Szechuanpeppersaltprawns Recipes

Steps:

• Prepare pepper-salt: In a small saute pan over medium heat, toast Szechuan and white peppercorns for about 3 minutes, shaking the pan. They will smoke and pop like popcorn, but don't let them burn. Let cool, then coarsely grind the pepper in a spice mill, and combine with salt in a small bowl; set aside.
• Place cornstarch in a medium bowl. Heat peanut oil in a wok or large saute pan over high heat until it is just short of smoking. Toss prawns in the cornstarch, and remove excess by shaking coated prawns in a sieve. Add prawns to the wok, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, tossing a few times to cook through on both sides. With a large spatula, hold the prawns in place, tip the wok, and pour off and discard the excess oil. Add garlic, minced chile, and pepper-salt mixture. Return the wok to the heat, and toss prawns with the spices until spices release their fragrance and coat the shells, about 1 minute.

Steps:

• To make pepper-salt: In a small saute pan over medium heat, toast the Sichuan and white peppercorns, shaking the pan, for about 3 minutes.
• Do not let them burn.
• They may smoke and pop like popcorn; this is OK.
• Remove the pan from the heat; set aside to cool slightly.
• In a spice mill or with a mortar and pestle, coarsely grind the peppercorns.
• Transfer to a bowl and combine with the salt.
• Set aside.
• To make shrimp: In a wok or large saute pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil until hot but not smoking.
• Working quickly, in a bowl, toss the shrimp in the cornstarch and remove the excess cornstarch by shaking the coated shrimp in a sieve or strainer.
• Add the shrimp to the wok and cook, tossing a few times to cook through on both sides, for 2 to 3 minutes.
• With a large spatula or other implement, hold the shrimp in place, tip the wok and very carefully pour off and discard the excess oil.
• Add the garlic, chili pepper and pepper-salt mixture.
• Return the wok to the heat and toss the shrimp with the spice mixture until the spices release their fragrance and coat the shrimp, about 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat.
• A step ahead: The pepper-salt can be made a week or more ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.

Steps:

• Combine salt and peppercorns in heavy small skillet over low heat. Cook until aromatic and salt begins to color, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Grind in mortar with pestle or in spice grinder. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Store in airtight container.)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and sugar.
• Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over medium high heat.
• (Add more oil as necessary during cooking.).
• Stir fry the garlic in the hot oil for 15 seconds.
• Add the bell peppers and ground ginger.
• Stir fry for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender.
• Remove the pepper mixture from the wok.
• Add the pork to the hot wok.
• Stir fry for 3-4 minutes or until no pink remains.
• Push the pork away from the center of the wok.
• Pour the sauce into the center of the wok.
• Stir all ingredients together until they are well coated with the sauce.
• Cook and stir 1 minute longer, or until heated through.
• Serve immediately over hot cooked noodles or rice.

Steps:

• Mix together the peppercorns and the salt in a small bowl. Transfer the mixture to a medium-sized skillet and toast over medium heat, stirring constantly, just until the mixture is fragrant and smoking and the salt begins to turn golden, five to eight minutes. Be very careful not to let the mixture burn.
• Remove from the heat and let cool. Then grind the pepper-salt until fine and sieve to remove any large pieces. Store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl; toss to coat. Cover; let stand 30 minutes.
• Combine broth and cornstarch in small bowl; stir to dissolve cornstarch. Combine soy sauce, chili-garlic sauce and sugar in another small bowl.
• Heat oil in wok or heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper and stir-fry until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add shrimp mixture; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add onions; stir-fry until shrimp are pink, 30 seconds. Mix in soy sauce mixture. Add cornstarch mixture. Cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Transfer to bowl; serve with rice.