Stir-Fried Shrimp with Garlicky Eggplant, Scallions, and Cashews


SERVES 4

To make quick work of cutting the scallions, use sharp kitchen shears. Serve with Basic White Rice.

1

pound extra-large shrimp (21 to 25 per pound), peeled, deveined, and tails removed

3

tablespoons vegetable oil

6

medium garlic cloves, 1 minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 teaspoon), 5 sliced thin

½

teaspoon table salt

2

tablespoons soy sauce

2

tablespoons oyster-flavored sauce

2

tablespoons dry sherry or Chinese rice cooking wine (Shaoxing)

2

tablespoons sugar

1

tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1

tablespoon white vinegar

2

teaspoons cornstarch

teaspoon red pepper flakes

6

large scallions, greens cut into 1-inch pieces and whites sliced thin

½

cup unsalted cashews

1

medium eggplant (about ¾ pound), cut into ¾-inch dice

1. Combine the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil, the minced garlic, and salt in a medium bowl. Let the shrimp marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, whisk the soy sauce, oyster-flavored sauce, sherry, sugar, sesame oil, vinegar, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Combine the sliced garlic with the scallion whites and cashews in a small bowl.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon more vegetable oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add the eggplant and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, 3 to 6 minutes. Add the scallion greens and continue to cook until the scallion greens begin to brown and the eggplant is fully tender, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer the vegetables to a medium bowl.

4. Continue with the recipe for Stir-Fried Shrimp with Snow Peas and Red Bell Pepper in Hot and Sour Sauce from step 4, replacing the garlic-shallot mixture with the garlic-scallion-cashew mixture.