This dinner is a tasty blend of Pacific Rim flavors. Lemongrass is the secret to the flavor in this hot and spicy beef. It adds a tang like that of lemon or lime and is one of the most important spices used in Thai cooking. It looks a little like a scallion with long, thin, green-gray leaves and a lighter bulb at the tip. Grated lemon rind can be used instead.
With most Asian dishes it takes several minutes to assemble the ingredients, but only a few minutes to cook them. This dinner is cooked in 5 to 7 minutes.
Helpful Hints:
_ Diced fresh onions can be found in the produce section of the supermarket.
_ Remove woody, outer leaves of lemon grass before slicing. Slice pale inner leaves and bulb into thin slices.
_ Prepare all ingredients for beef and noodle dishes before starting to stir-fry.
_ To save cleaning time, make stir-fry beef, remove to a plate and use the same wok, without washing it, for the noodles.
Countdown:
_ Prepare ingredients.
_ Microwave noodles.
_ Stir-fry beef dish.
_ Stir-fry noodles.
Shopping List:
To buy: 6 ounces beef tenderloin steak, \ pound Chinese noodles, 1 bottle sesame oil, 1 small can tomato paste, 1 bottle hot pepper sauce, 1 bottle ground ginger, 1 small package broken walnuts, 1 package frozen snow peas, 1 container fresh diced onion, 3 stalks lemongrass or 1 lemon.
Staples: olive oil spray, minced garlic, salt, black peppercorns.
