SPICY STIR-FRIED PORK, ASPARAGUS, AND ONIONS WITH LEMON GRASS

Spicy Stir-Fried Pork, Asparagus, and Onions With Lemon Grass image

This is a fantastic stir-fry! It serves 3-4 people (or even two big eaters) and I recommend serving it with plain rice. Recipe is adapted from 'The New Best Recipe'. Enjoy!

Provided by tigerduck

Categories Pork

Time 45m

Yield 3-4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

12 ounces pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon fish sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/3 cup low sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons lime juice
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup minced lemongrass, from 2 stalks (trim all but bottom 3-4 inches, remove tough outer sheath, then cut finely)
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil or 3 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 lb asparagus, cut on the diagonal into 2-inch pieces
1/4 cup water
1 large onion, cut into 1/4-to 3/8-inch wedges
2 -3 tablespoons chopped fresh Thai basil

Steps:

Freeze the tenderloin until firm, 20 to 30 minutes. Cut the tenderloin crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick medallions. Slice each medaillon into 1/3-inch-wide strips.
Combine the pork, 1 tsp fish sauce, and the soy sauce in a small bowl.
Whisk the remaining 2 tbsp fish sauce, the chicken broth, lime juice, brown sugar, and cornstarch in a measuring cup.
Combine garlic, lemon grass, red pepper flakes and 1 tbsp of the oil.
Heat 1 1/2 tsps oil in a nonstick 12-inch skillet or in a wok over high heat until smoking; add half of the pork to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the clumps, until well browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer pork to a bowl. Repeat with an additional 1 1/2 tsps oil and the remaining pork.
Add 1 tbsp oil to the now-empty skillet or wok; add the asparagus and cook, stirring every 30 seconds, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the water, cover the pan, and lower the heat to medium. Steam the asparagus until tender-crisp, about 2 minutes; transfer the asparagus to the bowl with the pork.
Add the remaining 1 1/2 tsps oil to the skillet or wok; add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown and soften, about two minutes.
Clear the center of the skillet; add the garlic and lemon grass mixture to the clearing and cook, mashing the mixture with a spoon, until fragrant, about 1 minute, then stir the mixture into the onion. Return the pork and asparagus to the skillet and toss to combine. Whisk the sauce to recombine, then add to the skillet/wok; cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened and evenly distributed, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the thai basil. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 390.9, Fat 22.6, SaturatedFat 5, Cholesterol 74.8, Sodium 1281.9, Carbohydrate 20.4, Fiber 4, Sugar 9.2, Protein 29.2