A vibrant side dish presented on a sleek black plate: golden caramelized onion rings intermingled with translucent lychee halves, decorated with red szechuan peppercorns, and sprinkled with finely chopped spring onions. The shiny glaze gives it a tantalizing glossy finish.

Caramelized Onion and Lychee Szechuan Stir-Fry

Name: Caramelized Onion and Lychee Szechuan Stir-Fry
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: large onions, 4 cut into rings; lychees, 1 cup cleaned and halved; Szechuan peppercorns, 1 tablespoon crushed; spring onions, 2 finely chopped as garnish; gluten-free soy sauce, 3 tablespoons; garlic cloves, 3 minced; vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons; salt, to taste; sugar, 1 tablespoon

Category Side Dish

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style Chinese

Technique Stir-Frying

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: January 19, 2024

For this extraordinary side dish, we're spotlighting onions in a new light. We'll elevate the humble onion by giving it a Chinese twist, creating a visually stunning side dish that's sure to delight. The crispness of the lychee, the tartness of the Szechuan pepper, and the subtle sweetness of the caramelized onions brilliantly come together in this innovative recipe.

Ingredients (for 4)

Large onions - 4 - cut into rings
Lychees - 1 cup - cleaned and halved
Szechuan peppercorns - 1 tablespoon - crushed
Spring onions - 2 - finely chopped as garnish
Gluten-free soy sauce - 3 tablespoons
Garlic cloves - 3 - minced
Vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons
Salt - to taste
Sugar - 1 tablespoon

Preparation

Step 1 - 🔥🍳🥘

Heat vegetable oil in a large wok or pan over medium heat.
Step 2 - 🧅🥄🔆

Add the onions, cook until they caramelize and turn a rich golden color. Add sugar to further caramelize onions.
Step 3 - 🧄🌶️🍳

Toss in the garlic and Szechuan peppercorns, then cook until fragrant.
Step 4 - 🥣🥢🌈

Stir in the soy sauce, ensuring it's well combined with the rest of the ingredients.
Step 5 - 🍈🥘🔥

Add lychees into the pan and stir-fry them until they're well mixed and heated.
Step 6 - ✋🧂🌱

Remove from heat, add salt to taste, garnish with sliced spring onions, and serve warm.

Additional

This dish is a great way to play with different textures – from the soft caramelized onions to the crisp lychees. Modify it by adding in other ingredients you love, such as bell peppers or water chestnuts. A fun touch for kids could be to let them pick and clean the lychees.