Stir Fried Ground Beef with Smoked Oysters Recipe

Serves/Makes: 2 – 4

Ingredients:

• 1 (3 1/4-ounce) can smoked oysters, drained and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup shelled fresh peas, or substitute thoroughly defrosted frozen peas
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine, or pale dry sherry
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 12 lettuce leaves (Bibb, Boston or Iceberg)
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil, or flavorless vegetable oil
• 1/2 pound lean boneless beef, preferably top round, ground once
• 1 tablespoon bottled Oyster Sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon cold chicken stock, fresh or canned

How to cook Stir Fried Ground Beef with Smoked Oysters:

• Blanch the freshly shelled peas by dropping them into 4 cups of rapidly boiling water and letting them boil uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Then drain and run cold water over them to stop their cooking and set their color. Frozen peas need only be thoroughly defrosted.
• Combine in a bowl the soy sauce, wine and 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add the ground beef and mix together with your fingers or a spoon until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
• Separate the lettuce leaves, wash them under cold running water and pat them dry with paper towels. Cut them into 5-inch rounds. Arrange the leaves on a serving platter and refrigerate.
• Have the above ingredients, the oil, oysters, oyster sauce and cornstarch mixture within easy reach.

• Set a 12-inch wok or 10-inch skillet over high heat for 30 seconds. Pour in the 2 tablespoons of oil, swirl it about in the pan and heat for another 30 seconds, turning the heat down to moderate if the oil begins to smoke.
• Add the ground beef and stir-fry for about 1 minute, or until it loses its red color and any liquid which has accumulated in the pan evaporates. Add the peas, oysters and oyster sauce.
• Stir-fry for a minute longer, then give the cornstarch mixture a quick stir to recombine it and add it to the pan.
• Cook, stirring, for a few seconds until the ingredients are coated with a light, clear glaze. Immediately transfer the entire contents of the pan to a heated platter and serve at once, accompanied by the lettuce leaves.

• Traditionally, each guest spreads a lettuce leaf on his plate and places about 2 tablespoons of the beef mixture in the middle of the leaf.
• The leaf is folded in half over the beef and tucked gently under it, one end of the package is then folded over about 1 inch to enclose the filling securely, and the whole rolled into a neat cylinder that can be picked up with the fingers and eaten.

Note:
The Chinese name for the Stir Fried Ground Beef with Smoked Oysters dish is Hao Shih Niu Jou.

This recipe for Stir Fried Ground Beef with Smoked Oysters serves/makes: 2 – 4

Main Ingredient: Oysters 
Preparation Method: Pan Fried/Sauteed
Cuisine: Chinese