Asparagus, Chicken and Walnuts Stir Fry

Ever tried stir frying asparagus with walnuts? The crunchiness of walnuts and crisp asparagus stems are so enjoyable.

Asparagus is regarded as a classy vegetable and you have to pay more than other vegetables in restaurants. Lucky me, I’d find some fresh asparagus, available at a bargain price in supermarkets every now and then through out the year.

When it comes to cooking asparagus, it is easy and quick. They taste great no matter they’re steamed, baked or boiled. The crisp stems with natural sweetness are most enjoyable.

In Chinese cooking, we like to stir fry asparagus with garlic, sometimes with our favourite meat. Recently, I found asparagus goes really well with walnuts. Give it a try if you’d like to experiment with a variety of asparagus recipes.

Asparagus, Chicken and Walnuts Stir Fry Recipe

(Printable recipe)
By Christine’s Recipes
Course: Stir-fry, Chicken
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Yield: 2 to 3 serves

Ingredients:

• 60 gm walnuts
• 180 gm asparagus
• 150 gm chicken breast
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp Shaoxing wine
• salt, to taste

Marinade:

• 1 tsp light soy sauce
• ½ tsp sugar
• ½ tsp cornflour / corn starch
• sesame oil, to taste
• white pepper, to taste

Seasonings:

• 2 tsp fish sauce
• 2 Tbsp chicken stock

Method:

1. Heat walnuts in a small pan without any oil over medium heat until aromatic. Remove from the heat. Let them cool down. Mix chicken with marinade. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a wok or a frying pan. Cook the chicken over high medium heat until chicken turns white and cooked through. Set aside.
3. Blanch asparagus in boiling water for about 2 minutes. Drain well and immediately soak in cold water until cold to touch. Drain well again. Cut them into 3 to 4 sections. Stir fry in the same pan with a little of oil. Add garlic and saute until aromatic. Season with salt and sprinkle wine. Quickly stir to combine well. Pour chicken stock and fish sauce. Cook further for another 2 minutes. Toss back the chicken and quickly combine well. Turn off the heat. Stir in the walnuts. Serve immediately.

Notes：

• By soaking the blanched asparagus in cold water, you can keep its fresh green colour.
• To get the best results, briefly stir fry the thicker stems first, then add the thinner ones and cook together.
• Don't overcook the asparagus because you'd like to enjoy the crisp stems. You might replace with your favourite meat or just skip the meat if you feel like a vegan dish.