Shrimp With Pine Nuts

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 teaspoon shaohsing rice wine or sherry wine
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
• fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 12 jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined (about 1 lb.)
• 1 cup thinly sliced carrot
• 4 ounces snow peas
• 4 ounces water chestnuts, diced
• 12 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked 20 minutes in hot water, drained, patted dry, stemmed and cut into thirds

Directions

1. 1

   Combine cornstarch, salt and sugar in small bowl.

2. 2

   Add water,wine,garlic,sesame oil,vinegar and pepper and mix well.

3. 3

   Heat vegetable oil in wok or large skillet over high heat.

4. 4

   Add pine nuts and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes.

5. 5

   Transfer to small bowl using slotted spoon.

6. 6

   Add shrimp and carrots to wok and stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes.

7. 7

   Add snow peas,water chestnuts and mushrooms and stir fry about 3 minutes.

8. 8

   Drain off any excess oil.

9. 9

   Restir cornstarch mixture and add to wok.

10. 10

    Cook, stirring, until sauce is thickened,about 2 minutes.

11. 11

    Transfer to heated platter, sprinkle with pine nuts and serve.