your supermarket, and in Asian markets.

The dish was great - I made it last night for friends - but this recipe is the wrong one for it!

Anonymous