With amazing wok-charred flavors, this Stir-Fried Shrimp and Asparagus in Black Bean Sauce is simply irresistible.
While I’m visiting my family in Japan, I’ve asked several blogger friends to blog-sit for me and today’s sitter is Ray from Work with Ray.
I love visiting Ray’s blog and I know you will, too. He’s what I would call a “master of savory dishes.” A lot of Asian savory dishes tend to be brown color from the soy sauce and sometimes it’s not easy to capture the flavor in photographs no matter how delicious the food might be. I often struggle a lot trying to take pictures with “brown” foods; however, Ray knows exactly what to do and make all the dishes such drool-worthy photography. I’ve been trying to learn the skills and improve for the past several months from Ray’s photography techniques.
Filipino food is mysterious to me since we don’t really have Filipino restaurants around. However, Ray has introduced so many signature dishes from the Philippines and I wish that I lived in Southern California so that I can call his catering service for my parties. If you live in Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles Area, you are in luck! His favorites among his foods include Sweet and Sour Fish and Grilled Pork Belly with Mango Salad and you can even have them catered for your party!
Now please welcome Ray with a quick and easy Stir-Fried Shrimp & Asparagus dish.
*****
I am thrilled, honored, and at the same time nervous about guest posting here at Just One Cookbook. Why am I nervous? We are talking about Nami’s blog here. Well, let me rewind to about a year ago. The very first time I wandered around Just One Cookbook, I felt like a kid visiting in a big toy store for the first time. I said to myself… wow I wish my blog is as beautiful as this. I also wandered around the comment section and I saw the big names in there. So now why am I nervous? (Sigh).
I was born and lived in the Philippines before moving to California in 1982. I am a self-taught home cook and also a caterer that specializes in Filipino and other Asian home-style cooking. Even though I am a self-taught home cook, my influence in cooking came from relatives of cooks who ran restaurant businesses in the past. But my biggest influence was from my late parents who had an unbelievable passion for cooking.
Although blogging is a fun activity, I take it very seriously because it plays a big role in my catering business. Blogging is where I can showcase my menu, my recipes, and the presentation of the food that I serve and to the customers I serve. Actually, a lot of the recipes that I share in Wok with Ray are the very same dishes that I cater; and why not? If I can inspire readers to cook for their families and friends on a regular dinner meal, I’ll be happy.
Okay, what I have for you is a dish that is really easy to make; so easy that even Ray can do it. Why did I choose an easy recipe? Hehe, I’m a guy! Guys like easy cooking so they can go back to the couch and watch the game. So where was I? Oh yes, the recipe. Well, what we are cooking today is Shrimp and Asparagus stir-fried in black bean sauce. This is a dish that is perfect on a weeknight meals. Just prep the shrimp, cut the asparagus, make the sauce, and stir fry.
So here is the recipe and I hope you all enjoy it. I want to thank you for your time reading my post and of course a very BIG thanks to you Nami for this opportunity of guest posting on your beautiful blog. It is truly an honor!
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Stir Fried Shrimp & Asparagus in Black Bean Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp (deveined, peeled)
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp potato starch or cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp dry sherry
- 1 bundle asparagus spears (cut to 1" (2.5 cm) long)
- 2 Tbsp neutral oil (for stir frying)
- 1 Tbsp garlic (finely minced)
- 2 Tbsp ginger (finely minced)
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper (red pepper flakes) (optional)
Sauce:
- 1 cup chicken stock/broth
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp black bean sauce
Sauce Thickener:
- 2 Tbsp chicken stock/broth
- 1 Tbsp potato starch or cornstarch
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine and mix shrimp, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, ½ tsp cornstarch, and 1 Tbsp dry sherry then set it aside for about 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl then set aside.
- Combine the thickener ingredients in a small bowl then set aside.
- Place a wok over high heat then wait until wok becomes very hot. Add 1 Tbsp oil then swirl side to side to coat with oil. Please be careful when doing this.
- When the oil is hot, add ginger and garlic then sauté for about 20 seconds.
- Add shrimp, and optional red pepper flakes then stir fry until shrimp become light pink. Remove and transfer shrimp in a plate then set aside.
- Add 1 Tbsp oil. When the oil is hot, add asparagus. Stir fry asparagus for about 1 minute.
- Stir in the sauce and then let it boil.
- Return shrimp in the wok.
- Stir in cornstarch mixture and stir until sauce thickens. Serve immediately with rice.
Yay! to the “master of savory dishes”…cos I really AM a fan of savory food 🙂 …and I always enjoy a home-cooked dish like this.
Nami and Ray, this is gorgeous, and it looks so flavorful. Asparagus is my favorite spring vegetable, and this dish looks irresistible!
What a delicious dish Ray and I agree, Nami blog is absolutely beautiful! I hope you’re having a great time on holidays Nami! 😀
Ray is definitely very talented and this dish looks yum. Love shrimp and love asparagus!!
This really does look like something I could make at home and your photos are gorgeous!!
Nami, hope you are having a nice holiday break in Japan and thanks for introducing to Ray. I know less than nothing about filipino cuisine and very curious to discover more. This dish is perfect for the starting asparagus season!
This looks fantastic! Definitely my type of meal!
I am one of those struggling to photograph brown food. As I’m addicted to soy sauce, the problem will continue. Ray’s food always looks so fresh and vibrant, and of course appetising. This dish is the sort of food I like: quick, easy yet full of flavour, so perfect with rice. Take care and enjoy your holiday, Nami.
Oh, boy, Ray, this looks fantastic! I love every single thing about this dish…it must be so delicious!
Nami, hope you’re enjoying your holiday!
Wow, that looks fantastic. Both of you make the most amazing Asian food. I always find myself wondering why I bother to eat out when there’s stuff like this to be made at home. Thank you for sharing a bit about your background, Ray. That was fun to learn.
Hello Nice to meet you Ray 🙂 this sounds like a tasty recipe ~ you shouldn’t be nervous it was a lovely post! Gotta give this a go sometime ~
Thanks Nami again for introducing us to another Blogger!
Thank you, Daisy. I feel much better now with that compliment. 🙂
Lovely guest post, Ray. Those shrimps are calling to me. 🙂 Black bean is my go-to sauce.
Oh, I love black bean sauce! Terrific recipe, and I really like the addition of shrimp. Sounds so good – thanks for this.
Thank you very much for having me, for your kindness, and for the privilege of guest posting here at your beautiful site, Nami. I really appreciate all of your wonderful readers and I am enjoying their kind words. Thank you all! 🙂
Congratulations for this extraordinary guest post, Ray! I absolutely agree with Nami: you are the master of appetising, sunny photos. Whenever I open your blog I know your photos alone will cheer me up. This dish sounds perfect for this time of the year when we all go crazy for asparagus and light dishes.
Thank you, Sissi! Glad to see you and your very nice comment.