Chinese Recipe : Dried-Fried String Beans

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. string beans
• 1 c. peanut, vegetable or corn oil
• 1/2 lb. ground lean pork
• 10 hot dried red peppers (optional), chopped fine
• 1 tbsp. dark soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. MSG (optional)
• 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1 tbsp. rice wine or dry sherry

Directions:

1. Wash the beans under running water and cut or pinch off the tips of the beans from both ends. Leave beans whole unless they are very long. Dry the beans well on paper towels.
2. Heat the oil in a wok or skillet until it smokes. Add the beans, standing back to avoid splashing. Cook them over high heat, wrinkled and lightly browned through, which will take about 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Drain them in a colander and set aside.
4. Pour off all but 2 tbsps. of oil from the pan.
5. Add the ground pork and peppers and stir over high heat, breaking up the lumps, until the pork is cooked and no pink shows, about 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Add the soy sauce and stir until well mixed. Put the string beans back into the pan, add the sugar, MSG, salt, wine and stir until well mixed, about 1 minute.