STIR-FRIED SHRIMP WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE I

Steps:

• 1. Soak fermented black beans. 2. Shell and devein shrimp. Slice green peppers and dried onion. 3. Mince garlic then mash with soaked black beans in one cup. In another, blend cornstarch and cold water to a paste. 4. Heat oil. Add salt, then black bean mixture, and stir-fry a few times. Add shrimp stir-fry 1 minute. 5. Add green pepper and onion stir-fry to soften slightly (1 to 2 minutes). 6. Stir in stock and heat quickly. Then cook, covered, over medium heat, until done (2 to 3 minutes). 7. Stir in sugar and soy sauce to blend. Then stir in cornstarch paste to thicken. Serve at once. VARIATION: * At the end of step 7, stir in 1 egg, beaten. (Remove from heat as soon as egg begins to set.) The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.