Thai food is a lot more than just curries or fiery soups. Here is a great recipe for stir fried asparagus and shrimp that actually doesn't have any chili at all. Perfect Thai food eating for spice-afraid individuals!

As with many Thai dishes, this tastes as though it would be hard to make, but it is actually a cinch, and can be prepared start to finish in about 10 minutes. (Start steaming your rice for dinner about 10 minutes before you start this dish)

Asparagus with Shrimp

• 1/2lb bunch of asparagus
• 8 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 30 count)
• 3 Tbls of vegetable oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• ¼ cup of stock or water
• 1 ½ Tbls of oyster sauce
• 1 Tbls of soya sauce
• 2 tsps of fish sauce
• 1 tsp of sugar

Instructions Tips and Suggestions 

1. Cut the woody ends off of the asparagus and discard the. Cut the remaining stalk into 1 or 1 ½ inch slices.
2. Heat the oil in a wok or heavy skillet over medium high. When the oil is hot, toss in the garlic and stir fry it for about 15 seconds, or until the garlic is good and fragrant.
3. Immediately toss in the shrimp and asparagus and turn the heat up to high. Add in the stock or water (chicken stock works well here, as does vegetable stock. Miso stock would probably also work well.)
4. Stir fry the vegetables until the asparagus is tender crisp and the shrimp is cooked. Medium asparagus spears will cook through in about 3 minutes, which should leave you with perfectly cooked shrimp as well.
5. Add in the sauces and sugar, and taste for seasoning. In Thailand they would probably add in a pinch if MSG as well, so add that in at your discretion.

Serve as a part of a larger Thai dinner or alone with nicely fragrant Jasmine rice.