CHINESE STIR-FRIED TOMATOES AND EGGS

Chinese Stir-Fried Tomatoes and Eggs image

Home-style Chinese food at its simplest and, arguably, tastiest, this dish is the object of nostalgia for many Chinese immigrants (and their children). Well-seasoned eggs scrambled until just-set combine at the last moment with a sweet-tart ginger-tomato sauce. Serve with lots of steamed rice. When tomatoes are out of season, canned tomatoes in juice work best.

Provided by Francis Lam

Time 20m

Yield Serves 2 or 3, with rice

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

6 eggs
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 pound beefsteak tomatoes in season, or 1 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes in juice
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 scallions, sliced
1 teaspoon minced ginger (from about 1/4-inch nub)
Steamed rice, for serving

Steps:

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs well with 1 teaspoon salt, sesame oil and rice wine or sherry. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until well combined, then stir in the sugar and ketchup.
If using fresh tomatoes, core and cut them into 1/2-inch wide wedges.
Heat a wide nonstick skillet over high heat with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. When the oil shimmers, add most of the scallions, saving some to garnish. Cook, stirring, until very aromatic, about 20 seconds. Add the eggs, and cook, stirring well with a spatula or chopsticks, until just set but still runny, about 45 seconds. Pour the eggs back into the mixing bowl, and wipe out the pan.
Reheat the pan over high heat with the remaining tablespoon of oil. When it is hot, add the ginger and cook until aromatic, about 15 seconds. Add the tomatoes and salt to taste; cook, stirring occasionally, until the flesh has softened but still has some shape and the juices have begun to form a sauce, 2-3 minutes. (If using canned tomatoes, add the juice as well and cook about 4 minutes, to reduce it to a saucelike consistency.)
Reduce the heat to medium. Give the cornstarch-ketchup mixture a stir in its bowl, then stir it into the pan. Cook, stirring, until the sauce returns to a boil and thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, sugar or more ketchup - you want a savory, tart-sweet sauce. Stir the eggs in the bowl to cut up the curds a bit, then return them to the pan. Cook, stirring, for a few seconds to finish cooking the eggs and to combine. Top with the reserved scallions, and serve with steamed rice.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 351, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 28 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 676 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 0 grams