Garlicky Asparagus Salad

Black rice vinegar is made with black glutinous rice and is deep and rich in flavor. Look for it at your Asian market. Other vinegars will not impart the same smoky taste, so there is no substitute for this Southern China favorite.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound fresh asparagus

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons black rice vinegar

2 teaspoons white sugar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 ⁄8 teaspoon sesame oil

1. Wash the asparagus and drain well. Cut off the ends and cut diagonally into 1 1 ⁄2 -inch pieces.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Parboil the asparagus, and plunge into cold water. Drain well.

3. Mix together the garlic clove, black rice vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Toss with the asparagus.

Black Rice Vinegar

With its intriguing combination of tart and sweet, black rice vinegar is the crème de la crème of the rice vinegars. The most famous comes from southern China’s Chinkiang region. If you enjoy black rice vinegar’s distinctive smoky flavor, try substituting it in any recipe where rice vinegar is called for.

hancheng

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