Ingredients:
- 500g (1 lb) large raw prawns (shrimp), peeled and deveined
- 1 tsp Cornflour (cornstarch) (5g)
- pinch of White Pepper
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) Bok Choy, trimmed, separated, and chopped
- 2 Tbsp (30 ml) High-smoke point neutral oil (e.g., groundnut or rapeseed oil)
- 2 Tbsp (30g) finely minced or grated Fresh Ginger
- 4 cloves (20g) finely minced Fresh Garlic
- 4 Spring Onions (Scallions), sliced thinly (white and green parts separated)
- 2 Tbsp (30 ml) Light Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp (30 ml) Oyster Sauce (or vegetarian mushroom sauce)
- 1 tsp (5 ml) Rice Vinegar (optional)
- 120 ml (½ cup) Chicken or Vegetable Stock
- 1 tsp (5 ml) Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp (15g) Cornflour (cornstarch) for slurry
- 2 Tbsp (30 ml) cold water for slurry
Instructions:
- Prep the Prawns: Place cleaned prawns in a bowl. Dust lightly with the cornflour and white pepper mixture. Set aside.
- Prep the Bok Choy: Wash the bok choy thoroughly. Separate the leaves from the thick white stems. Slice the stems and leave the leafy parts whole or roughly chopped.
- Mix the Sauce: Combine light soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, stock, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Separately, mix the cornflour slurry (cornflour mixed with cold water) and set aside.
- Chop Aromatics: Ensure ginger, garlic, and spring onion (white and green parts separated) are all prepped and ready next to the cooker.
- Heat the Wok: Place the wok over high heat until it just begins to smoke. Add the 2 Tbsp of neutral oil, swirling to coat the surface.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the minced ginger, garlic, and the white parts of the spring onions. Stir-fry rapidly for 30–60 seconds until highly fragrant. Do not burn them.
- Cook the Prawns: Push the aromatics to one side. Add the seasoned prawns to the hot oil. Stir-fry for 1.5 to 2 minutes per side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the cooked prawns from the wok and set aside.
- Cook the Bok Choy Stems: Add the thick bok choy stems to the wok. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until they start to soften slightly but still have a good crunch.
- Add the Leaves: Add the bok choy leaves to the wok. Continue stirring for 1–2 minutes until the leaves wilt down dramatically.
- Add the Sauce and Thicken: Pour the pre-mixed sauce into the wok, stirring constantly. Bring to a rapid simmer. Whisk the cornflour slurry and pour it into the simmering sauce. Stir quickly; the sauce will thicken and become glossy almost instantly.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked prawns to the wok, tossing gently to coat them thoroughly in the sauce. Cook for just 30 seconds to reheat the prawns. Turn off the heat.
- Serve: Garnish generously with the reserved green parts of the spring onions and serve immediately over rice or noodles.