Crispy Lamb With Cumin, Scallions and Red Chiles

- Total Time
- 30 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 1tablespoon egg white
- 1tablespoon rice wine or dry sherry
- 2teaspoons cornstarch
- 1teaspoon salt, more to taste
- ½teaspoon black pepper
- 1pound boneless leg of lamb or lamb shoulder, cut into strips about ½ inch by 2 inches
- 3tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2tablespoons cumin seeds, lightly cracked in a mortar or grinder
- 2tablespoons whole dried red chile peppers, about 2 inches long
- 4scallions, white and green parts only, cut on diagonal into 1-inch lengths
- Sesame oil, for seasoning
Preparation
- Step 1
In a bowl combine egg white, wine, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Add lamb and set aside to marinate 1 hour.
- Step 2
Heat a large wok or skillet over high heat until a drop of water sizzles on contact. Swirl half the oil into wok and carefully add lamb, spreading it in a single layer. Let sear a moment, then stir-fry briskly just until lamb is no longer pink. Transfer to a plate. (If your wok is not large enough to hold all the lamb, do this in 2 batches, using extra oil.)
- Step 3
Swirl remaining 1½ tablespoons oil into empty wok, add cumin seeds and chiles and stir-fry a few seconds until cumin seeds start to pop. Press chiles against sides of wok to char their skins.
- Step 4
Add scallions and stir-fry 1 minute. Then return lamb to wok and stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes more until lamb is cooked through. Turn off heat, sprinkle with salt and drops of sesame oil, and serve immediately.
Private Notes
Comments
As noted in the list of ingredients, it's important to use only the white and green parts of the scallions. Discard the orange and purple parts, or use in another recipe. Hope this is helpful.
Hello, People! The recipe calls for cumin seeds! -- not powdered cumin! That's why you (mistakenly) thought there was too much cumin. And you also do not need an alternative to the prescribed chilis. If you follow the recipe -- and don't eat the chilis (they are not meant to be eaten!) -- it will not be too spicy.
Actually, avoid that - there's a reason there are never vegetables in regional Chinese dishes like this. They'll soak up all the oils and make them worse than not having them in the first place.
I suspect the ingredient list should read scallions, "white and LIGHT green parts only" rather than "white and green parts only."
Added some bell red pepper and bok choy which I first simmered in chicken broth. First stir fried muted pepper and bok choy. Pushed those aside and added in the spices and then the scallions and then the lamb. It was very doos. Ground some pepper on top before setving.
Wondering how you can measure 2 tablespoons of whole dried chiles.
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