Ingredients

Ingredients:

• 3-inch piece ginger root

• 1 cup uncooked jasmine or basmati rice

• 2 cups water

• 12 ounces U-15 (jumbo) raw shrimp

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 cup dry white wine

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 1 cup fish stock or bottled clam juice (may substitute guava or apricot nectar; see headnote)

• 2 or 3 medium cloves garlic

• 2 tablespoons canola oil

• 1 pound asparagus

Preparation

Peel the ginger, then cut it crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Put a third of the ginger in a medium saucepan, along with the rice and water; stir to combine. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel and devein the shrimp, placing them in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with the cornstarch and toss lightly to coat, then add the wine, fish sauce and fish stock or clam juice to form a marinade.

Peel and cut the garlic (to taste) into very thin slices. Trim or snap off the woody ends from the asparagus; peel if desired, then cut the spears into 2-inch pieces. Mince the remaining two-thirds of the ginger slices.

Heat the oil in a large saute pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger; stir-fry for 1 minute, until golden. Add the asparagus and stir-fry for 1 or 2 minutes, until crisp-tender. Push to the side of the pan.

Drain the shrimp, reserving the marinade.

Add the shrimp to the pan or wok and stir-fry for 2 to 4 minutes, until just opaque, then add the reserved marinade and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until it has thickened to form a sauce.

Remove the ginger slices from the cooked rice, then divide the rice among individual plates. Top with equal portions of the shrimp, asparagus and sauce. Serve immediately.