A simple little dish that can be a side or you can add some protein for a complete dish - prawns, tofu, chicken, beef, duck - all would work I am sure. For two, take a good-sized bunch of asparagus and snap off the woody ends. Slice each stem on the diagonal or into inch long chunks. Slice about 200g of mushrooms - shittake if you have them or I used just chestnut mushrooms. Crush a clove of garlic (or two....) and finely dice a 'thumb' of peeled ginger. In a bowl, combine 100ml of veg stock (Marigold powder, as always, is fine) with 2 dessertspoons of Tamari (or just regular soy sauce, but Tamari has a nicer flavour I think.) Season with black pepper and a dash of toasted sesame oil. Now heat a wok or non-stick frying pan until really hot, pour in a tablespoon of rape seed or other vegetable oil, and then add the asparagus. Spread into a single layer and then....leave them! Don't stir-fry yet, let them sizzle and pop and take on some golden colour for a minute or two. Turn them over and fry for a further minute, then add the mushrooms. Let them cook for a minute until satarting to soften, then throw in the garlic and chilli. Stir and toss everything in the pan for another minute, then pour over the stock/Tamari mix. Stir and allow to sizzle and reduce, covering the veg in a light, savoury
umami-ish glaze and then serve straight away. Simply delicious.
