Pork and green bean stir-fry

Look at this picture.  Are you salivating?  You should be!  This is one delicious stir-fry!  This Everyday Food recipe is one that I had filed under my favorites but hadn't made in awhile.  It uses unexpected ingredients to the most delicious degree.   Everything is  bursting with flavor - from the sweetness of the sugar to the saltiness of the peanuts & soy sauce to the zing of the fresh ginger.  This is a great recipe to make for your family & guests alike.  Easy.  Colorful.  Delicious.  Do it!

pork and green bean stir-fry, Everyday Food, June 2005, p.68
Serves 4
Time: 45 minutes

You will need:

• 1 pork tenderloin (about 3/4 lb.) trimmed of excess fat.  (my grocery store only sells behemoth tenderloins, so I cut mine into three hunks & froze the other two)
• coarse salt
• 2 T. soy sauce (you can double the soy sauce, vinegar & sugar for more sauce)
• 1 T. rice vinegar
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 3 tsp. vegetable oil
• 2 T. minced peeled fresh ginger 
• 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (I just used black pepper)
• 1 lb. green beans, trimmed & cut crosswise into 2 inch pieces (uncut is fine too)
• 1 red bell pepper, ribs & seeds removed, cut into thin strips (so bright & pretty!)
• 1/3 c. dry roasted peanuts, chopped.
• cooked white rice for serving (I personally believe Jasmin rice is the best)

What to do:

1. Cut pork diagonally into 1/4 inch-thick slices. (You're then supposed to cut each slice in half lengthwise but, I think it makes more sense to cut into small bite-size pieces)  Season with 1/2 tsp. salt.  
2. In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar & sugar.  Set aside.  (I highly suggest doubling the amount of sauce.  It's yummy!  Any extra can be drizzled over your rice)
3. Heat 1 tsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high.  Add half the ginger, pepper flakes & pork & cook until pork is no longer pink.  Transfer to a plate & repeat with other half of pork, pepper flakes & ginger.  Transfer that batch to the plate.
4. Meanwhile, cook green beans in a medium pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes (set your timer!) Drain on paper towels.
5. Add remaining oil to the skillet.  Add beans, bell pepper & 2 T. of water; cook over high heat, stirring often, until peppers are tender, about 2 minutes.
6. Add peanuts, pork & sauce.  Cook, stirring, until pork is coated, about 1 minute.  Serve immediately over rice, if desired.

This is so delicious!  I hope you give it a try.  I'm starving, so I'm going to go heat up the leftovers for lunch.

Guten Appetit!

-Gemma