Lacquered Stir Fry Broccolini

Stir Fry Sauce

• 1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  
• 1/2 teaspoon hot chili oil (you can use red chili flakes if you can't find this)
  
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium is fine)
  
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
  

Stir Fry

• 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil (or other flavorless oil)
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 1 inch pieces ginger, grated on a microplane
  
• 1 1/4 pounds broccolini
  
• sesame seeds, optional
  

1. Make the stir fry sauce: in a small bowl, add all the stir fry sauce ingredients. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Set aside.
2. In a large frying pan, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger. Stir constantly for 30 seconds, making sure the garlic doesn't burn.
3. Add the broccolini, turning to coat in the oil. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
4. Give the stir fry sauce a good stir and pour into the pan. Turn the broccolini to coat and then cover the pan. Steam for 5 minutes.
5. Uncover the pan and continue to stir fry for another 3-5 minutes, until the broccolini is still bright green, but the stems have become slightly tender. (Note: I like my vegetables a bit "al dente," if you prefer yours more fully cooked, let them go a bit longer than 5 minutes).
6. Transfer the broccolini to a serving plate. Let the stir fry sauce continue to simmer and reduce in the pan until it becomes almost syrupy, a few more minutes.
7. Drizzle a few spoonfuls of the reduced sauce over the broccolini and sprinkle with some sesame seeds, if desired.