Yummy Side Dish: Ginger-Sesame Asparagus

Prep time: 1 minute
Cooking time: 5 minutes

This recipe is shamelessly taken from Chatelaine, but it is so good and easy to make that I just had to share it. I've also recently been a fan of reading Chatelaine and especially its recipe section, which indicates to me that possibly (1) I am getting way too old and (2) I'm crazy.

Anyways, this recipe is a great accompaniment to any dish, be it chicken, beef or fish.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch asaparagus, about 1 lb (500 g)
• 2 tbsp hoisin or teriyaki sauce (1/2 soya sauce, 1/2 mirin and a dash of sugar)
• 1 mL grated fresh ginger
• 1 mL hot chili-garlic sauce (yummy!)
• 5 mL sesame seeds (optional)

Partially fill a large frying pan with water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, snap tough ends from the asparagus (this seems so wasteful, but it's so much fun!) and discard. In a small bowl, stir teriyaki or hoisin sauce with ginger and chili-garlic sauce. Add asparagus to the boiling water. After three minutes, immediately drain off water and return the pan to the burner. Add the sauce mixture and stir often until the asparagus is tender-crisp and evenly coated with sauce, about 1-2 minutes. Turn onto a plate and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Soooo yummy!

This recipe is yet to be Mike-approved.