Culinary Travel: Hunan Province China

Located in the south central part of the Chinese mainland, Hunan has long been known for its natural beauty. It is surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and south, and by the Yangtze River on the north. Its mixture of mountains and water makes it among the most beautiful provinces in China. For thousands of years, the region has been a major center of agriculture, growing rice, tea, and oranges.

In a discussion of China's four regional cuisines (North, South, East and West) the provinces of Szechuan, Yunnan and Hunan are combined to represent China's western regional schools of cooking. It's true that Hunan and Szechuan cuisine have much in common - both are famous for their fiery cooking and production of rice. But there are also significant differences. Today we have a Hunan recipe for you.

Stir-Fried Shrimp in Garlic Sauce

Servings  3-4 Servings

Ingredients:
1 lb large shrimp, cleaned and deveined

3 1/2 cups assorted fresh vegetables, chopped

1/3 cup chicken broth

1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons light soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon chili paste (sambal oelek) (optional)

1 tablespoon dry sherry or 1 tablespoon sake

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

9 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons minced ginger

10 Thai chiles, stemmed and left whole (optional)

1 tablespoon cornstarch

3 tablespoons water

hot steamed rice


Directions:
In a small bowl, mix together chicken broth, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, chile paste (if using) and sherry; set aside.

In another small bowl or cup, stir together the tbsp of cornstarch with the 3 tbsp of water and set aside.

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a wok; add ginger and garlic and sizzle briefly, then add vegetables and Thai chilies (if using).

Stir-fry vegetables for approximately 3 minutes, then add the shrimp.

Cook the shrimp 2 minutes or until it curls and turns opaque or pink.

Add the sauce mixture and cook 1 minute more; then stir in the thickener (briefly stir first) and stir-fry until mixture thickens, about 1 minute.

Serve with hot cooked rice.

If you have a taste for culinary travel, let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you plan your next vacation and all of your other reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com