Ep 5. The Secrets of Stir-Fry

Christopher Kimball's Milk Street is a cooking show that delves deep into the secrets and techniques of various cuisines from around the world. In Season 2, Episode 5 of the show, titled The Secrets of Stir-Fry, viewers get a chance to learn about one of the most versatile and popular techniques in Asian cooking.

Host Christopher Kimball and his team of chefs are joined by whip-smart Chinese culinary expert Grace Young as they uncover the secrets to perfect stir-frying. Young is a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and professional cook who has spent years studying the art of stir-frying in her native China and across the world.

The episode starts with a brief history of stir-frying and its importance in Chinese cuisine. Kimball explains that the technique involves cooking food quickly over high heat, usually in a wok, while constantly moving it around to prevent sticking or burning. Stir-frying is not just about speed; it also requires precise timing, temperature control, and a deep understanding of flavor and texture.

Young demonstrates how to prep ingredients properly for stir-frying, including slicing meat against the grain to ensure tenderness and marinating it for added flavor. She also shows how to cut vegetables evenly and at the right angle so they cook evenly and retain their texture.

In the kitchen, Kimball and his team cook up three different stir-fry dishes, each with its own set of challenges and techniques. The first is a classic stir-fry of beef with broccoli. Kimball and his team add a few surprising ingredients like cumin, garlic, and oyster sauce to elevate the flavor of the dish. Young explains how to use a technique called "velveting" to tenderize the beef and prevent it from becoming tough and chewy.

The second dish is a stir-fry of shrimp and snap peas that uses a unique technique called "dry-frying" to ensure the shrimp stay perfectly tender and plump. Kimball and his team also add a few extra ingredients like soy sauce and Sichuan peppercorns to create a dish bursting with umami flavor.

The third dish is a vegetarian stir-fry of eggplant and green beans that uses a trick called "starch-frying" to create a crispy coating on the vegetables. The team adds some bold flavors like black bean sauce, ginger, and scallions to create a delicious and satisfying veggie dish.

Throughout the episode, Kimball and Young offer plenty of tips and tricks for perfecting stir-fry, including how to season a wok, how to adjust the heat and timing for different ingredients, and how to achieve a glossy, velvety finish. Viewers will also learn about the different types of oils and seasonings used in stir-fry, and how to get creative with their own flavor combinations.

Overall, The Secrets of Stir-Fry is a must-watch episode for anyone who loves cooking, and especially for fans of Asian cuisine. Kimball and his team take a deep dive into the art of stir-frying, offering plenty of useful tips and tricks for mastering this essential cooking technique. With Grace Young as their guide, viewers will learn how to create delicious, restaurant-quality stir-fries in their own kitchens.