30-minute recipes - fast food

Except for the sauce and tomato, all of the ingredients in this casserole add weight and richness to the overall texture of the dish. Pairing those foods with wine is relatively easy, but the tanginess of the sauce would kill a soft wine. Choose a wine with a good acidic backbone, such as Pontignanello Chianti Classico.

Hunan-Style Orange "Beef"
and Asparagus Stir-Fry

SERVES 4    30 MINUTES OR LESS

A popular dish at many Chinese restaurants,
this sometimes-fiery entree can easily
be replicated at home, minus the beef and,
if you like, minus the chiles. This entree
with the "beef" and asparagus makes a
complete meal, but you could start with
a Chinese-style cream of corn soup and
end with a light fruit-based dessert or sorbet
served with fortune cookies. The perfect
beverages for this Chinese-inspired
meal are hot jasmine tea or an ice-cold
Chinese beer.

8 oz. Asian wheat or rice noodles
12 oz. soy "steak" strips
5 Tbs. cornstarch
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 Tbs. sugar, or to taste
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
2 tsp. sesame oil
2 tsp. minced ginger
2 Tbs. vegetable oil or more if
  needed
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut
  into 2-inch lengths
3 dried red chiles, optional
Grated zest 1 large orange
  (about 2 Tbs.)
1 bunch scallions, trimmed and cut
  into 2-inch lengths

1. Bring pot of water to a boil over high
heat, and cook noodles until tender, about
8 minutes. Drain, rinse and drain again. Set
aside. Toss "steak" with 3 tablespoons
cornstarch. Set aside.

2. Meanwhile, mix together soy sauce, garlic,
sugar, vegetable stock, sesame oil,
remaining cornstarch and ginger. Set aside.

3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet or
wok over medium-high heat. When hot,
stir-fry "steak" strips for about 2 minutes.
Add and stir-fry asparagus and chiles, if using,
for 30 seconds.

4. Add soy sauce mixture all at once, and
continue cooking until sauce thickens and
asparagus turns shiny and tender. Return
"steak" to pan, add orange zest and stir-fry
2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat.

5. Arrange noodles in serving bowl or on
platter, and top with stir-fry. Garnish with
sliced scallions, and serve.

PER SERVING: 370 CAL; 16G PROT; 7G TOTAL
FAT (0.5G SAT. FAT); 62G CARB; 0MG CHOL;
1,010MG SOD; 7G FIBER; 6G SUGARS