One of the things that I like best about this time of year is all of the fresh locally grown asparagus! The farmers market has been full of it the last few weeks and I have been been picking some up at every opportunity. I have also been keeping an eye out for tasty sounding asparagus recipes. A while ago I came across a recipe for an asparagus, beef and shiitake mushroom stir-fry . I like stir-frys because they are simple and quick and I liked the sound of the the asparagus, beef and shiitake mushroom flavour combo. Since I have been into black bean sauce lately I decided to make the stir-fry with a black bean sauce. I like heat I also added some chili sauce. The stir fry came together quickly and tasted great! This was easily my favorite of the black bean stir-frys that I have made so far. The trick is to have everything end up cooked at the same time without overcooking anything, especially not the asparagus. You want the asparagus to be just cooked, al dente so to say.
Asparagus, Beef and Shiitake Mushroom Stir-fry
ingredients
- 1 pound beef (thinly sliced)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons shao xing Chinese cooking wine (or cooking sherry)
- 2 tablespoons garlic (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons ginger (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 tablespoons garlic (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons ginger (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons fermented black beans (soaked in water and chopped)
- 1 pound asparagus (sliced into bite sized pieces)
- 1 pound shiitake mushrooms (stems removed and sliced)
- 1 tablespoon chili sauce (optional)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- * soy sauce to taste
directions
- Marinate the beef in the soy sauce, rice wine, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch while you chop everything.
- Heat the oil in a pan.
- Add the beef and its marinade and saute the until almost cooked and set aside.
- Heat the oil in the pan.
- Add the garlic, ginger and fermented black beans and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the mushrooms and saute until soft, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the asparagus and saute for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the chili sauce, beef and chicken stock.
- Cover and simmer for a few minutes.
- Add the sesame oil and season with soy sauce to taste.
That looks delicious. You’re definitely making the most of the asparagus season. You should definitely try roasting asparagus spears in a hot oven, for 15 or so minutes…ohhh I wish it was Spring here! 🙂 Al Dente is the perfect way of describing cooked asparagus…unless the Italians have a word for that too LOL.
Oh man, I’m getting REALLY hungry looking at the picture! Timing is definitely the key with stir-fries. It looks like you cooked the asparagus and beef perfectly.
I just bought a new wok today so guess what….
Dude the stir fry looks great. My Asian room mate made something real similar and yours looks about the same. That’s authenticity for ya. Keep the Asian kick going.
Yumm! Asparagus is my favorite vegetable. If my mom had of made fresh asparagus when I was a child, I may not have taken so long to try it!
You’re really good at Chinese food, among other international cuisine… hehe
Fresh locally grown asparagus = one of life’s simple pleasures.
Looks delicious. One of my favourite ways to have asparagus.
Now that combination sounds absolutely mouthwatering! What a great dish. I will have to try this one soon.
I’m going to have to try black bean sauce. I’ll pick some up, next time I’m at the store.
This looks wonderful.
This is one great dish! Your photo says it all. Mouthwatering!
Great stir fry recipe. I also like fresh asparagus…and add to it shiitake and black bean sauce, sounds like a winner! 🙂
That’s one great looking stir-fry!
I love shiitake mushrooms….yum
a nice variation of cooking asparagus! by the way, will you be able to email me or post up a photo of your Asian spices and paste and stuff? Cuz I never quite seem to place them with what I know of. And I can’t find it at my Asian stall. Pleaseeee and thanks!!
Look so good. Here it is also season for asparagus, but then the white one.
Oh yeah, this dish sounds really good. Anything stir-fry is good, especially if it has mushrooms in it. Haha. Cheers!
You have definitely been an asparagus cooking fool.
This looks amazing and beats the fact that my asparagus is just getting tossed on a grill to cook.
everything that i want in just one plate!! this is really delicious Kevin!! i need to do this tonight!!
This looks great, I love stir fry. We grow asparagus here in MI so I have no reason not to try this.
Kevin, I feel like I have been bookmarking things right and left on your blog lately. This looks delicious!
this looks great! how do you ferment black beans? (or is that the soaking them in water thing?)
Another great dish with asparagus! I love a good stir-fry.
Oh, that’s just really gorgeous and wholesome 🙂 I think the secret punch is the chili sauce, heh heh 🙂
ooooh.. are you part asian? hahah.. I can’t even cook that!
Hmm…looks delicious!
You changed my mind for dinner tonight – I was going to make Cashew chicken but will do this instead.
Thanks
Cheers
Cathy – http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com
I love this asparagus binge you’ve been on… I had some fresh-from-the-farmers-market asparagus last week and had fun playing with it. Reading your recipes makes me want to go get some more!
Kevin, when I saw this on Tastespotting this morning, I knew right away I’d love it! It looks fantastic!
Kevin:
Good god man – you are a machine! That looks great!
fermented black beans are my new favorite ingredient. what you’ve got here is a delicious, healthy, and hearty meal–nice job!
Kevin I have really loved all the asparagus dishes. They were all so different and delicious looking.
Katie: The fermented black beans are actually salted fermented soy beans. It is a Chinese ingredient that is different from the regular black beans. Here is the wikipedia link with some more info: Fermented Black Beans
You should be able to find them in your local Asian grocery store.
I often feel my meals are boring! I wish I had more time to cook during the week. Usually, on the weekends, I cook about 4 meals to last me through the week (I hate fast-food!). Your meals look so savory and healthy, I love stir fry.
Wow, Kevin, that looks incredible. I want to eat it right now.
I like to cook very at home. Greetings from Poland.Cool fun. Like me. Thanks.
Good stuff. I grow my own fresh shiitake on logs and have been looking for Shiitake recipie. Can I use you as link in my site? Thanks.
Please visit my site:
http://www.earthartandfoods.com