Stir Fried Sesame Shrimp and Spinach

By cooksalot

Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Salt to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons canola oil or light sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crumbled dried red chili
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 generous bunch spinach (about 1 pound), stems trimmed at the end, rinsed in 2 changes water
• 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

Preparation

Step 1

Place the shrimp in a large colander and rinse with water. Sprinkle generously with salt and toss together for about a minute. Rinse with water and repeat. After rinsing one more time, drain on paper towels. Pat dry with more paper towels.
Combine 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste) and the sugar in a small bowl and place close to your wok.
Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of the oil by adding it to the sides of the pan and swirling the pan, then add the garlic, ginger and chili flakes and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Push to the sides of the pan and add the shrimp in one layer. Let cook undisturbed for 1 minute, then add the remaining oil and stir-fry for 1 minute.
Add the sesame seeds and spinach and stir-fry for 1 minute, until it has begun to wilt but the wilting is still uneven. Add the salt and sugar, sprinkling it evenly over the spinach, and continue to stir-fry until the spinach has wilted but is still bright and the shrimp are cooked through and bright pink, about 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat, drizzle on the sesame oil, toss together and serve, with rice, noodles or other grains.