Assorted vegetables in a clear sauce

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
2mediumsTurnips
2smallsCarrots
4Green onions
3Fresh asparagus spears
½cupButton mushrooms
½cupPeeled straw mushrooms
8Baby sweet corn
8Water chestnuts
½teaspoonFresh ginger root
1tablespoonTientsin preserved
Vegetable
2tablespoonsPeanut oil
2cupsChicken stock
1teaspoonSalt
1pinchSugar
Cornstarch paste
1tablespoonChicken fat
½cupCrab meat or shelled
Shrimp (opt)

Directions

Preparation: Peel turnips & carrots. Use melon scoop to cut turnips into large balls. Slice carrots ½" thick; then with paring knife, cut 4 evenly spaced notches into rim of each slice (don't cut into center core). Carrots should look like little flowers. Parboil turnip & carrots in stock until barely tender. Remove from stock & plunge pieces into cold water; drain. Cut onions, asparagus & baby corn into 1½" pieces. Mince together fresh ginger root & Tientsin preserved vegetable. Insmall pot or beaker on medium heat, render pieces of chicken fat.

Stir-frying: Add peanut oil to hot wok. When it begins to smoke, briskly fry crab meat or shrimp for 1 minute. Add asparagus, baby corn, mushrooms & water chestnuts, stir-frying until they are hot.

Add ginger mixture, then onions. Stir-fry another 30 seconds. Add ½ stock, salt & sugar; bring to boil. Add turnips & carrots. Cover & reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes. Uncover, push ingredients out of liquid, & dribble in cornstarch paste to thicken slightly. Stir liquid to prevent lumping while it thickens to a thick soup.

Recombine, then mix in chicken oil. Remove to serving platter.