Last night, I really was in no mood to cook. So, I looked around for
something I could throw together quickly with minimum effort. A stir
fry is always quick, but they usually have a ton of chopping and prep
work.
Then I saw a bag of ready to use cleaned spinach. I don't
usually add spinach to a stir fry, but why not give it a try. I also turned to some cleaned frozen shrimp. I love using frozen shrimp as a quick and easy protein because it defrosts in a flash simply under some cold running water.
I finished off the dish with some cans of Chinese water chestnuts and straw mushrooms to
help make this stir fry substantial. Opening a few cans was just my
speed last night too. : ) I was so happy how quick, easy, light,
healthy and delicious it turned out. This is what I call a perfect busy
weeknight meal or at least the perfect "I'm in no mood to cook" meal.
Ingredients:
1lb cleaned shrimp (See Note)
1 medium onion sliced
1 can of water chestnuts (sliced or diced)
1 can of straw mushrooms (or fresh button mushrooms)
1 bell pepper, or some sweet chilies sliced into strips
1-2 green chilies (jalapenos or serranos) sliced
2-3 large handfuls of cleaned spinach leaves
1-2 Tbs of ginger-garlic-paste or 2 cloves of garlic and 1 inch of ginger
1Tbs of cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbs of cold water
Note: To make this shrimp stir fry come together even faster, use shelled and cleaned shrimp. I used frozen shrimp and the best way to defrost them quickly is to put them in a colander under cold running water for a few minutes.
The Stir Fry Sauce:
1/2 cup of chicken stock or water/bullion equivalent
2-3 Tbs of soy sauce
1 Tbs of oyster sauce
1 Tbs of Chinese Rice Wine or Dry Sherry
1 tsp of sesame oil
1 tsp of brown sugar
red chili flake to taste
Directions:
Note: Prep all your food first and make the sauce. You want everything ready to go because the stir fry takes about 5 minutes and it goes quickly.
Heat 1Tbs of canola oil in a large wok pan on high heat. Then add sliced onions 
and cook for 1 minute. Next add your ginger/garlic and
saute for another 30 seconds.
Ingredients:
1 medium onion sliced
1 can of water chestnuts (sliced or diced)
1 can of straw mushrooms (or fresh button mushrooms)
1 bell pepper, or some sweet chilies sliced into strips
1-2 green chilies (jalapenos or serranos) sliced
2-3 large handfuls of cleaned spinach leaves
1-2 Tbs of ginger-garlic-paste or 2 cloves of garlic and 1 inch of ginger
1Tbs of cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbs of cold water
Note: To make this shrimp stir fry come together even faster, use shelled and cleaned shrimp. I used frozen shrimp and the best way to defrost them quickly is to put them in a colander under cold running water for a few minutes.
The Stir Fry Sauce:
1/2 cup of chicken stock or water/bullion equivalent2-3 Tbs of soy sauce
1 Tbs of oyster sauce
1 Tbs of Chinese Rice Wine or Dry Sherry
1 tsp of sesame oil
1 tsp of brown sugar
red chili flake to taste
Directions:
Note: Prep all your food first and make the sauce. You want everything ready to go because the stir fry takes about 5 minutes and it goes quickly.
and cook for 1 minute. Next add your ginger/garlic and
saute for another 30 seconds. 
Add your drained cans of water chestnuts and straw mushrooms now and stir fry for another 30-45 seconds.
Now add your cleaned shrimp and stir fry for 1 
minute. 
minute. 
Then add your prepared stir fry sauce and stir fry for another minute.
Add your cornstarch and water slurry (that's the two mixed together into a
water paste). 
Allow the gravy to boil and thicken for 1 minute. Your
shrimp should be cooked now.
Finally add your fresh spinach and toss
with the hot stir fry for a few seconds to wilt. Turn stove off.
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