Bok Choy with Beef

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Cut beef crosswise (across the grain) into 1/4-inch-thick slices, then cut slices into 1/2-inch-wide strips.

2. Make marinade and marinate meat:

   Step 2

   Stir together marinade ingredients in a medium bowl until sugar is dissolved.

   Step 3

   Add beef, tossing to coat, and marinate 30 minutes to 1 hour.

3. Blanch bok choy:

   Step 4

   Separate bok choy into individual leaves and halve crosswise, keeping stems and leaves separate. Cook stems in a large pot of boiling water 15 seconds, then add leaves and cook 15 seconds more. Drain in a colander, then rinse with cold water to stop cooking and drain well.

4. Fry beef:

   Step 5

   Stir together soy sauce, Sherry, and vinegar.

5. Step 6

   Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 400°F.

   Step 7

   Add beef to hot oil with tongs (discard marinade) and cook, stirring carefully, until slices separate, about 1 minute. Transfer beef with tongs to a colander and drain.

6. Stir-fry beef and bok choy:

   Step 8

   Reserve 3 tablespoons oil from skillet and discard remainder. Heat reserved oil in skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then stir-fry garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beef, soy mixture, and bok choy and stir-fry until sauce is simmering and mixture is just heated through, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.