My wife requested grilled steak and steamed baby red potatoes for dinner tonight (great idea!). I needed a nice vegetable compliment and have been wanting to try some simply blanched vegetables, Chinese style. I cooked this delicious asparagus with ginger soy sauce dish for my family this evening, producing sounds of “Oh”, “Oh, man”, “Wow”, “So Flavorful”, “This is a Keeper!”.

Really quick, and really simple, and so delicious! The asparagus is hot, crunchy but tender, with a simple flavorful ginger soy sauce, and perfect with our simple grilled steak dinner.

I adapted this recipe from culinary expert Kian Lam Kho’s “Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees: Essential Techniques of Authentic Chines Cooking: A Cookbook”. Kian Lam Kho recommends using young tender pencil-thin asparagus.

Blanch quickly and season with aromatic ginger soy sauce.

Making Guangdong Blanched Asparagus with Ginger Soy Sauce Recipe Step-by-Step

Go to the end of this post to save and/or print this amazing recipe.

Plan

This is a quick, easy recipe to make, and needs no preparation in advance.

Tools

A wok (or large heavy skillet)
Wok spatula
Sauce pan large enough for the asparagus to be submerged
Fine grater for the ginger
Small bowl to mix the sauce

Ingredients

1 lb. Asparagus Pencil-thin
¹⁄₄ cup Vegetable Oil
SAUCE
2 Tbsp Light soy sauce
2 Tbsp Shaoxing cooking wine
1 Tsp Sugar
2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
2 Tbsp Fresh Ginger Minced
1 Fresh Red Chile Sliced (Optional)

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe Ingredients – Asparagus

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe Ingredients – Fresh Ginger

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe Ingredients – Light Soy Sauce and Shaoxing Cooking Wine

STEP 1 – BOIL THE WATER

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a saucepan.

STEP 2 – PREPARE THE FRESH INGREDIENTS

While the water is heating, wash the asparagus, and trim the tough bottom part as needed.

Wash, peel and mince the fresh ginger.

Optional: Wash and slice the fresh red chile.

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe – Wash and snap the tough Asparagus ends

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe – Mince the fresh ginger

STEP 3 – MAKE THE SAUCE

Combine soy sauce, wine, and sugar in a small bowl.

STEP 4 – BLANCH THE ASPARAGUS

Add the 1/4 cup vegetable oil to the water.

Blanch the asparagus in the boiling water for about 1 minute or until the color just turns bright green.

Drain the water and arrange the spears on a plate.

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe – Blanch the asparagus for about 1 minute

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe – Arrange the blanched asparagus on a plate for serving

STEP 5 – COOK THE SAUCE

Heat the 2 Tbsp vegetable oil in the wok over high heat for about 30 seconds.

Add the minced ginger to the heated oil and stir-fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the soy sauce mix and let simmmer for 15 seconds.

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe – quickly stir fry the ginger in heated oil until fragrant, about 30 seconds

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus Recipe – Add the soy sauce mix to the ginger and stir fry to heat and combine, about 15 seconds

STEP 6 – SERVE THE ASPARAGUS

Pour the sauce over the plated asparagus.

Garnish with the optional sliced red chile. Enjoy!

Guangdong Blanched Asparagus with Ginger Soy Sauce

Print Recipe

Blanched Asparagus with Ginger Soy Sauce

Culinary expert Kian Lam Kho recommends using young tender pencil-thin asparagus. Blanch quickly and season with aromatic ginger soy sauce.

PLAN. This is a quick, easy recipe to make, and needs no preparation in advance.

TOOLS. A wok (or large heavy skillet), wok spatula, sauce pan large enough for the asparagus to be submerged, fine grater for the ginger, small bowl to mix the sauce.

Adapted from Kian Lam Kho’s Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: Chinese Guangdong

Main Ingredient: Asparagus

Serves: 2

Ingredients

1 lb. Asparagus Pencil-thin
¹⁄₄ cup Vegetable Oil
SAUCE
2 Tbsp Light soy sauce
2 Tbsp Shaoxing cooking wine
1 Tsp Sugar
2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
2 Tbsp Fresh Ginger Minced
1 Fresh Red Chile Sliced (Optional)

Directions

STEP 1: BOIL THE WATER
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a saucepan.
STEP 2: PREPARE THE FRESH INGREDIENTS
While the water is heating, wash the asparagus, and trim the tough bottom part as needed.
Wash, peel and mince the fresh ginger.
Optional: Wash and slice the fresh red chile.
STEP 3: MAKE THE SAUCE
Combine soy sauce, wine, and sugar in a small bowl.
STEP 4: BLANCH THE ASPARAGUS
Add the 1/4 cup vegetable oil to the water.
Blanch the asparagus in the boiling water for about 1 minute or until the color just turns bright green.
Drain the water and arrange the spears on a plate.
STEP 5: COOK THE SAUCE
Heat the 2 Tbsp vegetable oil in the wok over high heat for about 30 seconds.
Add the minced ginger to the heated oil and stir-fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the soy sauce mix and let simmmer for 15 seconds.
STEP 6: SERVE THE ASPARAGUS
Pour the sauce over the plated asparagus.
Garnish with the optional sliced red chile. Enjoy!