Name: Stir-Fried Asparagus with Red Onion
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons water; 4 teaspoons fish sauce; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar; 2 teaspoons minced fresh lemon grass; 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 pound asparagus , trimmed and cut on bias into 2-inch lengths; 1/2 red onion , sliced through root end into 1/4-inch-thick pieces; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Why This Recipe Works

To achieve stir-fried asparagus with a flavorful browned exterior and a crisp-tender texture, we had to start with a hot pan and only stir the asparagus occasionally. This allowed the vegetables to char and caramelize. To ensure that the vegetables cooked evenly, we diluted the sauce with water. This diluted sauce created a small amount of steam, cooking the spears through, before evaporating and leaving behind a flavorful glaze.

Before You Begin

To allow it to brown, stir the asparagus only occasionally. Look for spears that are no thicker than ½ inch.

Instructions

Combine water, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, lemon grass, and pepper flakes in bowl.

Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until smoking. Add asparagus and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is spotty brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add fish sauce mixture and cook, stirring once or twice, until pan is almost dry and asparagus is crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to serving platter, sprinkle with mint, and serve.