Yellow Cucumbers in Brown Bean Sauce

Vegetables, also Vegetarian Foods

Yellow Cucumbers in Brown Bean Sauce
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
3 large shiitake mushrooms, their stems discarded, their caps quartered
½ pound pork loin, cut in small cubes
3 scallions, minced
1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
1 Tablespoon Chinese rice wine
1 Tablespoon light soy sauce
3 Tablespoons chicken stock
3 Tablespoons brown bean sauce
1 large yellow cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut in small cubes
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
½ teaspoon ground Sichuan pepper or ground star anise (only use one or the other)

Preparation:
1. Heat wok or fry pan, add the oil, and stir-fry the mushrooms, then add the pork, scallions, and ginger, and stir fry for two minutes.
2. Add soy sauce, chicken stock, half cup of cold water, and brown bean sauce and stir well, then add cucumber pieces and stir-fry one minute.
3. Mix cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water and stir this into the pork mixture and boil stirring for one to two minutes, then add the sesame oil (and the seasoning, if using), stir two or three times, then put in a pre-heated deep dish and serve.

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