Pan-fried Cucumber

Total Time: 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 1 cucumber
• 1 fresh red chile, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• chopped fresh sweet basil leaves (or purple perilla leaves)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons peanut oil (for cooking)

Recipe

• 1 cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and then, with the knife at an angle, cut each half into slanted, almost semicircular slices about 1/4 inch thick.
• 2 heat the wok over a high flame until smoke rises, then add the oil and swirl around; add the cucumber and fry for a few minutes until the slices are tinged a little golden. spread the slices out so they cover as much as possible of the bottom of the wok, turning from time to time.
• 3 add the chili and garlic to the wok and stir-fry until fragrant, adding the soy sauce as you go; splash the vinegar around the side of the wok and mix well. add the herbs and stir a few times; then, off the heat, stir in the sesame oil and serve.